Short stories in the Saarland - Industry welcomes new regional rules
Representatives of architects and the construction industry in the Saarland react positively to the government's plan to revise the state building code. The aim is to reduce bureaucracy and make it more straightforward, understandable, and user-friendly.
"This is absolutely the right direction," said Carmen Palzer, CEO of the Chamber of Architects, in an interview with the German Press Agency. And Christian Ullrich, CEO of the Employers' Association of the Construction Industry, emphasizes: "The timing couldn't be better." The situation in residential construction is "currently dramatic, it's 'five to twelve'."
According to Ullrich, the number of building permits for residential buildings in the Saarland in 2023 has almost halved compared to the previous year, to 405. Responsible for this are not only construction interest rates but also "state-imposed costs such as the excessive building regulations" that make construction increasingly expensive. Therefore, the Saarland's construction industry "expressly" welcomes the plans of Minister of Construction Reinhold Jost (SPD) to make construction, especially of residential buildings, simpler, faster, and more affordable through a comprehensive reform.
As much fire safety as necessary, as much freedom as possible
A motto in the new building code is: As much fire safety as necessary, as much freedom as possible. For example, the previous 6-eye principle is to be changed to a 4-eye principle. "That would be a great relief without causing any danger," says Carmen Palzer.
Alexander Schwehm is pleased that many suggestions made by the Chamber of Architects have been taken into account in the new draft. "The problem was: More and more was demanded in terms of fire safety or barrier-free construction, but the parameters were never adjusted."
Fewer parking spaces, more living space
To create new living space, Reinhold Jost wants to give municipalities more leeway, for example with regard to parking spaces: "They should no longer be prescribed by the state building code, but cities and municipalities can then regulate them themselves, because they can best assess the situation on site," he said to the German Press Agency. If the municipalities do not issue a corresponding ordinance, no parking spaces will be required for apartments and residential homes in the future. The expansion of attics is also to be generally permitted.
Like the Employers' Association of the Construction Industry in the Saarland, the Chamber of Architects also welcomes the fact that the new building code takes up the so-called building type E ("simple and experimental"). According to Schwehm, time and costs can be saved by minimizing building technology. In the future, builders and users could weigh up whether they are willing to make compromises in comfort, such as sound protection, in order to build or rent more cheaply.
According to Minister of Construction Jost, the external consultation on the revision is currently ongoing with a deadline for statements by the end of August: "The new state building code could be adopted as early as this year and thus provide significant relief for construction."
The construction industry in Saarland is enthusiastic about the government's plan to revise the building code, as it aims to reduce bureaucracy and make construction more straightforward. Christian Ullrich, CEO of the Employers' Association of the Construction Industry, believes that the timing could not be better, as the residential construction situation is currently dire.
The new draft of the building code includes a motto: "As much fire safety as necessary, as much freedom as possible." According to Carmen Palzer, CEO of the Chamber of Architects, changing the 6-eye principle to a 4-eye principle would be a great relief without compromising safety.
