The Ministry of Public Security to issue National Standard on Fire Prevention and Fighting Equipment in Vietnam (Latest)

The Ministry of Public Security to issue National Standard on Fire Prevention and Fighting Equipment in Vietnam (Latest) (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

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

The Ministry of Public Security to issue National Standard on Fire Prevention and Fighting Equipment (Latest)

The contents of the National Technical Regulations on "Fire Prevention and Fighting Equipment" will comply with QCVN 03:2023/BCA issued together with Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA.

The application for QCVN 03:2023/BCA will start on April 1, 2024, and replace QCVN 03:2021/BCA dated December 28, 2021.

Regarding implementation organization:

- The Director of the Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and urging the implementation of Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA.

- Heads of units under the Ministry, Directors of Police of provinces and centrally-run cities, and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA.

During the implementation process, if any problems arise, local police units, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals shall report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue) for timely instructions.

More details can be found in Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA, taking effect on April 1, 2023, and replacing Circular 123/2021/TT-BCA.

What is QCVN 03:2023/BCA?

QCVN 03:2023/BCA is the national technical regulation on fire prevention and fighting equipment, compiled by the Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Police, appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and issued by the Ministry of Public Security together with Circular 56/2023/TT-BCA.

At the same time, it replaces QCVN 03:2021/BCA, issued together with Circular 123/2021/TT-BCA.

This regulation stipulates the requirements on the limits of technical characteristics and management of inspection activities of fire prevention and fighting equipment on the list of fire prevention and fighting equipment that must be inspected according to the provisions of law before being put into circulation in Vietnam.

Note: QCVN 03:2021/BCA does not apply to fire prevention and fighting equipment imported as samples, goods displayed at exhibitions and fairs; goods temporarily imported for re-export, or goods in transit and not consumed or used in Vietnam.

Regulations on quality assessment of fire prevention and fighting equipment (Latest)

According to QCVN 03:2021/BCA, the assessment of the quality of fire prevention and fighting equipment is regulated as follows:

- Methods of inspecting, testing, and evaluating the quality of fire prevention and fighting equipment samples:

+ Carry out testing and inspection according to the technical criteria specified in Part 2 of this Regulation and issue inspection certificates for fire prevention and fighting equipment before it is put into circulation in accordance with the provisions of the law.

+ Fire prevention and fighting equipment is produced by a domestic production facility with chain technology, and the fire prevention and fighting equipment production process has been certified by a competent authority and stably maintained the quality management system according to ISO 9001 standards and has been inspected and issued an inspection certificate with technical criteria in accordance with this Regulation, then when inspecting subsequent vehicles, it is not required to test the technical criteria marked with (*) stated in the "Technical criteria" column in Part 2 of this Regulation (The technical criteria marked with (*) stated in the "Technical criteria" column have previously been tested and evaluated for quality in accordance with this Regulation).

+ The number of vehicle samples for testing and inspection is taken corresponding to each type of vehicle specified in Part 2 of this Regulation; samples are taken directly by the inspection unit. Samples of fire prevention and fighting equipment, after testing and inspection, must be returned to the unit requesting inspection (except for fire prevention and fighting equipment consumed during the testing process).

- Allows the use of inspection results of foreign agencies and organizations that have been licensed by the competent authority of the host country to consider issuing an inspection certificate.

Fire prevention and fighting equipment on the list that must be inspected for fire prevention and fighting according to the provisions of law and has been licensed to carry out inspection by the competent authority of the host country, the competent Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Police agency, based on the inspection results of the foreign agency or organization, will consider issuing an inspection certificate based on the following requirements:

+ Foreign agencies and organizations have certificates recognized by competent authorities as conforming to ISO/IEC 17025 standards—general requirements for the capacity of testing and calibration laboratories—accompanied by a scope of recognition that is appropriate to the scope of the request for recognition or that has been signed by the Ministry of Public Security to acknowledge the testing and inspection results.

+ Inspection results of foreign agencies and organizations are inspection results for vehicle models that are still valid at the time of applying for an inspection certificate or inspection results for the types of vehicles requesting an inspection certificate; and they must ensure that testing technical criteria fully meet the requirements of the corresponding Vietnamese regulations and standards, foreign standards, or international standards that have been allowed to be applied in Vietnam by competent authorities.

- Means and equipment serving the testing and inspection of fire prevention and fighting equipment must be inspected and calibrated according to the provisions of the law on measurement.

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