Inspection of the execution of fire safety measures
2025-05-16 Academic News
This article is written by Jan Tidemand Grosch and Anders Arnhus,
Fire Safety Consultants in PiD Solutions AS.
What is KUT?
Simply explained, KUT is an inspection to ensure compliance between the designed solution and what is actually carried out on the building.
When is KUT required, and who performs it?
In some projects, the building authority in the municipality decides that a coordinated inspection of the execution of fire safety measures (KUT of fire safety) shall be carried out. We at PID Solutions carry out both public and private law based KUT of fire safety.
Inspection of execution is most often carried out in connection with a decision on inspection from the building authority in the municipality, but it is also useful to consider a private law based inspection to protect the client from construction defects in projects where the municipality does not require KUT.
Documentation and advantages of inspection of execution
An important advantage of inspecting the execution of fire safety measures is the certainty that the building meets the intended fire safety level. The owner will have better access to documentation of the production basis such as working drawings, product documentation, assembly instructions, etc. This is information that is often missing in existing buildings, but which is very relevant and in demand in connection with notified inspections, management, operation and maintenance. In many cases, it is costly and demanding to document this afterwards.
This is part of a KUT inspection
Through the inspection, we verify that the fire safety design is followed in the construction project. KUT involves checking that there is sufficient working documentation for execution, that there is documentation of execution and building products used, and that there are quality assurance routines and procedures from the executing company. KUT also involves regular physical inspection/verifications in the building. The focus and direction of the inspections follow the progress plan for the construction project. In this way, we try to uncover any errors at an early stage.
What is done during the construction site inspections?
Construction site inspections and verifications are absolutely necessary in the implementation and documentation of a KUT. The inspection includes not only checking the execution, but also checking the agreement between the fire safety design concept and the detailed design (drawings, descriptions, assembly instructions, etc.), that the actual execution corresponds to the working documentation. Furthermore, it is checked that the executing company carries out ongoing quality assurance of the work. If the inspection reveals deviations, it will lead to additional follow-up and inspection of the relevant area.
Scope and follow-up of KUT on construction site
Freequent inspection of the construction work is extensive and will require the inspector to have a high presence on the construction site. A KUT of fire safety will instead be based on random samples with a focus on inspection at the start of new work tasks such as fire insulation, construction of fire cell walls, installation of fire doors and windows, technical installations. There is also an additional control focus on installations with major fire-technical consequences in the event of a malfunction. The scope of the control will vary with the size and complexity of the measure in the construction project.
Inspection reports are prepared after each control visit. Deviations and comments documented in the inspection report are followed up by us. Deviations are closed after satisfactory feedback or correction from the responsible contractor.
KUT of fire safety is concluded with a full-scale test in which technical systems such as fire alarm systems, smoke ventilation, sprinklers/sprinkler valves, door system, etc. are functionally tested.
Completion of KUT and control statement
At the conclusion of the inspection, all detected deviations must be closed. This is documented in the final report for the inspection. When the final control shows that all deviations have been closed, and the full-scale test has not revealed any errors, a control statement can be issued.
For public law KUTs, the control statement is included as documentation for the building authority to issue a certificate of completion or a provisional permission to use.
Contact us for help with inspection of execution of fire safety measures in your project, or read more about KUT here.
