Fire safety is one of the most expensive and legally significant line items when building a warehouse in Almaty. Mistakes here cost dearly: a warehouse without a properly designed fire suppression system will fail the state technical review in a seismic zone, will not receive an occupancy permit, and in the event of a fire — the insurer will not pay out. Let's walk through the current Kazakhstan 2025 regulations and real-world system costs.
Cat. B1–B4
most warehouses
fire hazard category depends on the flammability class of stored goods — determines the full scope of requirements
from 1.2M ₸
fire alarm + AFA system
for a 1,000 m² warehouse in Almaty — minimum package per MES RK regulations
from 6M ₸
sprinkler fire suppression
for a 1,000 m² warehouse — mandatory for categories A, B, and high-rack storage
updated 04.10.2025
MES RK Technical Regulation No. 405
current edition of 'General Fire Safety Requirements' — the primary regulatory document
Regulatory Framework: What Applies in 2025–2026
Fire safety for warehouses in Kazakhstan is governed by two primary documents:
- Technical Regulation "General Fire Safety Requirements" — MES RK order dated 17.08.2021 No. 405, current edition with amendments dated 04.10.2025
- Fire Safety Rules of the RK — MES RK order dated 21.02.2022 No. 55, current edition with amendments dated 02.09.2025
For Almaty, SP RK 2.03-30-2017 "Construction in Seismic Zones" additionally applies — requirements for engineering systems in seismic zones, updated 12.08.2025.
State technical review is mandatory for any warehouse in Almaty
Warehouse Fire Hazard Categories: What Determines the Scope of Requirements
The category is determined by the characteristics of stored goods. It literally drives everything: the structural fire hazard class of the building, sprinkler requirements, and clearance distances to other structures.
| Category | What Is Stored | Typical Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A | Explosion/fire hazard (flammable gases, flammable liquids below 28°C) | Gasoline, acetone, LPG |
| B | Explosion/fire hazard (flammable liquids 28–61°C, combustible dust) | Diesel, alcohols, flour |
| B1–B4 | Fire hazardous (combustible materials) | E-commerce goods, clothing, paper, furniture, food |
| G | Non-combustible when heated/burning | Rolled metal, mineral materials |
| D | Non-combustible when cold | Metals, glass, concrete |
Most commercial and logistics warehouses in Almaty fall into category B1–B4. Categories A and B require the maximum set of systems and special structural solutions.
Mandatory Fire Safety Systems for a Warehouse
1. Automatic Fire Alarm System (AFA)
Mandatory for all warehouses in categories A–B4. Includes:
- Smoke and heat detectors (distributed network throughout the full volume)
- Control and indicating panel
- Notification devices (audible, visual)
- Communication line to the security panel
Cost for a 1,000 m² warehouse in Almaty: 800,000 – 1,500,000 ₸ (installation + equipment)
2. Emergency Notification and Evacuation Management System (ENEMS)
For warehouses over 500 m² — type 2 ENEMS (voice notification). Integrated with the AFA.
Cost: 400,000 – 900,000 ₸
3. Internal Fire Water Supply
Mandatory for buildings in categories A–B3 with a volume over 5,000 m³ or an area over 500 m². In Almaty — water from the municipal network or a dedicated tank (for remote locations).
Cost: 1,500,000 – 4,000,000 ₸ (depends on connection to the city water utility)
4. Sprinkler Fire Suppression
Mandatory for:
- Warehouses in categories A and B — any size
- Category B warehouses with rack heights above 5.5 m
- Automated high-bay racking systems
- Buildings with a volume over 10,000 m³ (for cat. B)
| Sprinkler System Type | Application | Cost per 1,000 m² |
|---|---|---|
| Wet sprinkler (standard) | Heated warehouses | 6,000,000–10,000,000 ₸ |
| Dry sprinkler | Unheated warehouses | 8,000,000–14,000,000 ₸ |
| Deluge system | Categories A, B | 10,000,000–18,000,000 ₸ |
Seismic zone + sprinklers = special requirements in Almaty
5. Fire Access Roads and Clearances
Requirements under Kazakhstan regulations:
- Distance from building to perimeter fence: at least 5 m (for fire engine access)
- Fire road width: at least 6 m
- Distance between buildings: 10–18 m depending on fire resistance rating
- A turning area for fire engines must be provided (18×18 m)
6. Smoke Extraction Ventilation
For warehouses taller than 6 m with category B1 and above — smoke extraction systems:
| System | Application | Cost per 1,000 m² |
|---|---|---|
| Natural smoke extraction (roof vents) | Category B3–B4, height 6–9 m | 500,000–1,500,000 ₸ |
| Mechanical smoke extraction | Cat. B1–B2, height 9+ m | 2,000,000–5,000,000 ₸ |
Total Fire Safety System Cost in Almaty
For a typical heated category B2–B3 warehouse, 1,000 m²:
| System | Cost |
|---|---|
| AFA + ENEMS | 1,200,000–2,400,000 ₸ |
| Internal fire water supply | 1,500,000–3,000,000 ₸ |
| Sprinkler system (wet) | 6,000,000–10,000,000 ₸ |
| Smoke extraction | 500,000–2,000,000 ₸ |
| Extinguishers, fire stations, sand boxes | 200,000–400,000 ₸ |
| MES RK approval, fire safety section in project | 500,000–1,200,000 ₸ |
| Total for cat. B2–B3, 1,000 m² | 9,900,000–19,000,000 ₸ |
For a warehouse without sprinklers (cat. B4, racks up to 5.5 m), 1,000 m²: | Total | 3,900,000–7,800,000 ₸ |
Common Design Mistakes
Mistake 1: "We don't need sprinklers" Many clients discover too late that a racking system at 5.6 m height already requires sprinklers. Design with headroom — if you plan high-bay storage, build in sprinklers from the start.
Mistake 2: Standard pipe clamps on pipework In Almaty (seismic zone 9) piping systems require special seismic-rated fasteners. Without them you will not pass the technical review.
Mistake 3: Calculating by area only, not volume Sprinkler protection is standardised by building volume, not area alone. A tall warehouse at 10 m height requires a different calculation than one at 6 m.
Mistake 4: Installing without a project design "We'll hang some detectors and say it's done" — this does not pass state technical review. The system must be designed by a licensed specialist.
We integrate fire safety from the very first drawing
StroyHub designs warehouses in Almaty fully compliant with all MES RK 2025 codes and seismic requirements — get a cost estimate broken down by system.