Automated escape and rescue route plans

He is supported in this by programmes from Weise Software GmbH. With "Fluchtplan" and "Brandschutznachweis", he has been using special fire protection programmes from the Dresden-based software company since 2014. "With the Fluchtplan programme, we generate escape and rescue route plans for our customers in accordance with DIN ISO 23601 as well as fire brigade plans in accordance with DIN 14095. Actually, this involves a lot of work, because the plans not only have to comply with current standards and regulations, be unambiguous, internationally understandable and clear. They also have to reflect the current state of building structure and fire protection technology," Klaft explains the requirements. In practice, therefore, either existing CAD drawings in DXF/DWG format or scanned as-built plans are imported. If neither is available, however, the plans have to be entered manually. But Klaft puts the effort into perspective: "We don't have to draw floor plans line by line. Instead, we simply enter walls, windows, doors or stairs with their dimensions and properties in a dialogue window. The programme then creates them on its own. I therefore don't need any CAD knowledge." Klaft also finds it practical that contiguous surfaces are automatically recognised and immediately provided with the correct colour surface, and that line colours and widths, safety signs or font sizes are displayed according to standards. Time is also saved by the standard-compliant templates supplied for frames, titles, behavioural panels or stamp fields, as well as the automatically generated plan legend, which lists and explains all the plan symbols used.

Safety is the core business of Brandschutz 2000 Consulting - for example in the form of fire protection concepts, documentation or escape route plans. The expert office from Büsum is supported in this by fire protection programmes from Weise Software.

Faulty fire protection concepts can usually only be corrected after the building has been completed at great expense in terms of time and money. That is why the motto of Jürgen E. Klaft, owner of Brandschutz 2000 Consulting, is: "Fire protection - from the very beginning of planning". As an expert for fire protection, specialist planner for preventive fire protection (EIPOS), lecturer, former head of the plant fire brigade and fire protection at IBM as well as district fire chief in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, he is a proven and experienced expert: "Fire protection is often insufficiently taken into account - also because different specifications of state building regulations, special building regulations, guidelines and standards do not exactly facilitate fire protection planning. If fire protection concepts are faulty in the preliminary planning stage, they cost building owners or investors a lot of time and money later on," Klaft knows from his wealth of experience of over 30 years in theory and practice. That is why he advises and supports planners as early as possible in the preparation of fire protection concepts and verifications. Fire protection reports, escape and rescue route plans or fire brigade plans are also part of his range of services.

Fire protection concepts and verifications

Fire protection is a state matter. Klaft often has to struggle with this: "If, like me, you work in several federal states, you have the problem that each state has its own specifications, which may have to be documented in its own forms". Creating fire protection concepts and verifications is therefore very time-consuming, as many state-specific ordinances, special building regulations, but also standards and technical regulations have to be taken as a basis. In addition, different building classes have to be considered, components, escape routes or fire extinguishing equipment have to be verified, documents, calculations and plans have to be attached and much more. "That is why I have been using the fire protection certificate from Weise Software for six years. The programme takes into account all building and height classes, as well as special buildings or complex verifications according to the model industrial building guideline. Structured queries ensure that I don't forget anything," says Klaft happily. For the fire protection classification, for example, all areas, floors, limit distances, the type of use and other specifications are queried step by step. Klaft then adapts the resulting sample concept individually to the respective property. Points that are still open or deviations are highlighted graphically for a better overview. Klaft appreciates this as much about the software as the possibility of adding additional explanatory texts, illustrations or tables - for example from the integrated database, which includes over 550 ordinances, guidelines and laws of the federal states.

Fire protection programmes from a single source

The fact that Brandschutz 2000 Consulting works with several programmes from one manufacturer has advantages - not only because master data can be easily exchanged. It is also easier to familiarise oneself with the programmes and to operate them because they follow a uniform operating concept. Klaft also likes the fact that you don't have to call several manufacturers if you have questions, but are always connected to a familiar contact person: "My support contacts are limited. But if I do have a question, I get a quick and competent response. According to Klaft, the use of software has paid off: "There is a world of difference between the conventional and the digital way of working. I save a lot of work and time - especially in reporting." For professional colleagues who are looking for the right software in the field of fire protection, Klaft has a simple piece of advice: "First you should clarify which software you need for your specific area and whether it 'fits' your individual requirements. After all, the range of fire protection software is not all that large. If you know other programmes from the manufacturer and are satisfied with them, it makes the decision easier.

Fire protection documentation with the construction diary

Klaft has been using Weise Software's digital construction diary for fire protection documentation since 2017. "I became aware of it through intensive research on the internet. The good experience with the programmes I was already using accelerated my decision," says Klaft, explaining his choice. Actually, the construction diary, together with the supplementary app, was developed for the creation of daily construction reports and meeting minutes. Texts and photos can be used to document construction site activities: Activities and defects, obstructions, changes and meetings, special incidents and more. Klaft uses the construction diary especially for fire protection documentation and expert reports, because conditions and defects can be documented with short explanatory texts and photos, as well as setting deadlines and checking processing statuses. "In the past, I used to enter handwritten notes or notes made on site with a dictaphone into forms later in the office. This was cumbersome, time-consuming and prone to errors. To avoid queries, this could usually only be done by the same person who made the hand notes on site. Today, I record measures or defects on the construction site digitally with my tablet and photograph them immediately. I use a "digital pin" to locate the defects in a comprehensible way in the PDF plan. This almost completely eliminates the time-consuming post-processing in the office," says Klaft, explaining the advantages of recording and allocating information directly on site.

Practical report as PDF