Request for Guidelines to Address Obstacles and Difficulties to Ensure Fire Safety
Guidance from Department C07 on Addressing Difficulties in Ensuring Fire Safety
The Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department and Rescue (C07) issued Official Dispatch 1091/C07-P3, P4, P7 on April 11, 2023, to address difficulties in ensuring fire safety.
The Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department and Rescue (C07) has resolved several issues regarding fire safety in the recent period, including:
(1) Guidance on Fire Prevention Solutions
For structures specified in 3.4.16 of QCVN 06:2022/BXD, which have provided sufficient emergency escape stairs as required, it is permissible to arrange a type 2 stairway (not used for emergency escape) connecting from the lobby on the 1st floor to upper floors, provided that the following conditions are met:
- The lobby on the 1st floor must be separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by type 1 fire resistant walls; upper lobbies must not be arranged with combustible materials.
- On the upper floors, type 2 stairways must be separated by type 1 fire-resistant walls or enclosed corridors with type 1 fire-resistant walls connecting to the stairway.
(2) Guidance on Escape Solutions
The enclosing elements of escape paths in side corridors are not required to have fire resistance limits and self-closing mechanisms for doors opening to these corridors, as per Articles 3.3.5 and 3.2.11 of QCVN 06:2022/BXD.
In addition, it is not required to divide side corridors longer than 60 meters by type 2 fire-resistant walls.
(3) Guidance on Fire Equipment Provision
TCVN 3890:2023 has eased several requirements compared to 3890:2009, such as reducing subjects required to provide outdoor water supplies and not requiring automatic fire detection and suppression systems for single rooms of fire hazard categories D and E.
The required area for automatic fire suppression in production rooms of fire hazard category C has increased to 1,000 m².
For rooms inside production facilities and warehouses equipped with automatic fire suppression systems interconnected with fire alarm centers, automatic fire detectors are not required.
Therefore, the provisions of TCVN 3890:2023 can be applied for approval, reducing the burden on investors.
(4) Guidance on Outdoor Firewater Supply for Specific Facility Types
The outdoor firewater systems for production, business entities, storage facilities, and explosive materials can apply sector-specific standards and regulations such as:
- QCVN 01:2019/BCT (on industrial explosives and explosive precursors).
- TCVN 5307:2009 (on petroleum storage).
For outdoor firewater systems for gas stations and gas stores, refer to:
- Table 8 of QCVN 06:2022/BXD to determine the water supply needed (5 l/s in rural areas, 10 l/s in urban areas).
- Utilization of firewater from hydrants, natural ponds, or water tanks within a 200m radius is allowed.
How should the guidelines resolve fire safety difficulties?
Streamlining Administrative Procedures in Fire Safety – Is This Correct?
According to Official Telegram 220/CD-TTg of 2023 regarding resolving difficulties in fire safety work, to ensure full compliance with fire safety laws while effectively facilitating investment, production, and business activities, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Public Security to assume the prime responsibility, in cooperation with the Ministry of Construction and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, to:
- Review fire safety policies and laws to promptly amend or propose authorities to amend as necessary.
- Strongly promote administrative reform, significantly reduce administrative procedures in fire safety to meet practical development needs.
- Specifically classify buildings and facilities facing difficulties post-inspection and review.
- Provide guidance on regulations and solutions for organizations, enterprises, and individuals to comprehensively address fire safety violations and shortcomings, thus effectively supporting investment, construction, production, and business activities.
Amendment and Supplementation of Technical Standards in Fire Safety Field?
The Ministry of Construction, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, is tasked with:
- Urgently reviewing and promptly identifying fire safety issues in the construction and operational activities of buildings, production, and business of people and enterprises.
- Clarifying causes to develop solutions to amend and supplement technical standards to align with Vietnam's practical conditions, facilitating the most favorable investment, construction, production, and business activities.
- Resolutely reducing unnecessary bureaucratic procedures while fully ensuring fire safety requirements (report results to the Prime Minister before April 30, 2023).
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