Fire Safety in Condominiums: CPI, SCIA and Garages

Not every condominium is subject to fire-prevention obligations, but where it is, the manager must handle the procedure with the Fire Brigade. The obligations mainly arise for garages with a total area exceeding 300 square metres and for buildings with a fire-safety height above 24 metres. Since Italian Presidential Decree of 1 August 2011, no. 151 (DPR 151/2011), the traditional fire prevention certificate (CPI) has largely been replaced by the certified notice of commencement of activity, the fire-safety SCIA.

When a condominium is subject to obligations

The activities subject to Fire Brigade control are listed in DPR 151/2011. For a condominium the recurring cases are two and must be checked case by case.

• Garages with a total area exceeding 300 square metres, underground or above ground, which fall among the regulated activities
• Residential buildings with a fire-safety height above 24 metres, measured from the level of access for rescue vehicles up to the highest habitable floor
• Technical systems and stores exceeding the set thresholds, to be assessed with a qualified technician

From the CPI to the fire-safety SCIA

With DPR 151/2011 the fire prevention certificate gave way to the fire-safety SCIA, a notice by which the condominium, through a qualified technician, certifies the activity's compliance with fire-prevention rules and starts the relevant procedure at the Fire Brigade command. If the building lacks it, the manager is obliged to act by engaging a professional to prepare the documentation and file the application.

Periodic renewal

Fire-safety compliance is not a one-off task. When the building holds the certification, the manager must arrange the periodic renewal of the attestation at the frequency set by the rules, generally every five years, through a sworn statement confirming that the safety conditions remain. Missing the renewal means losing the validity of the attestation and exposing the condominium to penalties and liability.

Fire-safety equipment and maintenance

Alongside the administrative obligations, the equipment in the building must be kept efficient, such as fire extinguishers, hydrants, fire doors, safety signage, and emergency lighting. Extinguishers and hydrants require periodic checks by specialised firms, with the work recorded. Maintenance is not optional: it is the condition for the equipment to work when needed and for the attestation to keep its validity.

Responsibilities and cost allocation

As the party responsible for preserving the common parts under Article 1130 of the Italian Civil Code, the manager must start the procedures, keep the equipment efficient, and preserve the documentation. Fire-safety costs relating to common parts are allocated in proportion to thousandths (millesimi) under Article 1123 of the Italian Civil Code, while the charges relating to the garage follow the use and ownership of the boxes, where the system serves owners to different extents.

Handling procedures and deadlines in an orderly way

Between periodic renewals, extinguisher checks, and maintenance, fire safety requires a precise calendar. Management software such as AmministraPro helps record deadlines, file sworn statements and inspection reports, and link them to the building, so no obligation is left behind. Discover the features at /funzioni and the plans at /prezzi.