In Turkiye, whether a building must have an automatic sprinkler system is determined by the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY). The decision does not rest on a single number: it comes from the combined assessment of building height, occupancy class, floor and total enclosed area, and hazard class. This article summarises the practical framework of the sprinkler requirement by occupancy type and explains where NFPA 13 and EN 12845 fit into it.
How BYKHY Determines the Sprinkler Requirement
BYKHY does not tie the automatic sprinkler requirement to a single height or area rule. The obligation emerges at the intersection of four variables:
- Building or structure height: sprinklers are generally mandatory in buildings exceeding the high-rise threshold.
- Occupancy class: residential, office, hotel, healthcare, assembly, retail, industrial and storage classes are each subject to different thresholds.
- Enclosed area: occupancy-specific thresholds are defined for both single floor area and total enclosed area.
- Hazard class: low, ordinary and high hazard — decisive particularly in storage and industry.
When any one of these variables crosses its critical threshold, automatic sprinkler protection comes into play.
Sprinkler Approach by Occupancy Class
| Occupancy class | Sprinkler approach | Governing criterion |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (low / mid rise) | Generally not required | If it remains below the high-rise threshold |
| Residential (high rise) | Required | Once the high-rise threshold is exceeded |
| Office | Depends on height and area | High-rise status or large total area |
| Hotel / dormitory | Usually required | Bed capacity, storey or area threshold |
| Shopping centre / retail | Required | Defined total enclosed area threshold |
| Healthcare (hospital) | Required in parts | Inpatient and specialised departments |
| Industrial / production | Depends on area and hazard | Large enclosed area, high hazard |
| Storage (rack, high bay) | Effectively required | Height, commodity class, area |
The High-Rise Definition: 21.50 m and 30.50 m
BYKHY measures height with two distinct concepts:
- Building height: the distance from the level at which the building takes its datum (ground) to the ceiling slab of the topmost storey.
- Structure height: the total height of all storeys of the structure, including basements.
In practice, structures exceeding a building height of 21.50 m or a structure height of 30.50 m are treated as "high-rise". In buildings with high-rise status, automatic sprinklers, fire hose cabinets, stair pressurisation and smoke control all come into consideration together. These two figures are among the clearest triggers of the sprinkler requirement, but they must be read alongside the building's other conditions — floor area, means of escape and occupancy.
Shopping Centres, Hotels and Storage: The Prominent Occupancies
Shopping centres and large retail buildings are treated most strictly because of dense occupant circulation and high fire load. Sprinklers are considered mandatory in shopping and retail buildings exceeding a defined total enclosed area threshold, and the presence of an atrium additionally triggers smoke control requirements.
Hotels, motels, guest houses and dormitories are given priority because of the sleeping occupant risk. Sprinkler protection is expected in accommodation buildings exceeding a defined bed capacity or storey and area threshold, and hotels that qualify as high-rise fall within scope in every case.
In storage and industrial buildings the decision rests on the size of the enclosed area and the hazard class of the goods. High-bay rack storage, plastics and combustible commodities, and large enclosed areas make sprinklers effectively mandatory; in high hazard storage, special sprinkler types such as ESFR and considerably higher water flow rates come into play.
BYKHY Accepts NFPA 13 and EN 12845 as Alternatives
BYKHY sets the general framework and the thresholds at which protection becomes mandatory, but leaves the technical detail — hydraulic calculation, pipe sizing, sprinkler spacing and water flow rate — to international standards. In practice two are used as alternatives:
- NFPA 13 — the US standard; density/area method, gpm/ft² and psi units.
- TS EN 12845 — the European standard; density in mm/min, area of operation in m², bar and L/min units.
A single standard should be selected on a project and applied consistently. Mixed approaches — sizing sprinklers to EN 12845 and the pump to NFPA — lead to inconsistency in water supply duration and flow definitions. The choice is often shaped by the investor, the insurer and the third-party inspection body.
What Applies When Sprinklers Are Not Required?
In smaller, low hazard buildings where sprinklers are not mandatory, BYKHY requires complementary measures:
- Fire detection and alarm systems
- Fire hose cabinets and a hydrant system
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Smoke control and pressurisation where necessary
- Clean agent suppression in spaces such as server rooms and archives
Even where sprinklers are not mandatory, a designer may propose them voluntarily where the risk is high; this improves life safety and can have a favourable effect on insurance premiums.
Field Practice: A Designer's Checklist
- Measure the height precisely: calculate building and structure height separately and compare each against the high-rise threshold.
- Establish the occupancy class correctly: in mixed-use buildings the most onerous class governs.
- Check the area thresholds: assess both single floor and total enclosed area against the occupancy class.
- Plan the compartmentation strategy: fire compartments can keep areas below the thresholds.
- Fix the standard: choose either NFPA 13 or EN 12845 and apply it consistently.
- Confirm the authority's view: on projects close to a threshold, obtain the fire brigade or permitting authority's interpretation early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BYKHY and how does it determine the sprinkler requirement?
BYKHY is the abbreviation of the Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings, which sets the minimum rules for protecting all types of structure against fire in Turkiye. The automatic sprinkler requirement does not follow from a single criterion but from the combined assessment of building height, occupancy class, total and per-floor enclosed area, and hazard class. The thresholds in this article are a practical framework; the current text of the regulation governs actual application.
At what height do sprinklers become mandatory under BYKHY?
Height is one of the most decisive criteria. Structures exceeding a building height of 21.50 m or a structure height of 30.50 m are treated as high-rise, and automatic sprinklers are generally mandatory in high-rise buildings. These figures are assessed together with the building's other conditions such as means of escape and floor area, and the current regulation should be checked for the exact limit.
Which buildings require sprinkler protection?
In general: high-rise buildings, shopping centres and retail buildings above a defined area threshold, high-density storage areas, hotels and dormitories above a defined size, certain departments of healthcare buildings, and industrial or production facilities with large total enclosed areas. The obligation is determined at the intersection of occupancy class, floor area, total area and hazard class. In small, low hazard buildings sprinklers are usually advisory.
What is the high-rise definition under BYKHY?
A high-rise building is defined as one with a building height exceeding 21.50 m or a structure height exceeding 30.50 m. Building height is measured from the ground datum to the ceiling slab of the topmost storey, while structure height covers all storeys including basements. Buildings in this category attract additional measures such as automatic sprinklers, fire hose cabinets and smoke control.
Are sprinklers mandatory in shopping centres?
Shopping centres and large retail buildings are among the occupancies treated most strictly, because of dense occupant circulation and high fire load. Automatic sprinklers are considered mandatory above a defined total enclosed area threshold. The requirement is assessed together with the number of storeys, the presence of an atrium and occupancy density, and the current regulation and the authority's approval are decisive in design.
Are sprinklers mandatory in residential buildings?
In ordinary low and mid-rise residential buildings sprinklers are generally not required, but once a residential building exceeds the high-rise threshold automatic sprinklers come into play. High-rise residential blocks require sprinklers, fire hose cabinets and stair pressurisation together. In buildings below the threshold, fire detection and hose cabinets take precedence. On projects just below the limit, the designer should confirm the current regulation and the local fire brigade's view.
When are sprinklers required in storage and industrial buildings?
The decision rests on the size of the enclosed area and the hazard class of the stored material. High-bay rack storage, plastics and combustible commodities, and large enclosed areas make sprinklers effectively mandatory. BYKHY requires automatic sprinklers in industrial and storage buildings above a defined total area, and in high hazard storage special sprinkler types such as ESFR and higher water flow rates come into play. Correct hazard classification is essential.
Which standards does BYKHY accept for sprinkler design?
BYKHY expects internationally recognised standards to be applied for the design and installation of automatic sprinkler systems; in practice NFPA 13 and TS EN 12845 are used as alternatives. The regulation provides the general framework, while the hydraulic calculation and pipe sizing follow the chosen standard. A single standard should be selected and applied consistently on a project, and NFPA and EN criteria should not be mixed.
Are sprinklers mandatory in hotels and dormitories?
Accommodation occupancies such as hotels, motels, guest houses and dormitories are given priority in fire protection because of the sleeping occupant risk. Automatic sprinklers become mandatory in accommodation buildings exceeding a defined bed capacity or storey and area threshold, and are expected in any hotel that qualifies as high-rise. In small guest houses, detection and evacuation measures take precedence. Exact thresholds should be verified against the current regulation.
What is required instead when sprinklers are not mandatory?
Where sprinklers are not required, BYKHY calls for alternative and complementary measures: fire detection and alarm systems, fire hose cabinets, portable extinguishers and, where necessary, smoke control. In particular spaces such as server rooms and archives, clean agent suppression is preferred over water. Even where not mandatory, a designer may propose sprinklers voluntarily where risk is high, which can also affect insurance premiums favourably.
Are the thresholds in this article legally binding?
No. This article summarises the sprinkler requirement under BYKHY in a general and practical framework; exact article numbers, numerical thresholds and exemptions can change over time. What is binding is the current text of the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings in force and the interpretation of the authority having jurisdiction. Always check the current official text and consult a fire safety specialist where necessary.
SprinkCalc — Fire Sprinkler Design Across Three Standards
SprinkCalc covers hazard classification, design density and area, K-factor selection, water demand and hydraulic calculations for NFPA 13, FM Global and BS EN 12845 in a single iOS app, and exports a professional PDF report.
Download SprinkCalc on the App Store
MEP Calc — 86+ Engineering Calculators
MEP Calc bundles 86+ engineering modules in one iOS app: 21 fire calculations plus heating, cooling, HVAC, plumbing, steam and natural gas.
Download MEP Calc on the App StoreThe thresholds and height values in this article are a practical framework reflecting the general approach of the Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY); exact article numbers, numerical limits and exemptions can be revised over time. What is binding is the current regulation in force and the interpretation of the authority having jurisdiction. Technical design references: NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; TS EN 12845, Automatic Sprinkler Systems.