Halfkann + Kirchner

What Halfkann + Kirchner does

Halfkann + Kirchner is a German fire protection engineering consultancy (PartGmbB) headquartered in Erkelenz with six offices across Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Freiburg). Founded in 1986, the firm provides object-specific fire protection concepts, fire and smoke simulation calculations, evacuation proofs, smoke extraction concepts, and expert certification services for special buildings (Sonderbauten) and complex existing structures. Its client base spans government (Reichstag/Bundestag, Federal Constitutional Court, Stadt Mönchengladbach fire station), enterprise retail and automotive (dm-drogerie markt, ALDI SÜD, Mercedes-Benz Museum), broadcasting (SWR Stuttgart TV Tower), cultural institutions (K21 Kunstsammlung), and industrial/logistics facilities in Germany and Switzerland.

The firm's core technology stack centers on computational fire simulation, including CFD/field-model methods (ANSYS), the multi-room multi-zone model MRFC, and a proprietary patented calibrated smoke testing device called Smoke 3 used to validate smoke and heat exhaust measures in completed buildings. It has extended this engineering capability into BIM-integrated digital fire protection concepts, earning the BIM Champion 2026 award in Technology/Innovation. The firm's offerings also include Bestandsanalyse (existing-building fire safety assessment), Genehmigungsplanung (permit planning), Brandschutzordnung (fire safety regulation documentation per DIN 14096), CAD services, and Naturmessungen. Udo Kirchner, the lead partner, holds the first state-approved Prüfingenieur für Brandschutz credential in NRW.

The business operates as a professional services consultancy on a direct, project-by-project engagement basis, with fees determined privately per mandate and no public pricing. Projects are sourced through direct enterprise and government engagement, architectural firm referrals, and public-sector tendering for federal and landmark buildings. The firm generates revenue primarily from engineering hours and project deliverables rather than recurring software or product licensing. Ownership is concentrated among three managing partners (Udo Kirchner, Holger Muhm, Rupert Wendorf), with no institutional investor, M&A, or funding activity evidenced; thought-leadership channels (annual Stuttgarter Brandschutztage moderation, VIB chairmanship, federal guideline co-authorship) serve as the primary business development mechanism.

Name

Halfkann + Kirchner

Legal name

HALFKANN + KIRCHNER Beratende Ingenieure für Brandschutz PartGmbB

Website

https://hk-brandschutz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Halfkann + Kirchner is a German fire protection engineering consultancy (PartGmbB) founded 1986, offering fire and smoke simulation, evacuation proofs, BIM-integrated fire protection concepts, and patented Smoke 3 testing across six German offices to government, enterprise, and infrastructure clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Engineering Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Building Inspection Services (54135)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Life Safety Code Compliance Inspections & Consulting (AHJ Support) (BPABAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smoke Control & Fire/Smoke Damper Inspection & Testing (IMAIAJAI), Ventilation & Smoke Control Systems (Smoke Exhaust/Pressurization) (IMADANAI)

Keywords

• Fire protection engineering
• Smoke extraction design
• Evacuation planning services
• BIM fire protection
• Fire safety consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Erkelenz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Halfkann + Kirchner is a fire protection engineering consultancy that develops object-specific fire protection concepts (Brandschutzkonzept), performs computer-aided fire and smoke simulations (CFD/Feldmodellsimulation via ANSYS and MRFC), designs smoke extraction concepts (Entrauchungskonzept), conducts physical smoke tests on completed buildings using its proprietary patented Smoke 3 device, delivers evacuation calculations, prepares permit and BIM-based digital fire protection documentation, and provides state-recognized expert certification and testing authority services.

Product overview

Halfkann + Kirchner is a fire protection engineering consultancy offering a comprehensive suite of services including fire protection concepts, fire simulation calculations, smoke extraction simulations, smoke tests using their proprietary Smoke 3 patent, evacuation calculations, BIM-based planning, CAD documentation, permit planning, existing building analysis, and expert certification services. The firm uses advanced computational methods including CFD/field model simulation, ANSYS, and MRFC for engineering analysis, supported by CAD tools for documentation. Their services span consulting, planning, expert testimony, and construction management for fire safety across multiple industry sectors including industry, transportation, commerce, healthcare, public buildings, and residential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brandschutzkonzept (Fire Protection Concept) Protection-goal-oriented comprehensive assessment of all fire protection measures required for an object-specific building; the firm's core consulting deliverable for new and existing buildings.
• Brandsimulationsrechnung (Fire Simulation Calculation) Computer-aided prediction of fire event progression and effects regarding temperature, smoke gas concentration, visibility, and other parameters for fire protection engineering.
• Entrauchungskonzept (Smoke Extraction Concept) Presents measures for smoke extraction primarily based on fire simulation, used to design smoke and heat exhaust ventilation (RWA) systems.
• Rauchversuch (Smoke Test) Enables evaluation of smoke and heat extraction measures in the completed building using calibrated test equipment.
• Smoke 3 Smoke Testing Service Physical smoke testing service using the firm's proprietary calibrated, patent-protected Smoke 3 device to validate smoke extraction concepts in completed buildings (used in Switzerland and Germany).
• Feldmodellsimulation / CFD Simulation Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations based on discretization of building geometry into grid cells, solving mass, energy, and momentum equations to simulate airflow and fire dynamics.
• Bestandsanalyse (Existing Building Analysis) Determines fire protection-relevant conditions in comparison to the original building permit and evaluates necessary modernization measures for existing buildings.
• Genehmigungsplanung (Permit Planning) Compilation of documents for submission in the regulatory approval process for fire protection concepts.
• Brandschutzordnung (Fire Safety Regulations Documentation) Defines behavioral rules per DIN 14096: Part A general rules, Part B behavior of persons without specific fire protection duties, Part C behavior of persons with specific fire protection duties.
• Staatlich anerkannter Sachverständiger (State-Recognized Expert / Testing Authority) State-recognized expert appointed under SvVO in North Rhine-Westphalia for fire protection inspection of medium-height residential buildings and fire protection concepts for special buildings (Sonderbauten).
• Digitales Brandschutzkonzept im BIM-Modell (BIM-Based Digital Fire Protection Concept) Digital fire protection concept integrated within a BIM model for documentation, coordination, and approval of fire protection in construction projects; recognized with the BIM Champion 2026 award.
• Fire Engineering Consulting Overall fire protection engineering consulting discipline focused on fire safety in buildings and structures, encompassing concept, simulation, testing, and approval support.

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with a fire-protection and life-safety practice serving complex buildings and transit infrastructure. Adjacent competitor for large public-sector fire-safety mandates.
• Arup: Global engineering consultancy with a significant fire-engineering practice delivering CFD-based fire and smoke modelling for complex buildings. Overlaps in methodology and target clients but operates at much larger scale.
• WSP: International professional services firm with a dedicated fire-engineering team offering CFD, evacuation modelling and code consulting globally. Comparable technical offering embedded in a much larger organization.
• Gruner AG: Swiss engineering group with a dedicated fire-protection division providing concepts, CFD simulations and approvals across the DACH region. Comparable technical depth with broader multi-discipline scale.
• ATP architects engineers: Integrated German architectural-engineering firm with in-house fire-protection capability for industrial, commercial and residential Sonderbauten. Bundles fire protection with broader design services.

Direct peers

• Kempen Krause Ingenieure: German multi-discipline engineering firm with a substantial fire-protection practice providing Brandschutzkonzepte, simulations and approvals across NRW. Comparable in certification-driven delivery and public-sector exposure.
• hhpberlin: Berlin-based fire-protection engineering consultancy offering fire concepts, simulation and approval planning for complex buildings in Germany. Directly comparable service portfolio, target market (Sonderbauten) and engineering-driven delivery model.
• Brandschutz Consulting Erfurt: Germany-focused fire-protection consultancy offering fire concepts, simulations and expert opinions for industrial and public buildings. Comparable niche specialist positioning.
• IBB – Ingenieurbüro für Brandschutz und Bauwesen: Specialist German fire-protection engineering firm delivering concepts, simulations and approvals for commercial and industrial buildings. Closely comparable service mix and regulatory expertise.

Others

• Sachverständigenbüro Halfkann (historical reference): Indicative reference to the broader network of state-recognized fire-protection Sachverständige in Germany (e.g., regional Prüfingenieure) that compete for the same regulatory approval mandates; included as ecosystem peer rather than named competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/halfkann-kirchner

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Halfkann + Kirchner