Regulations on fire prevention for residential buildings in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Regulations on fire prevention for residential buildings in Vietnam from July 1, 2025​ (Image from internet)

The National Assembly passed the Law on Fire Prevention and Rescue 2024 on November 29, 2024.

Regulations on fire prevention for residential buildings in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Article 20 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Rescue 2024 stipulates fire prevention for residential buildings in Vietnam as follows:

(1) Residential buildings not specified in items (3) and (4) must meet the following fire safety conditions:

- Installation and use of electrical equipment must ensure fire safety conditions, specifically:

The installation and use of electrical wires and equipment in the house must meet safety requirements under legal regulations; regularly inspect, promptly repair, and replace electrical wires and equipment that do not meet fire safety requirements;

- Arrange cooking areas, altars, and places burning joss paper safely; do not place flammable substances near sources of fire or heat.

(2) Residential buildings not specified in items (3) and (4) must ensure the following firefighting and escape conditions:

- Have firefighting equipment suitable for actual ability and conditions to be ready for firefighting and rescue;

- Arrange and maintain escape routes, emergency exits, or passages ensuring escape.

(3) Residential buildings with technical standards and criteria cited in legal normative documents or technical standards on fire prevention and rescue should adhere to those standards and criteria.

(4) Residential buildings listed in the category of facilities managing fire prevention and firefighting are governed by the provisions of Article 23 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Rescue 2024.

(5) For residences in centrally governed cities in areas lacking sufficient infrastructure or water supply for firefighting as per legal and technical regulations in firefighting activities, fire extinguishers and communication devices connected to the Fire Prevention, Rescue Database System and communication of fire reports must be equipped according to a schedule prescribed by the Government of Vietnam.

For residences in other areas, it is encouraged to equip communication devices connected to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Database System and communication of fire reports.

The People's Committee of centrally governed cities identifies areas lacking infrastructure or water supply for firefighting.

(6) The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Force is responsible for guiding the connection of communication devices with the Fire Prevention, Rescue Database System and communication of fire reports upon request.

Fire prevention for residential buildings combined with production, business in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Fire prevention for residential buildings combined with production, business in Vietnam is regulated in Article 21 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Rescue 2024. To be specific:

- Residences combined with production and business must meet the following fire safety conditions:

+ Fire safety conditions stipulated in Article 20 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Rescue 2024;

+ Have prohibition signs, warning signs, and guidance signs as regulated;

+ Areas for production and business of goods at risk of fire and explosion must have separation or fire prevention measures with the residential area.

- Residences combined with production and business of dangerous fire and explosion goods must meet the following fire safety conditions:

+ Fire safety conditions as described above;

+ Do not arrange sleeping areas in production or business zones;

+ Have fire alarm systems, ventilation solutions, and equipment to detect hazardous gas leaks appropriate for the function and characteristics of residences combined with the production and business of dangerous fire and explosion goods;

+ Areas for production and business of dangerous fire and explosion goods must be fire-separated from the escape routes of the residential area.

The Law on Fire Prevention and Rescue 2024 is effective from July 1, 2025.

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