Event Regulation

According to the Ordinance on Places of Assembly (VStättVO), certain minimum requirements must be observed at all events in order to avert risks to public safety!

Background information on the VStättVO:

The Ordinance on Places of Assembly is regulated by the individual federal states on the basis of the state building code and therefore also varies from state to state. The requirements differ, especially with regard to fire protection regulations.

The VStättVO is now over 20 years old in the old federal states and 10 years old in the new federal states. It is obvious that there is an urgent need for action to revise and modernize the regulation. Politicians should continue to be called upon to bring about a regulation at German – or, even better, European – level, so that the regulation becomes uniform and clear for organizers and operators of conference venues.

The so-called model ordinance or Musterversammlungsstättenverordnung (MusterVStättVO), which has recently come into being, is a first attempt to bring about a uniform regulation at the federal level, but is being implemented by many federal states only hesitantly or not at all.

Since, as mentioned, the Ordinance on Places of Assembly is regulated by the individual federal states, operators of event venues and event organizers should contact the respective state government/state chancellery to find out who to contact about the VStättVO and to retrieve the current version of it.

The VStättVO regulates the following points, among others:

• at which facility the VStättVO is applied
• from which size of the event the VStättVO applies
• Use of technical specialists
• Requirement for the podium/stage
• Fire alarms and fire extinguishers, fire safety watches
• Curtains and other decorations
• Barriers
• Lighting technology
• Seating
• Escape routes inside and outside buildings
• Flying structures, rigging
• Use of lasers and pyrotechnics

Excerpts from existing VStättVOs:

Seating Plans:

In consultation with the janitor or hall attendant, the organizer must arrange the seating in accordance with the seating plans approved by the Building Regulations Office. (§ 120 VStättVO)

Escape routes, exits and emergency exits:

Escape routes, exits and emergency exits must be kept free of any objects. Exits and emergency exits must be easy to open from the inside with a single handle. (§§ 3 and 24 VStättVO)

Open light and fire:

The Fire Protection Office must be informed in good time in each individual case where naked lights and fires are used. They will check whether a fire safety guard is required. The costs for this shall be borne by the organizer. (§ 116 VStättVO, § 34 LBKG – State Law on Fire Protection, General Assistance and Disaster Control).

Decorations:

Additional decorations must be at least flame-retardant in accordance with DIN 4102 and must be attached in such a way that escape routes are not constricted. A test certificate for flame resistance must be kept. (§ 32 VStättVO)

Fire Department Access:

The access route must be kept clear so that the use of public fire-fighting and rescue equipment is possible without difficulty. The organizer, in conjunction with the janitor or hall attendant, must ensure that suitable measures are taken to ensure that access routes for fire-fighting and rescue vehicles are kept clear at all times. The required areas are indicated in plans which are deposited with the janitor / hall attendant. (§ 16 LBauO)
For further information please contact the fire protection office

Locking periods:

Sunday to Thursday to Friday: 01.00
(Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Friday to Saturday to Sunday: 02.00
(Friday, Saturday)
Day before holiday to holiday: 02.00

No blocking periods:

• 30 April to 01 May (Witches' Night)
• New Year's Eve
• Carnival: Sunday to Rose Monday and Rose Monday to Tuesday

Noise Ordinance:

The organizer shall ensure...

• that a noise level of 60 dB(A) is not exceeded during the day and 45 dB(A) is not exceeded after 10 p.m.
• that uninvolved persons are not disturbed by the use of sound reproduction equipment, especially in the period from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

In the event of non-observance or violations, an event may be cancelled or the event may not be rented again.