Responsibilities, competences, and liability issues in fire protection at events

By wdo, 22 October, 2025

Daniel Schlatter - Kanzlei Schlatter-Zahl-Kuhnt

The fire disaster in Crans-Montana makes it clear that fire safety at events is not a formal obligation of individuals, but a shared responsibility of all those involved. Even though the incident took place outside Germany, the causes, omissions, and organizational weaknesses can also be classified within the German legal and licensing context.

In Germany, fire safety is well regulated in many areas – but not everything is automatically safe. Temporary uses and seasonal event formats in particular show how quickly standards can be watered down or responsibilities become diffuse. With the upcoming carnival season in mind, temporary festival venues in garages, backyards, and tents are coming into focus, as are highly frequented pubs, bars, and restaurants.

The presentation clarifies where fire safety responsibilities begin, how they are distributed, and where close attention is urgently needed. This is also and especially true with regard to the expected behavior of visitors.

Daniel Schlatter combines sound legal knowledge with many years of operational experience in security planning and implementation for major events.

He regularly advises operators, event organizers, local authorities, and licensing authorities on issues relating to event security, security organization, and liability.

His strength lies in his ability to classify complex legal requirements in an understandable way, dispel typical misconceptions from practice, and derive concrete recommendations for action.

Especially in the context of current damaging events, the presentation provides guidance: What is legally required, what makes sense from an organizational perspective—and where do personal liability risks begin?

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Daniel Schlatter

By wdo, 28 November, 2024

Schlatter & Zahl Rechtsanwälte

Daniel Schlatter hat an der Universität Konstanz Rechtswissenschaft studiert und durfte seine Referendarzeit beim Landgericht Konstanz verbringen. Seit Oktober 2005 ist er als Rechtsanwalt in eigener Kanzlei tätig. Die Zeit des Studiums nutzte Rechtsanwalt Schlatter auch für praktische Führungserfahrungen in den Bereichen Veranstaltungs- und Veranstaltungsverkehrsmanagement. Diese Erfahrungen waren Grundlage der 2007 abgeschlossenen Qualifikation zum Verantwortlichen für Veranstaltungstechnik. Diese wertvolle Kombination ist Basis für die anwaltlichen Beratungsschwerpunkte: Behördenkooperation bei gewerberechtlichen und bauordnungsrechtlichen Genehmigungsverfahren und veranstaltungsrechtliche Vertragsgestaltung.

safety & security stage Halle 4

Daniel Schlatter
Justiziar bvvs
Beschreibung_en

Schlatter & Zahl Attorneys at Law

Daniel Schlatter studied law at the University of Konstanz and completed his legal clerkship at the Regional Court of Konstanz. He has been working as an attorney at law in his own law firm since October 2005. During his studies, Mr. Schlatter also gained practical management experience in the areas of event and event traffic management. This experience formed the basis for his qualification as an event technology manager, which he completed in 2007. This valuable combination is the basis for his main areas of legal practice: cooperation with authorities in commercial and building permit procedures and drafting contracts for events.

safety & security stage Hall 4