Fire protection is understood to mean all measures that prevent the occurrence and spread of a fire (preventive fire protection or fire prevention) and enable the rescue of people and animals as well as effective extinguishing work in the event of a fire (defensive fire protection).

 

Fire protection is complex and can be found in many areas of daily life. In Germany, for example, fire protection requirements can be found in a large number of legal provisions, such as the fire brigade laws and building regulations of the sixteen federal states, as well as numerous other laws, ordinances and guidelines. A distinction is made between preventive and defensive fire protection.