Before a single detector goes up, the most important document is already on the table: the Programme of Requirements (PoR) of the fire alarm system. In the Netherlands the PoR is not an administrative formality. It is the basis on which the inspection body, the fire service, the insurer and the contractor make every subsequent decision.
In this article: what NEN 2535 expects at minimum, which components make the difference during inspection, and the three most common mistakes that delay projects by weeks.
1. Why the PoR is decisive
The PoR fixes what the installation must do — not how. The technical design is built on top of an approved PoR, and the installation begins only after the technical design is approved. A weak or incomplete PoR leads to recurring discussions at handover and even rejection during inspection.
2. What NEN 2535 requires
A PoR per NEN 2535 covers at minimum:
- Coverage — which rooms are monitored and at what level (total room coverage, partial room coverage, object protection)
- Detection principle per zone — optical, ionisation, aspiration, thermal, flame — based on the building use and the fire scenario
- Evacuation strategy — phased, simultaneous, with or without pre-alarm; linked to the OAI per NEN 2575
- Signal transmission — to the regional fire control room and/or a private alarm centre
- Operation and maintenance — responsible party, frequency, reporting structure per NEN 2654
- Building data — construction year, use function, escape routes, in-house emergency response (BHV) organisation, integration with other installations (sprinkler, smoke ventilation, BMS)
3. Three pitfalls you can avoid
Written too late. Many PoRs are produced after engineering has already started, or after equipment has been ordered. The PoR comes before everything — it drives the design, not the other way around.
Generic text without building-specific reasoning. A copy-paste PoR with generic NEN references will not survive inspection. Every choice (coverage, detection principle, evacuation strategy) must reference the specific building use and the building code.
No alignment with the insurer. Insurers often have additional requirements — for example a higher coverage level than NEN 2535 minimally asks. A PoR without a conversation with the policy holder leads to expensive additions later, or a rejected inspection certificate.
4. Who writes the PoR?
In Dutch practice the PoR is produced by the building owner or manager, in cooperation with a fire-detection engineering specialist. ANiX works as that specialist on the PoR, takes part in the alignment with inspection body and insurer, and delivers the document in the format that most inspection bodies (Kiwa, R2B, Bureau Veritas) expect.
Short checklist
- [ ] Building use and layout recorded
- [ ] Coverage per room explicit
- [ ] Detection principle reasoned
- [ ] Evacuation strategy aligned with BHV
- [ ] Signal transmission fixed
- [ ] Maintenance per NEN 2654 assigned
- [ ] Insurer consulted
A solid PoR saves months at inspection and certification. Want to sound-board on a new or existing project? Schedule a no-obligation intake — we will look at your building, use function and the current document.