As dry as bones as the cold ashes from a wood stove.
But the topic is mandatory for every barrel sauna owner and operator.
Does a barrel sauna require a permit?
How big must the border distance to the neighbor be?
What is BImSchV 2 and what does it mean?
That’s what this wellnessfuerdraussen article is about.
At a glance:
Building permit requirement for the barrel sauna
Barrel sauna permits in the federal states
Limit distance of the sauna: Model Building Code
approval and acceptance of the wood stove
Let's go:
Building permit requirement for the barrel sauna
You would like to buy a barrel sauna and now you would like to find out whether a barrel sauna requires a permit.
Then you have come to the right place.
But, disclaimer; This article does not constitute legal advice!
The question of whether a permit is required for barrel saunas is difficult to answer because there is no uniform federal regulation, but in most federal states this is clarified in the state building regulations.
The state building regulations clarify for which (construction) projects a procedural obligation exists (i.e. for which construction projects you must apply for a building permit) and which projects are exempt from procedural obligations.
So let's take a closer look.
Since wellnessfuerdraussen.de is based in Baden-Württemberg, we first check the question of building permits for your barrel sauna based on the State Building Code (LBO) for Baden-Württemberg (BW).
Baden-Württemberg State Building Code
To understand what it says, we have to look at it word by word.
In the State Building Code for Baden-Württemberg, the appendix to Section 50, Paragraph 1 states:
"Procedure-free projects
- buildings and parts of buildings
- a) buildings without common rooms, toilets or fireplaces, if the buildings are not used for sales or exhibition purposes, up to 40 m³ gross volume indoors and up to 20 m³ gross volume outdoors,
What does this mean?
Exempt from the procedure, i.e. without the requirement for a building permit, are “buildings ... in the interior up to 40 m³ gross volume”.
In German building planning law, the term " outdoor area " refers to a specific area that is relevant for building projects.
According to Section 35 of the German Building Code (BauGB), the outdoor area includes all those properties that are neither covered by a qualified development plan nor belong to a contiguously built-up area.
Whether or not a building permit is required for your barrel sauna depends on the volume of the barrel sauna.
The limit in BW is 40m³, and above this size a permit is required.
The volume is calculated as follows: Radius² x Pi x Length
For a barrel sauna with a 2.5m main room, 1.0m anteroom and a diameter of 2.1m, this means:
(2.1m/2)² x 3.14 x (2.5m+1.0m) = 12m³
This means that a barrel sauna with the usual dimensions is one of the projects that does not require any procedure.
There is no building permit requirement for such a barrel sauna.
Things get more complicated with a garden sauna that has the shape of a normal room, such as a garden house.
The state building regulations define that “buildings without living spaces” are exempt from the procedure.
When it comes to whether a garden house can be used as a recreation room, the regulations of the building authorities are decisive.
The question of whether the interior of a garden house is considered a living space depends on the quality of the building. However, the assessment of the quality of the living space varies from building authority to building authority.
It is therefore advisable to find out in advance about the specific regulations and guidelines of the respective authority.
But what about the oven in the barrel sauna?
Does the sauna stove have any consequences for the building permit for the barrel sauna?
Yes, he did.
The Baden-Württemberg State Building Code defines in point 3 of the appendix to §50 I:
“3. Combustion and other energy generation plants
- a) combustion plants, provided that the necessary technical information is submitted to the district master chimney sweep at least ten days before the start of work and that he certifies the fire safety and the safe discharge of combustion gases before commissioning,
That means:
If you heat your barrel sauna with an electric heater , then this point does not apply to you.
The electric furnace is not a combustion system.
If you heat your barrel sauna with a wood-burning stove , then this point of the state building regulations applies to you.
In this case, you should talk to the district chimney sweep and coordinate the installation of the barrel sauna and heating with the wood stove with him.
What is the situation in the other federal states?
Barrel sauna permits in the federal states
Barrel sauna building permit Baden-Württemberg
In BW, a barrel sauna requires approval if it has a volume of 40m³ or more.
Barrel sauna building permit Bavaria
For the barrel sauna permit in Bavaria, Article 57 of the Bavarian Building Code states: “(1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) buildings with a gross volume of up to 75 m3, except in outdoor areas.”
In Bavaria, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 75m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Berlin
The Berlin Building Code states the following on the issue of barrel sauna approval in Berlin: “(1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) single-storey buildings with a gross floor area of up to 10 m², except in the outdoor area,”
In Berlin, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 10m² of floor space in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Brandenburg
The Brandenburg Building Code provides for the approval of barrel saunas: §61, Projects exempt from approval: “(1) The following buildings or structures are exempt from building approval: buildings without common rooms, toilets or fireplaces with a gross volume of not more than 75 cubic metres, which are not located outside;”
In Brandenburg, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 75m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Bremen
In Bremen, the Bremen State Building Code regulates the approval of barrel saunas. “§ 61 Construction projects exempt from procedures, removal of facilities, federal projects -> (1) The following buildings are exempt from procedures: a) single-storey buildings, also used commercially, with a gross floor area of up to 10 m2, except in outdoor areas,”
In Bremen, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 10m² of floor space in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Hamburg
The Hamburg Building Code defines the barrel sauna permit in Annex 2 to Section 60 “Procedure-free projects” as follows: Exempt from the procedure are “1. Buildings and roofing: 1.1 a single-storey building without common rooms up to 30 m³ of floor space per associated main building, except in the outdoor area,”
In Hamburg, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 30m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Hesse
For the barrel sauna permit in Hesse, the Hessian Building Code regulates the following: “Projects that do not require a building permit according to Section 63: I Construction, installation, installation 1 Buildings and parts of buildings 1.1 Buildings without common rooms, toilets or fireplaces, if the buildings do not have more than 30 m³ gross volume and are not used for sales or exhibition purposes,”
In Hesse, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 30m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Building Code defines the requirements for projects exempt from the procedure as follows: “§ 61 Construction projects exempt from the procedure, removal of facilities (1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) single-storey buildings with a gross floor area of up to 10 m2, except in outdoor areas,”
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 10m² of floor space in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Lower Saxony
The Lower Saxony Building Code states the following about projects that do not require a procedure: Appendix NBauO – Construction measures that do not require a procedure (to Section 60 Paragraph 1) “1. Buildings 1.1 Buildings and extensions without lounges, toilets and fireplaces, if the buildings and extensions do not have a gross volume of more than 40 m3 - in outdoor areas not more than 20 m3 - and are not used for sales or exhibition purposes or for parking motor vehicles,”
In Lower Saxony, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 40m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit North Rhine-Westphalia
The building regulations for North Rhine-Westphalia stipulate the following for the approval of the barrel sauna: “(1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) buildings up to 75 m³ gross volume without common rooms, stables, toilets or fireplaces,”
In addition, Section 6 Paragraph 8 Sentence 1 defines: “Buildings up to 30 m³ gross volume” and Section 6 Paragraph 8 Sentence 2 defines “Fireplaces with a nominal output of up to 28 kW”.
The NRW Association of Towns and Municipalities has made it clear: All barrel saunas in NRW do not require a permit, they are exempt from the procedure if they have a volume of less than 30m³ and regardless of whether they are heated with an electric or wood stove. See BauO NRW: Decree on the construction of a building with a sauna
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 30m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Rhineland-Palatinate
The Rhineland-Palatinate State Building Code describes the situation for the barrel sauna permit as follows: “§ 62 Projects not requiring a permit (1) Without prejudice to a permit required under other regulations, the construction, manufacture, installation, attachment or modification of the following structures, other installations and facilities does not require a building permit: 1. Buildings a) Buildings up to 50 m³”
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 50m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Saarland
The Saarland State Building Code defines the following for projects exempt from the procedure: “§ 61 Projects exempt from the procedure, removal of facilities (1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) single-storey buildings with a gross floor area of up to 10 m², except in outdoor areas,”
In Saarland, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 10m² of floor space in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Saxony
In Saxony, the Saxon Building Code states the following regarding the building permit for a barrel sauna: “§ 61 Construction projects exempt from the procedure, removal of facilities (1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) buildings with a gross volume of up to 75 m³, except in the outdoor area,”
In Saxony, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 75m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Saxony-Anhalt
The building regulations of the state of Saxony-Anhalt define the procedures relevant for the barrel sauna approval as follows: “§ 60 Construction projects exempt from procedures, removal of facilities (1) The construction, modification or installation of 1. buildings is exempt from procedures: a) single-storey buildings with a floor area of up to 10 m2, except in outdoor areas,”
In Saxony-Anhalt, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 10m² of floor space in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Schleswig-Holstein
The state building regulations for the state of Schleswig-Holstein stipulate the following requirements for a building permit for a barrel sauna: “§ 61 Construction projects exempt from procedures, removal of facilities (1) The following buildings are exempt from procedures: 1. a) buildings without common rooms, without toilets and without fireplaces, with the exception of garages, sales and exhibition stands with a gross volume of up to 30 m3, in outdoor areas up to 10 m3,”
In Schleswig-Holstein, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 30m³ in towns and cities.
Barrel sauna building permit Thuringia
The Thuringian Building Code defines the requirements for the barrel sauna permit as follows: “§ 60 Construction projects exempt from the procedure, removal of facilities (1) The following buildings are exempt from the procedure: 1. a) single-storey buildings with a gross floor area of up to 10 m2, except in the outdoor area,”
In Thuringia, the limit for a barrel sauna permit is 10m² of floor space in towns and cities.
As you can see, the situation is very confusing. Square meters or cubic meters, "indoor" or "outdoor", with or without fireplace...
Therefore, I recommend that anyone purchasing a barrel sauna clarify the local requirements for setting up a barrel sauna with their local authority.
Here you will find an overview of the requirements of the building regulations of the federal states for the approval of a barrel sauna without any formalities:
Limit distance of the sauna: Model Building Code
Okay, now you know whether you are allowed to set up your barrel sauna in the garden.
So the next question is: Where can you set up your barrel sauna in the garden?
Whether we like it or not, of course this is also regulated in Germany.
The key word here is “limit distance”.
How much distance do I have to keep from the edge of the barrel sauna to the neighbor's property boundary.
The boundary distance is regulated in the model building code.
The model building code is a legal set of rules that determines the basic regulations for the construction and use of buildings. It provides the basis for the state building codes of the federal states, as a framework for orientation.
According to §6 paragraph 5 of the Model Building Code, the minimum boundary distance to be observed is 3m :
“In front of the external walls of residential buildings of building classes 1 and 2 with no more than three floors above ground, a depth of 3 m is sufficient for the clearance area.”
Building classes 1 and 2 are as follows according to §2 paragraph 3 of the Model Building Code: “Building class 1: a) detached buildings with a height of up to 7 m and no more than two usage units with a total area of no more than 400 m² and b) detached buildings used for agricultural or forestry purposes, Building class 2: buildings with a height of up to 7 m and no more than two usage units with a total area of no more than 400 m²,”
Especially in densely built-up areas, it is therefore definitely a good idea to talk to your neighbors about setting up a barrel sauna.
If you heat your barrel sauna with an electric heater, then this is it for you.
But for the wood stove, the 2nd BImSchV also applies.
What is this about?
approval and acceptance of the wood stove
The wood-burning stove in the barrel sauna is a fireplace.
And there are legal requirements and regulations that apply to a fireplace and we should adhere to them.
Having your barrel sauna wood-burning stove inspected by a chimney sweep may seem like a hassle, but there are good reasons for it.
Firstly, the inspection ensures that your wood stove is installed correctly and that there is no risk of carbon monoxide leakage. Carbon monoxide is an odourless and invisible gas that can be life-threatening. The inspection therefore ensures the safety of your sauna and your guests.
Another reason for the inspection is fire safety. The chimney sweep checks that the smoke is being properly extracted and ensures that there is no risk of fire.
In addition, the removal ensures optimal combustion of the wood, which leads to efficient use of the fuel.
Operating the wood stove without approval is not only illegal, but can also lead to consequences.
According to Section 24 of the Chimney Sweep Trade Act, the violation is an administrative offence and can be punished with a fine of up to €5,000.
In addition to a fine, you may also face the loss of insurance coverage. In the event of a fire or an accident, your insurance may not cover the damage caused.
It is therefore advisable to have the wood stove inspected to avoid these risks.
The cost of an inspection varies, but is usually between €50 and €150. This may seem like an additional expense at first, but remember that this is an investment in the safety and long-term maintenance of your sauna.
The acceptance gives you the certainty that your wood-burning stove is working perfectly and that you can enjoy your barrel sauna without any worries.
The successful acceptance and approval of the barrel sauna wood-burning stove is based on three requirements:
- The wood stove meets the requirements of DIN EN 15821
- The wood stove meets the limit values of the 2nd BImSchV
- The wood stove bears the CE mark
What do these points mean in detail? What do they stand for?
DIN EN 15821
DIN EN 15821 is an important standard that specifies the requirements for wood stoves in saunas.
According to DIN EN 15821, the wood stove must meet certain safety standards.
For example, all wood-burning sauna stoves must have special insulation to keep the outside surface temperature low and prevent burns.
In addition, wood stoves must have a sufficient supply of combustion air to ensure efficient combustion and reduce emissions to a minimum.
DIN EN 15821 also specifies requirements for the flue gases emitted from the wood-burning stove to ensure that they do not pollute the environment.
BImSchV II
For a wood-fired sauna stove, the provisions of the Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV) apply.
The Federal Immission Control Act (BImschG) regulates potentially harmful environmental impacts such as air pollution. It specifies the basic requirements for sauna stoves.
The technical details are regulated in the implementing regulations (BImSchV). These regulations contain specific requirements for wood stoves, information on the approval process and the monitoring of wood stoves.
The 2nd BImSchV is based on DIN EN 15821. For example, wood stoves for saunas must be approved according to DIN EN 15821 and comply with certain limit values for emissions.
The second stage of the BImSchV has been in force since January 1, 2015, which contains stricter limit values for dust and carbon monoxide as well as increased requirements for the minimum efficiency of fireplaces.
Barrel sauna owners should ensure that their wood stove complies with these regulations to protect the environment and avoid possible legal consequences.
Currently applicable limit values are:
- CO emissions max. 1.25 g/m³
- Dust emission max. 0.04g/m³
- minimum efficiency 73%
The corresponding technology is defined in DIN EN 13240 .
CE mark
The CE marking for wood-fired sauna stoves has been mandatory in all European Economic Area countries since July 1, 2013.
This marking indicates that the wood stove complies with European guidelines and safety standards.
It is now prohibited by law to bring wood sauna stoves onto the market without the CE mark.
But what exactly does the CE mark mean for the owner of a barrel sauna?
The CE mark confirms that the wood stove meets certain safety requirements and has been tested.
It gives you, as a sauna owner, the assurance that the stove is safe and ensures correct combustion. This is especially important to prevent fires and other safety-related problems.
Therefore, when purchasing a wood-fired sauna stove, always look for the CE mark and make sure that the stove complies with European guidelines.
Conclusion
With the information in this article, you are now well equipped to deal with the topics of building permits, boundary distances and BImSchV 2 for your barrel sauna.
In most cases, setting up a barrel sauna does not require a permit.
It is best to inform your neighbors in good time and also keep the distances between the boundaries.
And of course it is important to use an approved wood stove.
Please note, however, that exact regulations may vary by region.
Therefore, always check with the relevant authorities to ensure that you comply with all regulations and guidelines.
Remember that building and operating a barrel sauna requires responsibility and care.
We are happy to assist you to ensure that you can enjoy your barrel sauna without any worries.