Recognition as a fire protection equipment company

To be recognised as a fire protection equipment company, the company must fulfil:

• general recognition conditions that apply to all the recognitions relating to the environment:
  • in the 3 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, the applicant has not been convicted of a criminal offence in a member state of the European Economic Area, for infringements of the environmental legislation concerning the use of the recognition
  • in the 2 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, no recognition of the applicant with the same subject was revoked due to infringement of the obligations associated with that recognition.
• the following special recognition conditions:
  • employ at least 1 recognised fire protection equipment technician
  • employ sufficient recognised fire protection equipment technicians for the expected work volume
  • provide proof that the necessary instruments and procedures are available to the recognised fire protection equipment technician.

Your company already has a European certificate as a fire protection equipment company

A company that has already obtained a European certificate as a fire protection equipment company outside the Flemish Region can also obtain the Flemish recognition certificate as a fire protection equipment company. However, the company must register with the Flemish administration before starting to work in the Flemish Region.

Validity period and obligations

Recognition as a fire protection equipment company is valid for an indefinite period. Your company must meet the following obligations, among others, to retain recognition:

• duly and fully complete the installation log book
• ensure that recognised fire protection equipment technicians are deployed for work subject to recognition
• hold insurance for third party liability, including professional liability, in connection with the use of the recognition
• report any changes in the identification details (such as address, e-mail address) immediately via erkenningen.omgeving@vlaanderen.be(opens in your email application)
• pay the annual fee (in Dutch) for the supervision of the recognition. The first payment must be made in the year following the year in which the fire protection equipment company has obtained the Flemish recognition certificate. Failure to pay the annual fee will lead to automatic suspension of the recognition following a formal notice of default. If the fee is still not paid within 30 days of the suspension, the recognition will automatically lapse.

More information on the obligations of fire protection equipment companies (in Dutch) is available on the Department of Environment and Spatial Development website.

Your company does not yet have a European certificate as a fire protection equipment company

Request your recognition from the Flemish administration:

1. Download the application form (in Dutch)(Word file opens in new window) from the Department of Environment and Spatial Development website and fill it in.
2. Transfer the one-off fee to account no. BE40 3751 1110 2263 stating ‘OMG-A-BBB + the name of your company’.
3. Attach the receipt to your application and submit it via the online recognition desk of the Department of Environment and Spatial Development(opens in new window) (click on ‘Ga naar het erkenningenloket’; log in with e-ID). If you do not have a Belgian eID, you should submit your application by registered letter to Departement Omgeving, Koning Albert II-laan 20/bus 8, 1000 Brussel, to the attention of Team Erkenningen, afdeling GOP.

The competent unit handles your application and takes a decision within 90 days, counting from the day after submission of the complete application file.

If your company meets the recognition conditions, the Energy and Climate Agency of Flanders will:

• issue a European certificate and a Flemish recognition certificate
• include the details of the company on the list of recognised fire protection equipment companies.

Your company already holds a European certificate as a fire protection equipment company

A company that has already obtained a certificate as a fire protection equipment company outside the Flemish Region must register via the online recognition desk of the Department of Environment and Spatial Development(opens in new window) (click on ‘Ga naar het erkenningenloket’; log in with eID).

If you do not have a Belgian eID, you should register the company by registered letter with the Flemish administration before being allowed to work in the Flemish Region. Send your notification by registered letter to Departement Omgeving, Koning Albert II-laan 20/bus 8, 1000 Brussel, to the attention of Team Erkenningen, afdeling GOP.

Attach the following information to your notification:

• a copy of the European certificate as a fire protection equipment company in Dutch, French, German or English
• the official name of the company
• the company registration number. If the company does not have a company registration number, you should submit the address of the registered office and the VAT number of the company
• the telephone number and the e-mail address
• an overview of the recognised fire protection equipment technicians employed, including copies of their Flemish recognition.

he recognition will take effect from the date on which this information is submitted to the Flemish administration. The company then receives a Flemish recognition certificate from the Energy and Climate Agency of Flanders and is included on the list of recognised fire protection equipment companies (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window).

The company must pay a one-off fee for handling the application for recognition as a fire protection equipment company.

• In 2024, the one-off fee is 683 euro.

The recognised fire protection equipment company must pay an annual fee (in Dutch) for the supervision of the recognition. The recognised fire protection equipment company receives an invoice for this by post at the start of the calendar year:

• In 2024, the annual fee is 137 euro.

Flemish regulation on environmental recognitions (VLAREL)