The aim of this paper is to investigate the statistical aspects of multiannual variability of precipitation at the Hurbanovo station, Slovakia, over 140 years (1872–2011). We compare the long-term variability of annual precipitation for Hurbanovo (Slovakia), Brno (Czech Republic), Vienna (Austria), and Mosonmagyarovar (Hungary) stations using autocorrelation and spectral analysis methods. From the long-term point of view, there is no consistent trend in the annual precipitation; only a multiannual variability has been detected. Consequently we identify changes in the distribution of annual maximum daily precipitation for Hurbanovo during different periods for winter-spring and summer-autumn seasons using histograms, empirical exceedance curves, and frequency curves of daily precipitation. Next, we calculate the periods of days without precipitation exceeding 29 days between 1872 and 2011. The longest period of days without precipitation was 83 days in 1947. The statistical analysis does not confirm our initial hypothesis that neither high daily precipitation (over 51.2 mm per day) nor long dry periods (more than 50 days without precipitation) would occur more frequently nowadays. We assume that the decrease in annual precipitation over the period 1942–2011 (compared to 1872–1941) is caused by the less frequent occurrence of daily precipitation between 0.4 and 25.6 mm.

This topic is very actual due to the high number of chimney and flue fires, including radiators especially during the heating season. The aim of the article is to compare and assess the strictness of the regulations in selected European countries in terms of safe separation distance of the flue from the combustible construction parts.

The paper deals with the solution of interconnections of flue and combustible construction products in the fire safety design. It is focused mainly on a prescribed value of safe distance of the wooden building construction from a single-walled metal chimneys. The aim of article is to point out the necessity to solve the contradictory requirements in the Slovak legislation and inconsistency with the foreign regulations in terms of fire rates caused by chimneys and flues.

In the past, due to a harmonization of standards of the Slovak Republic to European Union standards, there was the amendment of Act no. 455/1991 Coll. on small business. Based on adjustments related regulations was a canceled competence requirement of persons performing regular cleaning and inspection of the chimney. According to statistics of Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic is a chimney still one of the most common reasons of fire in residential buildings. The article deals with the analysis of fires caused by chimneys and flues. The main goal is to point out the necessity to solve this problem by stricter regulations on testing and approval of the chimney.

The issue of calculating the fire resistance of timber structures is discussed in detail in European Standard EN 1995-1-2. In the calculation it is possible to combine different materials, joints and effect of cavities on the spread of fire. The problem occurs if the design is underestimated, the realization of construction or choice of materials. Improperly designed geometry, poorly chosen materials, products or systems contribute to the intensity of the fire. It is important to remember properties of the individual components of a structural element and subsequent interaction during a fire. Article simply analyses the impacts of possible choices of different products and their behavior in fire. The article is based on EN 1995-1-2:2004 [.