Vietnam’s regulations on transport of inflammable and explosive materials

When transporting substances and goods at risk of fire and explosion, military officers, fire fighters, police from units and localities, agencies, organizations, households and individuals concerning fire prevention and fighting activities must comply with the following regulations:

Regarding vehicles transporting inflammable and explosive materials:

Vehicles transporting inflammable and explosive materials must be internal combustion engines or explosion-proof engines and meet the following conditions:

- Engines of vehicles must be separated from material storage compartment by a fire-proof material or a buffer chamber as regulated;

- Exhaust pipe of engines must be placed at an separated position, or covered to ensure fire and explosion safety;

- Electricity system (including battery) must ensure no generation of spark; copper core electric wires must be insulated and have cross section according to the design;

- Floor, structure of material storage compartment and other spaces of the vehicle within range of possible fire and explosion must be made of fire-proof material and ensure no generation of spark due to friction;

- Vehicles with roof;

- Vehicles transporting inflammable and explosive liquid must be grounded Particularly for LPG trucks, Vietnam’s Standards TCVN 6484: LPG – trucks – safety requirements for design, manufacture and usage shall be applied.

- Fire prevention and fighting equipment is adequate as regulated;

- Conditions of technical safety and environmental protection must be ensured as regulated;

- Vehicles transporting inflammable and explosive materials by road, railway must be stuck with a notice about fire, explosion (form No. PC01) at front or the two sides of vehicles during the transportation;

- Vehicles transporting inflammable and explosive materials by road, railway must be stuck with a notice about fire, explosion (form No. PC01) at the front screen or the two sides of vehicles during the transportation.

Regarding drivers and people working on the vehicle:

- Drivers must have driver’s license as regulated by the Law on road, railway, inland waterways traffic, and certificate of competence in fire prevention and fighting;

- People working on the vehicle must have certificates of competence in fire prevention and fighting.

According to Circular No. 66/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, when transporting, organizations and individuals must have a transport permit issued according to the procedures specified in Clause 3, Article 6 of this Circular. It should be noted that an inflammable and explosive material transporting permit is effective throughout the country and valid once for vehicles with contract of affreightment; valid for 12 months for vehicles transporting inflammable and explosive materials by plans or contracts of transport.

In particular, safety inspection on fire prevention and fighting is a necessary activity for individuals, households and organizations in all activities and fields related to fire prevention and fighting in order to limit unintended risks. Persons who are responsible for inspecting fire prevention and fighting safety as regulated in Points a, b, Clause 2, Article 18 of Decree No. 79/2014/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government shall define time and frequency of regular inspections of fire prevention and fighting safety within their own management in reliance on real-life conditions, circumstances as well as requirements for fire prevention and fighting safety. Inspection shall be conducted regularly, periodically or irregularly. Upon conducting regular or irregular inspections of fire prevention and fighting safety with respect to facilities, administrative divisions managed by lower levels, heads of upper-level agencies, organizations, Presidents of the People’s Committee of central or provincial-affiliated districts, communes must make a written notice to such facility, administrative division. In case of necessity, the management level to such facility, administrative division is required to join the Inspectorate, providing documents and developments concerning fire prevention and fighting at the facility and administrative division inspected. Results of inspection shall be notified to the management level of such facility and administrative division.

View regulations on fire fighting plans at Circular No. 66/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam.

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