PiD Solutions provides input to DiBK's proposed changes to TEK17
2026-06-17 AcademicWhy this consultation is important for the industry
The Directorate of Building Quality (DiBK ↗) has submitted proposals for changes to the guidance to Chapter 2 of the Building Technical Regulations TEK17↗ for consultation. The purpose is to clarify how requirements in the regulations can be documented through analysis, and at the same time to make it clearer that the guidance is not a requirement in itself.
At PiD Solutions AS we believe this is an important discussion for the entire construction and real estate industry, as the proposal could have major implications for how the industry relates to analysis. The regulations should contribute to safe buildings, but they must also be understandable, practically applicable and allow for professional assessments that are verifiable.
Procedures used in analyses must ensure systematicity and documentation quality that can withstand critical review.
Therefore, we have submitted our hearing response↗ to the Directorate for Building Quality.
What does DiBK propose?
The proposal does not involve changes to the actual level of requirements in TEK17↗. The purpose is to clarify that alternative solutions can be documented through analyses against the functional requirements of the regulations, and not necessarily “only” against the pre-accepted performances in the guidance.
The goal is, among other things, to:
- provide greater flexibility in projects
- stimulate innovation and development
- reduce unnecessary limitations in design
- create a better understanding of the scope for action in the regulations
This can be important for both new buildings, conversions and rehabilitation projects.
Our view
PiD Solutions AS supports in principle the work to make the regulations more nuanced, clearer and more understandable.
It is positive that the Directorate wants to clarify that analysis against functional requirements is a real documentation path according to TEK17, and that the guidance’s pre-accepted performance is not a regulatory requirement in itself.
At the same time, we believe that the proposed changes to the guidance for Chapter 2 go too far by removing several incorporated and practically important clarifications.
For fire safety, it is particularly important to maintain clear use of terminology, a clear level of documentation and verifiable analyses (against a defined safety level). The concept of deviation is incorporated in the industry and distinguishes between deviation from pre-accepted performance and deviation from regulatory requirements. This distinction should not be weakened. When the scope for action in the regulations is clarified and updated in the direction that DIBK is proposing in the proposal, the need for professional expertise and clear, methodological documentation increases.
Fire safety is an area where the consequences of errors can be significant. It is therefore crucial that the regulations continue to contribute to:
-
safe buildings for users
-
predictable design and case management
-
common terminology in the industry
-
documentable and verifiable professional assessments
-
proportional scope of analysis
-
high quality in fire design
In our view, the guidance should be able to be improved, but not in a way that weakens the clarifications regarding deviations, pre-accepted documentation, overall safety level, comparative analysis, compensatory measures and verifiability.
Our role as a professional community
As advisors in fire safety, we work daily with regulations, documentation and practical solutions in buildings.
We believe it is important that professional communities participate actively when the regulations are developed. Through consultation processes, experiences from actual projects can contribute to better regulations, better guidance and more functional buildings.
This is also in line with our values:
- Quality in both advice and documentation
- Curiosity about new solutions that can improve the industry
A regulation that works in practice
The building regulations must take into account both legal considerations, the building case process and the practical design work. Our ambition is to contribute to a regulation that allows room for development and innovation, while maintaining safety at a high level.
It is through the interaction between authorities, professional communities and the industry that we can create safer and better buildings for the future.
