Decision No. 10026 on the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire set a deadline of 31 December 2025 for remedying deficiencies in existing buildings that require materials to be procured. That deadline has now passed, and the competent licensing authorities are expected to inspect whether the deficiencies have been remedied. Building managers should also check the current situation and maintenance records without delay.
The separate deadline for accommodation premises also expired on 31 May 2026. Law No. 7579 established the legal framework for periodic fire safety inspections in buildings with occupancy permits. These provisions show the need to identify, document and follow up on building deficiencies.
What did Decision No. 10026 and Provisional Article 4 introduce?
Presidential Decision No. 10026 was issued on 30 June 2025. The amendment to the Regulation made by the Decision was published in the Official Gazette dated 1 July 2025, No. 32943. The amendment added Provisional Article 4 to the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire.
The Article provided for deficiencies in existing buildings that require time to procure materials to be remedied by the building owner and manager, and the heads of the relevant institutions, by 31 December 2025. It also provided for the competent licensing authorities to inspect whether the deficiencies had been remedied after the deadline. As of November 2026, the text of the Regulation contains no new provision extending this deadline.
Two matters should be distinguished here: the provisional period was a timetable for remedying deficiencies, while responsibility for testing, maintaining and inspecting fire detection and other relevant systems remains in force. Keeping only a service invoice may not be sufficient for a building manager. The system’s condition, faults identified, work carried out and outstanding deficiencies should be clearly documented.
What should a building manager do before an inspection?
The first step is to compare the building’s current fire safety arrangements with the design and the on-site installation. Gather any existing reports or service forms, but bear in mind that an old record alone does not show that the system is working today. The following steps can make inspection preparations easier:
- Assess the current condition. Record the fire alarm control panel’s operating and fault status, detection coverage and any visible deficiencies. Building alterations, changes of use or partition walls may have affected the detection layout.
- Check the fire alarm system’s testing and maintenance records. The documents should clearly state the date of the last service, tests carried out, faults found and any work still outstanding. Under Article 84 of the Regulation, emergency lighting, signs, and fire detection and alarm systems are subject to periodic inspection, testing and maintenance as required by the relevant standards and the system.
- Identify missing or non-operational devices. Review the locations and operating condition of detectors, manual call points and sounders. Simply making up the number of missing devices may not be sufficient; their positions should also be assessed for compliance with the design and the building’s current use.
- Inspect emergency lighting and signage. Treat these systems as separate inspection items. Do not assume that checks of emergency lighting and signage are complete just because the alarm system is working.
- Compare the design with changes on site. If the fire detection design you have does not reflect the building’s current use and any alterations, it will be harder to identify deficiencies and plan a solution. If necessary, request a site survey and design review.
Article 84 of the Regulation does not specify a single month or day interval for maintenance that applies to every building; the frequency is determined by the relevant standard and the system’s requirements. Comprehensive maintenance at least twice a year and regular brief user checks are common practice on site, but should not be treated as a fixed number mandated by the Regulation. The appropriate plan for each building should take account of the system’s characteristics and applicable requirements.
When planning the inspection process, you can also refer to the fire alarm inspection checklist before the fire brigade report and the fire alarm system maintenance checklist. The items to include in a fire alarm maintenance contract may also help with keeping maintenance records.
The 31 May 2026 regulation for accommodation premises
A regulation amendment published in the Official Gazette dated 10 January 2026, No. 33133, introduced Provisional Article 9. Under Provisional Article 4, accommodation premises that had been given a period were to be inspected and required to submit a fire brigade report demonstrating compliance with the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire.
Accommodation premises unable to submit the report were to be prohibited from operating until 31 May 2026; those still unable to submit it after that date were to have their licences revoked and be closed. This deadline has also passed. Managers of accommodation premises should confirm the status of their reports and licences with the competent authority. If there are deficiencies, including in the fire detection system, they should be identified without delay and technical work started to remedy them. This provision should not be interpreted as a general decision extending the provisional period for other types of building.
Periodic inspection period under Law No. 7579
Law No. 7579, published in the Official Gazette dated 22 May 2026 and numbered 33261, and entering into force upon publication, added provisions on periodic fire safety inspections to Zoning Law No. 3194. These inspections may be carried out in buildings with an occupancy permit when the building owner applies within the prescribed period.
Inspections will be carried out by municipal fire departments or, where deemed necessary by the fire department, by fire safety experts authorised by the Ministry. A fire safety report will be issued. Any shortcomings identified must be rectified within the period set by the relevant authority, which may not exceed six months, and a valid report must be obtained. Shortcomings requiring major alterations must be addressed under a licence or permit.
The scope, frequency and fees for inspections, as well as the qualifications of experts, will be determined by regulations issued by the Ministry. The draft regulation opened for consultation by the Ministry in August 2026 covers these matters; inspection intervals have not yet been finalised. Therefore, do not include a specific inspection interval in your plans as though it were a confirmed statutory requirement. For details on the law and its implementation, see Law No. 7579 and the article on periodic fire safety inspections.
What should be checked on the panel and field equipment?
During a site survey, the panel’s alarm and fault logs, detection circuits and the condition of field devices are assessed together. Identifying a missing device does not mean deciding immediately which equipment to purchase. Selecting products without assessing the panel type, existing installation and project may lead to incompatibility or unnecessary replacement.
Examples of products that may be considered in light of the existing system include Bosch AVENAR panel 2000, Apollo A81161M2 Addressable fire alarm panel and Teknim TFP-1211 1 loop panel. These are not automatically suitable options for every building; selection should be based on compatibility with the existing panel and devices, the scope of the building and the project. Browse other products in the fire panels catalogue.
Request a site survey and maintenance quote from Narstek
Narstek Elektronik Bina Teknoloji San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., based in Istanbul, provides site surveys, design, installation, maintenance and fault repairs for fire detection and alarm systems. If the condition of your existing system is unclear or you need the list of deficiencies to be technically verified, you can submit a request for service and maintenance.
To help us prepare an accurate quote, please provide the building type and address, approximate area or number of floors, the make and model of the existing panel, any fire alarm project documentation, the date of the last maintenance visit and any known faults. If you operate an accommodation facility, please also include the current status of the fire brigade report or inspection notice. You can use the survey and quote form, call 0212 424 07 24 or contact us on WhatsApp at 0540 001 07 24. Narstek’s address is Tevfikbey Mah. Halkalı Cad. No:112 Nazlı İş Merkezi Kat:3 Ofis No:64 Küçükçekmece / İstanbul.
Frequently asked questions
Has the deadline for completing deficiencies under Decision No. 10026 been extended?
The period under Provisional Article 4 expired on 31 December 2025. As of November 2026, the regulation contains no new amendment extending this period.
How many times a year is fire alarm system maintenance legally required?
Article 84 of the regulation does not specify a fixed monthly or daily interval; the frequency of periodic inspections, testing and maintenance is determined in accordance with the relevant standards and system requirements. At least two comprehensive maintenance visits per year is common practice in the field, but should not be presented as a fixed number required by the regulation.
What does the date 31 May 2026 mean for accommodation establishments?
The regulation set this deadline for certain accommodation premises to submit a fire brigade report demonstrating compliance with fire safety regulations. It provided that premises unable to submit the report by the deadline would have their licences revoked and be closed. As the deadline has passed, the premises’ current status should be confirmed with the competent authority.
Did Law No. 7579 establish a periodic inspection interval?
The Law established the framework for inspections; it provides for the inspection intervals to be set by regulations issued by the Ministry. As the draft opened for consultation in August 2026 has not yet finalised the intervals, no specific interval should be presented as a definitive requirement.
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