Fire safety requirements applicable to motor vehicles in Vietnam

Fire safety requirements applicable to motor vehicles in Vietnam (Internet image)

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

1. Fire safety requirements applicable to motor vehicles in Vietnam

Fire safety requirements applicable to motor vehicles in Vietnam according to Article 8 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP are as follows:

- Road motor vehicles with at least 04 seats must meet conditions for inspected operation; and materials and goods on the vehicles must be arranged in compliance with fire safety requirements.

Road motor vehicles with more than 09 seats, inland watercrafts and railway vehicles must satisfy the following requirements:

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

+ The power system, fuel, materials and goods on these vehicles must be arranged in compliance with fire safety requirements;

+ There are sufficient and quality firefighting equipment appropriate to the characteristics and operations of the vehicles in accordance with 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 and on-site combat-ready firefighters.

- The motor vehicles subject to special fire safety requirements mentioned in section 21 in Appendix V enclosed therewith must comply with the following fire safety requirements and maintain such compliance:

+ The requirements in Clause 1 of Article 8 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP;

+ The firefighting authority has issued a certificate of design appraisal and design appraisal document (if any) and written approval of fire safety commissioning results, excluding motor vehicles subject to special fire safety requirements manufactured or converted for military purpose by national defense facilities;

+ There is a firefighting plan approved by the vehicle owner.

- A motor vehicle may transport goods posing fire or explosion hazard on the road, inland waterway or railway when it has obtained the permit for transport of goods posing fire or explosion hazard issued by the police authority according to regulations of laws on road, inland waterway and railway transport of dangerous goods (excluding cases within the competence of the Ministry of National Defense) and must comply with the following fire safety requirements and maintain such compliance:

+ The requirements in Clause 1 of Article 8 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP;

+ The vehicle’s motor must be separated from the cargo compartment by fire-resistant materials or buffer chamber as per regulations;

+ The motor’s exhaust pipe must be covered and ensure fire and explosion safety;

+ The floor and structure of the cargo compartment and other areas of the vehicle at fire and explosion risk must be made of fire-resistant materials;

+ Technical safety and environmental protection requirements per regulations;

+ Road vehicles transporting liquids posing fire or explosion hazard must be grounded;

+ Road motor vehicles must bear signage of goods posing fire and explosion hazards (Form No. PC01) on the windshield; railway vehicles must bear signage of goods posing fire and explosion hazards (Form No. PC01) on both of their sides throughout the transport process;

+ Inland watercrafts must fly the letter B signal flag in the day and set up red signal light at night throughout the transport process. Specifications and standards of the signal flag and light are provided for by the Ministry of Transport.

- Drivers and crewmembers of vehicles transporting passengers and goods posing fire and explosion hazards shall comply with the following requirements:

+ Drivers must have a driving license according to regulations of laws on road, inland waterway and railway transport;

+ Drivers and crewmembers of motor passengers vehicles with more than 29 seats and motor vehicles transporting goods posing fire and explosion hazards shall participate in training and refresher courses on fire prevention and fighting according to regulations in Article 33 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP.

2. Application for appraisal of technical design of motor vehicle subject to special fire safety requirements in Vietnam

According to Point dd Clause 4 Article 13 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP, application for appraisal of technical design of motor vehicle subject to special fire safety requirements include:

- Application for appraisal of fire safety design of investor/vehicle owner (made using Form No. PC06), and letter of authorization per the law if the investor/vehicle owner authorizes another unit to carry out this task;

- Certificate of eligibility for fire prevention and fighting service business of fire safety design consultancy unit; estimated investment in vehicle;

- Technical design description and drawings showing fire safety requirements mentioned in Points b and c Clause 1 and Points b, c, d and e Clause 3 Article 8 of Decree 136/2020/ND-CP;

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