National technical standard on vault in Vietnam as of February 12, 2024

National technical standard on vault in Vietnam as of February 12, 2024 (Internet image) 

On December 29, 2023, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam issued Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN on national technical standard on vault and security vehicle of credit institutions and foreign bank branches.

1. General regulations on vaults in Vietnam

- Vaults shall be built in headquarters of credit institutions and FBBs; have sufficient useable area for preservation of money, valuables, and valuable instruments.

General Directors (Director) of credit institutions and FBBs shall decide on construction of vaults outside of headquarters of credit institutions, and FBBs while adhering to technical requirements of vaults under Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN.

- Vault location shall be reasonable and convenient so as to ensure secure and safe vault operation.

- Vaults shall be fitted with equipment systems.

- Credit institutions and FBBs providing asset storage service, leasing safe deposit boxes shall utilize vault spaces with separate doors in accordance with standards on vault doors or separate vaults; or situate separate deposit boxes or safes in vaults and vault spaces to facilitate asset preservation service.

2. Structure and technical standards of vault in Vietnam

Floors, walls, and ceilings of vaults shall be made of reinforced concrete, connected to form a cube shape, and compliant with standards below:

- Floors of vaults are even and flat. Layers of vault floors, in descending order, include: Surface layer that is non-slip and resistant to compression and collision; reinforced concrete; masonry concrete; sand; soil, and treatment for termite and moist resistance;

If vaults are built above the ground floor, technical standards of vault floors shall be similar to those of vault ceilings and vault floors shall be fitted with non-slip, compression resistant, and collision-resistant surface;

- Vault walls shall be of a height appropriate to that of storey where the vaults are located;

- Vault ceilings shall be of whole reinforced concrete blocks;

- Vault protective corridors (if any) shall be fitted with separate doors and security alarm system to prevent intruders;

- Vents shall be appropriately located on vault walls, vault space walls, and intermediate space walls (if any);

- Elevators shall serve vaults located above the ground floor or in the basements for transporting money, valuables, and valuable instruments.

Vaults at headquarters and branches of credit institutions, headquarters of FBBs shall meet minimum technical standards under Appendix I attached to Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN.

3. Regulations on vault doors in Vietnam

Vault doors shall be located in secure locations and open to intermediate spaces (if any), consist of two layers of steel, gap between two layers shall be appropriate for thickness of vault walls and satisfy standards below:

- Vault door frames shall be of steel, U-shaped, of a width appropriate to vault wall thickness, reinforced by steel plates; installed in a way that the underside rests on the floor of vaults and intermediate spaces (if any) and is casted concrete together with walls and floors of the vaults;

- Outer layer of door frame is of steel and rigid cube shape. The outer surface is of steel sheets, seamless, welded with twisted steel bars on the inside; followed by a layer of concrete reinforced by steel mesh or steel types that prevent drilling and breaching. Edge of door leaf is clipped with steel.

A steel partition of minimum thickness of 3 mm is required between locking mechanism and concrete layer. Important positions of locks shall be reinforced by a layer of corrugated steel or steel sheet of minimum thickness of 6 mm and capable of resisting drilling and thermal lance.

A side of a door leaf shall be fitted with three-point hinges or fixed hinges and opposing side shall be fitted with 5 bolts or movable hinges. Two number locks requiring combinations of 3 of 4 digits with tracking keys with number cover shall be required. Password shall be changed conveniently and easily.

- The inner door layer has the same dimensions as the outer layer; door frame shall be of steel, cube shape, consisting of two horizontal bars and vertical steel bars that are evenly 50 mm apart. The side on which hinges are installed shall contain two fixed bolts whereas the opposing side shall contain three mobile deadbolts operated by knobs. Door stoppers shall be required on sides with swinging doors. A recessed lock that can be unlocked from both side shall be required;

- Locks of vault doors shall be of clear origin and accompanied by technical specifications and use manuals.

Vault space doors: If vault space doors are inside of vaults, the doors shall conform to standards applicable to inner layers of vault doors.

Vault doors at headquarters and branches of credit institutions, headquarters of FBBs shall meet minimum technical standards under Clause 1 of this Article and Appendix II attached to Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN.

4. Requirements of equipment system installed at vaults in Vietnam

Vaults shall be fitted with the following equipment system:

- Power supply for stable operation of other equipment system and backup power supply in case of power grid outage. Circuit breakers outside of vaults; switches and sockets inside vaults serving operation of other equipment systems in vaults;

Vaults shall be fitted with lighting systems that emit little heat and are protected by casing or cover, grid lighting, and emergency lighting (if any);

- Fans of adequate capacity in vents to ensure proper ventilation and reduce contamination. Air expelled from vaults shall not contaminate adjacent work areas;

- Fire alarm and firefighting system in accordance with regulations of fire authorities and compliant with National Standards on fire prevention and firefighting;

- Security system for alarming trespassers and detecting trespassers such as:

+ Infrared detectors installed in vaults; intermediate spaces and protective corridors (if any) to control movement in these areas;

+ Switches installed on the inside of: outside of vault doors; vault space doors, intermediate space doors, protective corridor doors (if any) and other necessary doors;

+ Emergency alarm buttons installed in vaults; intermediate spaces (if any) and other necessary areas in case of emergencies;

- Surveillance cameras in necessary positions to observe vault doors; intermediate spaces, protective corridors, transport staircases (if any); inside vaults (if necessary) and other necessary areas. Surveillance system must record, play, and extract images serving management, observation, monitoring, and supervision.

All equipment systems are managed, used, and monitored, examined on a regular basis. Equipment control panels shall be located in secure location, able to maintain confidentiality of parameters, and convenient for management and use.

Equipment systems installed at vaults of headquarters, branches of credit institutions and headquarters of FBBs shall meet minimum requirements under Clause 1 of Article 7 of Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN.

Legal basis: Chapter II of Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN.

More details can be found in Circular 23/2023/TT-NHNN taking effect on February 14, 2024, repealing Circular 02/2012/TT-NHNN.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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