Regulations on Equipment and installation of fire protection equipment in Vietnam

Regulations on Equipment and installation of fire protection equipment in Vietnam (Internet image)

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

1. Regulations on equipment and installation of portable and wheeled fire extinguishers

(i) All areas in buildings and constructions, including areas equipped with fire extinguishing systems, must be equipped with portable or wheeled fire extinguishers.

(ii) The selection, equipment and installation of fire extinguishers shall comply with the regulations laid down in Articles 6 and 7 of TCVN 7435-1

(iii) For narrow and long areas or areas with different and adjacent floor levels, a fire extinguisher must be installed so that the travel distance from the position of a fire extinguisher to the farthest point to be protected does not exceed that specified in (i).

(iv) On the same floor or storey, if the premises is separated into different areas by walls, partitions or other obstacles without any passage-way, fire extinguishers must be installed separately in accordance with (ii) and (iii).

(v)The number of fire extinguishers reserved must not be less than 10% of the total number of fire extinguishers intended for replacement where necessary (no more than 100 of each type).

(vi) Fire extinguishers must be placed in conspicuous and easily accessible locations and should be red. If it is difficult to identify them, signs that show their locations may be used and the regulations set out Article 5 of TCVN 7435-1 shall be complied with. Fire extinguishers must not be placed in a single location, except for the case where they are placed in a storage area in accordance with (v).

Fire extinguishers should be always available for immediate use and located:

= Where they will be readily seen by any person following an escape route;

+ Most suitable, near room entrances, stairs, hallways and walkways;

+ In similar positions on each floor, where floors are of similar appearance. I

Fire extinguishers should not be located:

= where a potential fire might prevent access to them;

= close to heating appliances that might affect quality and efficiency of the extinguishers;

=  in concealed positions behind doors, in cupboards or deep recesses;

= where they might cause obstruction to exit routes;

= in positions in rooms or corridors away from exit routes unless they are necessary to cover a particular hazard;

= where they might be damaged by daily activities.

= where they might be damaged by daily activities.

(vii) Portable and wheeled fire extinguishers must have the functions and meet the specifications specified in TCVN 7026, TCVN 7027.

2. Regulations on equipment and installation of hanging type automatic diffusion dry-powder fire extinguishers

-  Hanging type automatic diffusion dry-powder fire extinguishers must conform to TCVN 12314-1.

- Based on the actual conditions of buildings and constructions, they may be wall or ceiling mounted with an appropriate height to effectively cover the area to be protected as announced by the manufacturer. In any case, the distance from the temperature sensor to the ceiling should not exceed 40 cm.

- Hanging type automatic diffusion dry-powder fire extinguishers may be installed in kitchen areas of restaurants, boiler rooms and laundry areas with an area not exceeding 100 m2. If installed in an area of more than 100 m2, it is recommended that such area be divided into the areas by a fire separating wall (with a fire-resistance rating at least REI 45) or a fire separating partition (with a fire-resistance rating at least EI 45), each of which must not exceed 100 m2.

3. Regulations on equipment and installation of automatic activated fire extinguishers - fire suppression cylinders in Vietnam

- Automatic activated fire extinguishers - fire suppression cylinders must conform to TCVN 12314-2.

- An automatic gas fire extinguishing system may be replaced with an automatic activated fire extinguisher - fire suppression cylinders (design it in such a way that the discharge monitoring function is added and discharge signals are transmitted to the fire alarm control panel) in normally unoccupied areas with an area not exceeding 100 m2.

If installed in an area of more than 100 m2, it is recommended that such area be divided into the areas by a fire separating wall (with a fire-resistance rating at least REI 45) or a fire separating partition (with a fire-resistance rating at least EI 45), each of which must not exceed 100 m2.

(Article 5 of TCVN 3890:2023)

Ho Quoc Tuan

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