From 1st August 2025, a change to the building code will come into force that will simplify the construction of modern housing,
schools and public buildings made of wood. The changes will significantly facilitate the design of multi-storey buildings
up to 22.5 metres high and open the way for more sustainable and affordable housing. CTU UCEEB has been heavily involved in
the preparation and implementation of these changes.
At a press conference, the Ministry of Industry and Trade presented new building standards for timber buildings that will
facilitate the construction of modern timber buildings in the private and public sectors. One of the key changes is the new
version of the standard ČSN 73 0802 - Fire safety of buildings, which comes into force on 1 August 2025. The modification
removes major technical barriers to the use of timber in construction - allowing fire-safe solutions up to a height of 22.5
metres. As a result, multi-storey timber buildings can now be routinely designed and built, even using innovative technologies
such as CLT panels. The standard also allows for an engineered fire safety solution, which will simplify project preparation
and reduce costs.
"The change in the building standard for fire safety of multi-storey timber buildings opens up new opportunities for the implementation of affordable and sustainable housing projects with greater use of wood. I very much appreciate that we were able to actively participate in this change on behalf of CTU UCEEB and apply the results of our scientific research projects focused on modern wooden buildings and their fire safety. I am convinced that we will soon see new prefabricated construction projects that will take advantage of the normative approach enabled by this change," says doc. Ing. Petr Kuklík, CSc., Head of the Materials and Building Construction Research Department at CTU UCEEB.
The reform also includes other updates - for example, standard ČSN 73 0582 for day lighting in buildings, which will now allow for more flexible design approaches, or changes to standard ČSN 73 0540 for thermal protection of buildings, which go towards greater energy efficiency. Also in the pipeline is an update to ČSN 73 6058 for electric vehicle parking to facilitate the construction and renovation of garages while maintaining fire safety.
The introduction of new standards is a practical step towards the development of a modern, affordable and sustainable construction
industry that will better meet the current needs of citizens and industry.
The full text of the press release is available here.