A bridge-type ignition element for initiating the ignition of pyrotechnical materials lying above it by heating when an electric current is passed through it. The bridge-type element is essentially made up of a resistance layer applied to a substrate, a reactive layer, applied on top of that, made of especially an oxidizable metal and a polymeric cover layer situated on top of that, whose material is selected in such a way that it is able to react exothermally at an elevated temperature with the oxidizable material of the reactive layer. The polymeric cover layer makes possible not only a lower energy requirement but also achieves corrosion protection from the surroundings and from the pyrotechnical material.