Mandatory Equipment for Spanish VUT 2026: CO Detector, Fire Extinguisher and First Aid Kit by Region

Every Spanish VUT (vivienda de uso turístico) must meet a mandatory safety equipment standard before it can legally accept guests. The exact list varies by autonomous community, but the core requirements are consistent across Spain: a CO detector, a 2 kg ABC dry powder fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and an evacuation plan posted visibly on the premises. Penalties for non-compliance range from 600 EUR for minor infractions to 150 000 EUR in communities such as Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. This guide gives you the complete breakdown by region, European CE standards, where to source compliant equipment and practical tips for foreign non-resident owners managing their VUT remotely.

Core Legal Framework: Where the Obligation Comes From

The obligation to equip a VUT with safety devices does not come from a single national decree but from a combination of national fire safety law, royal decrees on tourist accommodation and autonomous community regulations. The key texts are:

• Real Decreto 513/2017, of 22 May, approving the Regulation on fire protection installations. This sets out the technical standards for fire extinguishers, CO detectors and smoke detectors in dwellings and tourist accommodation.
• Regional VUT decrees: Decreto 28/2016 (Andalusia), Decreto-Ley 3/2023 (Catalonia), Decreto 29/2019 (Madrid), Decreto 10/2021 (Valencia), various Consell Insular decrees (Balearic Islands) and Decreto 12/2017 (Galicia). Each sets out the specific equipment list for that region.
• UNE-EN 3 standard (portable fire extinguishers): European harmonised standard specifying the construction, performance testing and marking of portable extinguishers sold in Spain. Compliant products carry the CE mark and the AENOR or equivalent certification.

Mandatory Equipment by Autonomous Community

Region	CO Detector	Fire Extinguisher	First Aid Kit	Fire Blanket	Evacuation Plan	Smoke Detector
Andalusia (VFT)	Required if gas appliances present	2 kg ABC, mandatory	Mandatory (RD 513/2017)	Recommended	Mandatory (posted)	Mandatory (each floor)
Catalonia (HUTG)	Mandatory (all VUT)	6 kg ABC, mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory (each room)	Mandatory (each room)
Madrid (VUT)	Required if gas appliances present	2 kg ABC, mandatory	Mandatory	Not required	Mandatory (posted at entrance)	Mandatory (each floor)
Valencia (VT)	Mandatory (all VUT)	2 kg ABC, mandatory	Mandatory	Recommended	Mandatory (posted)	Mandatory
Balearic Islands (ETV)	Mandatory (all VUT)	6 kg ABC per floor, mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory (each room)	Mandatory (each room)
Galicia (VTT)	Required if gas appliances present	2 kg ABC, mandatory	Mandatory	Not required	Mandatory (posted)	Mandatory (each floor)
Canary Islands (VV)	Required if gas appliances present	2 kg ABC, mandatory	Mandatory	Recommended	Mandatory (posted)	Mandatory (each floor)

Note that Catalonia and the Balearic Islands require a larger 6 kg extinguisher per floor, not the 2 kg unit that suffices in other regions. If your VUT has multiple floors, you need one extinguisher per floor in those regions. A duplex VUT in Palma with two floors therefore needs two 6 kg extinguishers.

CO Detector: Technical Specifications and Placement

A carbon monoxide detector (CO detector) is mandatory in any VUT that has gas appliances (boiler, hob, water heater, gas fireplace) in Andalusia, Madrid, Galicia, the Canary Islands and several other regions, and mandatory regardless of fuel type in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands.

Compliant CO detectors must meet the EN 50291-1:2018 standard (electrochemical sensor type) and carry the CE mark. In Spain, the most widely stocked compliant brands are Kidde, Honeywell and Ei Electronics. Prices range from 25 to 70 EUR per unit. Key placement rules:

• Place the detector on a wall or ceiling at least 15 cm below the ceiling (CO mixes with air and does not rise directly to the ceiling like smoke).
• Do not place near windows, doors or air vents where draughts may dilute CO before the sensor responds.
• Install in every room with a gas appliance and in the sleeping areas.
• Replace the unit every 5 to 7 years (sensor degrades over time, even if the alarm still beeps).
• Test the alarm at each change of guests (press the test button) and record the test in your guest log.

Fire Extinguisher: What to Buy and Where

The standard requirement across Spain for VUT is a 2 kg ABC dry powder extinguisher (polvo polivalente ABC), which covers Class A (solid materials), Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (gases) fires. In Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, regulations specify a minimum 6 kg unit per floor.

Compliance checklist for fire extinguishers in a Spanish VUT:

• CE mark visible on the label, compliant with UNE-EN 3.
• Annual inspection by an authorised maintenance company (empresa mantenedora homologada by the CCAA). The inspection costs 15 to 30 EUR per unit and produces a signed label attached to the extinguisher body.
• Recharge every 5 years or immediately after any use.
• Mount on a bracket at a height of 1.0 to 1.7 m from the floor (trigger at hand height).
• Located near the exit of each room or floor, never inside a cupboard or behind furniture.

Where to buy in Spain: Leroy Merlin, El Corte Inglés (industrial department), Amazon.es (filter by UNE-EN 3 compliance) and specialist fire safety suppliers (extintores-online.com, segurex.es). For a non-resident owner, buying directly on Amazon.es and arranging delivery to the property manager or a trusted neighbour is the most practical route.

First Aid Kit: Contents and Standards

The mandatory first aid kit (botiquín de primeros auxilios) in Spanish VUT is defined by Real Decreto 486/1997 on workplace safety (which applies by analogy to tourist accommodation under regional VUT decrees) and the regional regulations themselves. A compliant kit must contain at minimum:

• Sterile gauze dressings (10 x 10 cm and 20 x 20 cm).
• Adhesive plasters in assorted sizes.
• Bandages (5 cm, 10 cm).
• Triangular bandage (sling).
• Sterile saline solution (250 ml) for wound irrigation.
• Antiseptic solution (povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine).
• Disposable gloves (at least 2 pairs).
• Digital thermometer.
• Scissors and tweezers.
• Emergency contact numbers card (112, local hospital, nearest health centre).

A ready-made compliant kit costs 15 to 35 EUR at any Spanish pharmacy or at Leroy Merlin. Replace any expired items annually and ensure the kit is sealed and accessible to guests (visible in the bathroom or kitchen).

Evacuation Plan: Format and Placement

Every Spanish VUT must display an evacuation plan. In Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia, the plan must be posted in every bedroom. In Andalusia and Madrid, one copy posted at the entrance is sufficient, though posting one per room is best practice.

The evacuation plan must show: the floor plan of the VUT with fire exits marked, the location of the fire extinguisher, the location of the CO and smoke detectors, the emergency number (112 Spain), the address of the VUT (for guests to report to emergency services) and the assembly point outside the building. The plan should be laminated (A4 or A5) and fixed with screws or adhesive strips, not with adhesive tape that deteriorates.

For non-resident owners, you can create a compliant evacuation plan using free tools (Canva, RoomSketcher) or commission one from a gestoría or property manager for 30 to 80 EUR. The plan should be in at least Spanish and English, and ideally in the languages of your most frequent guests.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Regional tourism inspectors routinely check VUT equipment during licensing inspections and periodic compliance audits. Penalties vary by region but the typical ranges are:

• Minor infraction (missing one item, e.g. no evacuation plan): 600 to 3 000 EUR.
• Serious infraction (missing fire extinguisher, expired extinguisher, no CO detector where required): 3 001 to 30 000 EUR.
• Very serious infraction (repeated non-compliance, operating without any safety equipment): 30 001 to 600 000 EUR in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

An inspector who finds a VUT without a mandatory CO detector and a missing fire extinguisher can issue an immediate closure order pending compliance, which means zero income from the property until rectification is confirmed.

For a downloadable equipment checklist tailored to your autonomous community and practical guidance on remote VUT management, visit hostready.eu/es-en.