Will the new national technical regulation on fire fighting equipment be applied from April 1, 2024 in Vietnam?

Will the new national technical regulation on fire fighting equipment be applied from April 1, 2024 in Vietnam?

On October 30, 2023, the Minister of Public Security issued Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA on the National Technical Regulation on "Fire Fighting Equipment".

The subjects of application of the National Technical Regulation QCVN 03:2023/BCA are:

- Organizations and individuals that produce, assemble, convert, import fire fighting equipment in Vietnam.

- Agencies and organizations with the function of inspecting fire fighting equipment.

- Agencies and organizations related to the quality management of fire fighting equipment.

Note: The National Technical Regulation QCVN 03:2023/BCA does not apply to fire fighting equipment imported in the form of:

- Samples, exhibition and fair goods;

- Temporary import-reexport, transit goods that are not consumed and used in Vietnam.

Will the new national technical regulation on fire fighting equipment be applied from April 1, 2024 in Vietnam? - Source: Internet

According to QCVN 03:2023/BCA, what are general requirements for fire fighting equipment in Vietnam?

As prescribed in Subsection 1.5, Section 1 of the National Technical Regulation QCVN 03:2023/BCA issued together with the Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA, there are general requirements for fire fighting equipment as follows:

- The type of fire fighting equipment declared or reported by organizations and individuals that produce or import must comply with the list of equipment specified in Part 2 of the National Technical Regulation QCVN 03:2023/BCA.

In case the type of equipment is not clear, it is necessary to coordinate with the competent management agency to identify the type of fire fighting equipment.

- Fire fighting equipment must be managed, stored, and maintained in accordance with the provisions of law and relevant standards, technical regulations or manufacturer's instructions.

- Fire fighting equipment must be inspected in accordance with the provisions of the National Technical Regulation QCVN 03:2023/BCA and the provisions set forth in relevant fire prevention and fighting laws and regulations.

Can the results of inspection by foreign agencies or organizations be used to consider issuing a fire fighting equipment inspection certificate in Vietnam?

As prescribed in Subsection 3.1, Section 3 of the National Technical Regulation QCVN 03:2023/BCA issued together with the Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA, management regulations on fire fighting equipment are as follows:

Management regulations

3.1. Regulations on the quality assessment of fire fighting equipment

...

3.1.2. Allowing the use of the inspection results of foreign agencies or organizations that have been licensed by the competent authorities of the home country to consider issuing a certificate of inspection

Fire fighting equipment included in the list of fire fighting and fire prevention inspections required by law, which have been licensed by the competent authorities of the home country to conduct inspections, then the competent Firefighting and Rescue Police Departments will base on the inspection results of foreign agencies or organizations to consider issuing a certificate of inspection based on the following requirements:

a) Foreign agencies or organizations have a certificate accredited by a competent authority in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, with the scope of accreditation consistent with the scope of recognition or has been signed by the Ministry of Public Security to recognize the test results, inspection.

b) The inspection results of foreign agencies or organizations are the inspection results for the sample of equipment that is still valid at the time of requesting a certificate of inspection or the inspection results for the types of equipment requested for a certificate of inspection; and must ensure that the technical test indicators meet all the requirements of the corresponding Vietnamese regulations, standards or foreign standards, international standards that have been approved by the competent authority for application in Vietnam.

Therefore, the inspection results of foreign agencies or organizations that have been licensed by the competent authorities of the home country can be used to consider issuing a certificate of inspection for fire fighting equipment in Vietnam.

Note: Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA is effective from April 1, 2024 and replaces Circular 123/2021/TT-BCA.

Best regards!