Technical and Organisational Activity in the Field of Fire Protection
Field of activity No. 25 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Specific expertise set by law (education, experience, certification).
- Vázaná živnost
- Field No. 25
- See conditions below
- 8 activity examples
Technical and organisational activity in the field of fire protection is a regulated trade (Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act) under which a professionally qualified person provides companies, institutions and municipalities with fire protection documentation, fire hazard assessments, preventive inspections and training. The professional qualification is laid down directly in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (Section 24) and the licence arises on the day of notification.
For a regulated trade the professional qualification is laid down directly in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (Section 24 of the TLA) and cannot be replaced by general experience. For this trade it is governed by the specific legislation referred to in Annex 2 - Section 11 of Act No. 133/1985 Coll., on fire protection, and Sections 20 to 22 of Decree of the Ministry of the Interior No. 246/2001 Coll., on fire prevention. It is enough to meet one of the options:
1) University education in a study programme and study field focused on fire protection.
2) Higher vocational education in a field of education focused on fire protection.
3) Secondary education with a school-leaving examination in a field of education focused on fire protection.
4) A certificate of professional qualification issued by the Ministry of the Interior.
5) A retraining certificate or another document of professional qualification for the relevant work activity + 2 years of experience in the field.
The professional qualification may also be proved through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act.
Examples of activities
- Preparation and maintenance of fire protection documentation
- Assessment of the fire hazard of the activities carried out
- Classification of activities into categories according to the degree of fire hazard
- Carrying out preventive fire inspections
- Training of employees and managers on fire protection
- Specialist preparation of fire prevention officers and preventive fire patrols
- Preparation of the fire regulations, fire alarm directives and the evacuation plan
- Setting up the organisation of fire protection at the operator
What this trade is and what it is for
Technical and organisational activity in the field of fire protection is a regulated trade (Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act) under which a professionally qualified person ensures, for other entities, the fulfilment of obligations in the area of fire prevention. The purpose is to help companies, institutions and municipalities meet the obligations imposed by Act No. 133/1985 Coll., on fire protection, and by the implementing Decree of the Ministry of the Interior No. 246/2001 Coll., on fire prevention.
In practice this means that the entrepreneur (often referred to as a technician or a professionally qualified person in fire protection) prepares documentation, assesses the degree of fire hazard of operations, proposes organisational measures and trains employees. Operators of activities therefore do not need their own specialist and can outsource this agenda.
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
The trade covers in particular the preparation and maintenance of fire protection documentation, assessment of fire hazard, classification of activities into categories according to the degree of fire hazard, carrying out preventive fire inspections, fire protection training and the specialist preparation of prevention officers and preventive fire patrols.
It is important to watch the boundary with neighbouring activities:
- Checks of the operability of fire safety equipment (e.g. fire alarm systems, fire hydrants) and checks of fire extinguishers are carried out by a professionally qualified person or a fire protection technician within the same expertise under Decree No. 246/2001 Coll.; this is not a separate regulated trade. Note, however, that the scope and method of inspection are also determined by the manufacturer's accompanying documentation for the equipment.
- Design activity and fire safety solutions for buildings fall under authorisation pursuant to Act No. 360/1992 Coll. (an authorised engineer/technician), not under this trade.
- Installation, repairs and maintenance of technical equipment (e.g. electrical fire signalling as reserved equipment) require their own licence.
If you are unsure about the classification of a particular contract, verify the scope with the Trade Licensing Office.
Conditions for obtaining the licence under the law
The applicant must meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. A clean criminal record is proved by an extract from the Criminal Record Register, which the office obtains itself. The law does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade.
In addition, it is necessary to prove professional qualification. For a regulated trade this is laid down directly in Annex 2 (Section 24 of the Trade Licensing Act) and cannot be replaced by general experience alone. For this trade it is governed by the specific legislation referred to in Annex 2 - Section 11 of Act No. 133/1985 Coll. and Sections 20 to 22 of Decree of the Ministry of the Interior No. 246/2001 Coll. It is enough to meet one of the options:
| Option | Document | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University education in a field focused on fire protection | - |
| 2 | Higher vocational education focused on fire protection | - |
| 3 | Secondary education with a school-leaving examination in fire protection | - |
| 4 | Certificate of professional qualification issued by the Ministry of the Interior | - |
| 5 | Retraining certificate / another document of professional qualification | 2 years of experience in the field |
A natural person who does not meet the qualification themselves, as well as a legal person, may operate the trade through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act. The responsible representative must meet both the general and the professional qualification and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
How to notify the trade step by step
- Fill in the Unified Registration Form (JRF) for the notification of a regulated trade.
- Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT contact point.
- Submit documents of professional qualification (a diploma, school report, Ministry of the Interior certificate or a retraining certificate and proof of experience), and where applicable the responsible representative's documents and their consent.
- Pay the administrative fee of CZK 1,000 upon notification; for electronic submission via the Trade Register the fee is CZK 800.
- Wait for registration. If you meet the conditions, the office will enter you in the Trade Register, usually within 5 working days. The licence arises as early as the day of notification.
You will find the detailed general procedure in the guide How to set up a trade.
Documents and fees
- A completed Unified Registration Form (notification of a trade).
- Proof of identity.
- A document of professional qualification under one of the options above (for option 5, also proof of 2 years of experience).
- For a responsible representative, their documents and a declaration on holding the role.
- Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 (on paper) / CZK 800 (electronically via the Trade Register).
- The office verifies a clean criminal record itself; no health card or insurance is submitted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I operate the trade even if I have no education in fire protection?
Yes, if you meet another of the options - typically you obtain a certificate of professional qualification from the Ministry of the Interior, or you submit a retraining certificate together with two years of experience in the field. Alternatively, you appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the qualification.
Does this trade also cover checks of fire extinguishers and fire safety equipment?
Yes, to the extent of operability checks. Checks of fire extinguishers and fire safety equipment are carried out by a professionally qualified person or a fire protection technician within the same expertise under Decree No. 246/2001 Coll. - this is not a separate trade. However, the scope and method of inspection are also determined by legislation, standards and the manufacturer's accompanying documentation for the equipment.
When does my licence to do business arise?
The licence to operate a regulated trade arises on the day of notification, provided you meet the statutory conditions. The extract from the Trade Register, which serves as proof, is issued by the office usually within 5 working days.
How much will I pay for the notification?
The administrative fee is CZK 1,000 when submitted at the office. If you submit the notification electronically via the Trade Register portal, you will pay the reduced amount of CZK 800.
Who approves the recognition of a professional qualification from abroad?
The recognition authority is the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, which issues the certificate of professional qualification; the appeal authority is the Minister of Industry and Trade, or the Minister of the Interior. The recognition of qualifications from the EU is governed by Directive 2005/36/EC.