1 

Why is the maintenance of RWA systems so important?

Regular maintenance of an RWA system is essential for several reasons:

Safety in case of fire: A functioning RWA system keeps escape and rescue routes smoke-free in the event of a fire, facilitates the extinguishing work of the fire brigade and protects human lives.

Legal obligation: Building operators are legally obliged to ensure the operational readiness of fire protection devices.

Insurance coverage: Many fire insurance companies link their full scope of services to the proof of a properly and regularly serviced RWA system. Without this proof, there may be reductions in benefits or loss of insurance coverage.

Value preservation: The maintenance serves to maintain the value of the system and prevents expensive repairs by detecting wear at an early stage.

2

How often does an RWA system need to be serviced?

The maintenance of an RWA system must be carried out at least once a year by a qualified specialist company. This interval is defined in technical standards such as DIN 18232-2 and the manufacturer's specifications.

In addition to annual maintenance, the operator of the system should carry out a regular (e.g. monthly or quarterly) visual inspection to detect obvious defects such as damage or blocked openings at an early stage.

3

Who is allowed to carry out RWA maintenance?

Maintenance may only be carried out by qualified specialist companies with verifiable expertise. These specialist companies must have trained personnel who are familiar with the specific types of equipment (e.g. pneumatic, electrical), the applicable regulations and the manufacturer's specifications.

4

What is checked during an RWA maintenance?

The exact scope of maintenance depends on the type of system (pneumatic or electric). All work carried out and test results are carried out in a test or test test. The operating book is documented without gaps.

Typical test points include: TABLE

5

What regulations govern RWA maintenance?

The most important regulations for the maintenance of RWA systems in Germany are:

DIN 18232-2: Smoke and heat protection - Part 2: Natural smoke extraction systems (NRA); Design, requirements and installation. It requires annual maintenance by a specialist company.

VdS/CEA Directive 4020: Requirements for smoke and heat extraction systems.

Muster-Bauordnung (MBO) / Landesbauordnungen (LBO): Demand the general maintenance obligation for structural installations.

Model Inspection Ordinance (MPrüfVO): Prescribes recurring inspections for certain special buildings (e.g. meeting places, high-rise buildings) by experts recognized by building inspection, which take place in addition to the annual maintenance.

6

What happens if maintenance is neglected?

Neglecting maintenance can have serious consequences:

Functional failure in case of fire: The system does not open, which massively hinders the rescue of people and the extinguishing work.

Legal consequences: The operator is personally liable in the event of damage. This can lead to civil claims for damages and criminal consequences.

Loss of insurance coverage: The insurance company may refuse to regulate the damage.