Fire safety requirements applicable to facilities in Vietnam

Fire safety requirements applicable to facilities in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Fire prevention and fighting principles in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting 2001 (amended 2013), fire prevention and fighting principles in Vietnam include:

- To mobilize the combined strength of entire population for fire prevention and fighting activities.

- To take prevention as key in the fire prevention and fighting activities; to take initiative in fire prevention, minimizing cases of fire and damage caused by fires.

- To ready forces, means, plans and other conditions for prompt and efficient extinguishment of fires when they occur.

- All fire prevention and fighting activities must, first of all, be carried out and handled by on-spot forces and means.

2. Fire safety requirements applicable to facilities in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 5 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP, the fire safety requirements applicable to facilities in Vietnam are specified as follows:

(1) Any facility mentioned in the list in Appendix III enclosed with Decree 136/2020/ND-CP must satisfy the following fire safety requirements:

- Regulations, prohibition signs, signage, plans or instruction signs concerning fire prevention, fighting and escape are provided in accordance with fire prevention and fighting regulations and standards or regulations of the Ministry of Public Security;

- There are internal and specialized firefighting forces suitable for the facility’s characteristics and having received training in fire prevention and fighting operation, and on-site combat-ready firefighters according to regulations, excluding the case provided for in Point g Clause 2 Article 31 in Decree 136/2020/ND-CP;

- There is a firefighting plan approved by the competent authority.

- Power system, lightning protection system, antistatic system, electrical equipment, spark-generating equipment, heat-generating equipment, and the use of fire sources and heat sources must ensure fire safety in accordance with regulations and standards on fire prevention and fighting or regulations of the Ministry of Public Security;

- There are sufficient and quality traffic system, water supply system and communication system supporting fire fighting, system for management of database on fire prevention and fighting, incident notification system, fire alarm system, firefighting system, fire blocking system, smoke blocking system, fire escape system, other fire prevention and fighting equipment, and rescue equipment in accordance with regulations and standards on fire prevention and fighting or regulations of the Ministry of Public Security;

- The fire safety and firefighting authority (hereinafter referred to as “firefighting authority”) has issued a certificate of design appraisal and design appraisal document (if any) and written approval of fire safety commissioning results for projects and works included in the list in Appendix V enclosed with Decree 136/2020/ND-CP, excluding national defense facilities operating for military purpose and motor vehicles subject to special fire safety requirements manufactured or converted for military purpose by national defense facilities.

(2) Any facility mentioned in the list in Appendix IV enclosed with Decree 136/2020/ND-CP must satisfy the following fire safety requirements:

- The requirements in Points a, c and d Clause 1 of Article 5 of of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP; a certificate of design appraisal and design appraisal document (if any) and written approval of fire safety commissioning results are required for the facilities included in the list in Appendix V enclosed with Decree 136/2020/ND-CP;

- There are sufficient and quality traffic system, water supply system and communication system supporting fire fighting, fire alarm system, firefighting system, fire blocking system, smoke blocking system, fire escape system, other fire prevention and fighting equipment, and rescue equipment in accordance with technical regulations and standards on fire prevention and fighting or regulations of the Ministry of Public Security;

- There are fire prevention and fighting regulations and task assignment. Persons in charge of fire prevention and fighting must join training and refresher courses on fire prevention and fighting operation according to regulations in Article 33 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP.

Thanh Rin

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE