The Ministry of Construction is expected to issue revised fire safety regulations in October.

The Ministry of Construction has recently issued a document responding to voters in Thai Nguyen regarding regulations related to fire prevention and control.

"Currently, the revised regulations have completed all the necessary steps, have been appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology , comply with the legal regulations on standards and technical regulations, and are expected to be issued in October 2023," a representative from the Ministry of Construction stated.

Regarding regulations on fire-resistant paint, the Ministry of Construction stated that the National Technical Standard QCVN 06 on fire safety for buildings and structures, in all its versions, does not specify fire-resistant paint.

The inspection and acceptance of fire-retardant paint are carried out in accordance with the regulations in Decree No. 79 of 2014, Decree No. 136 of 2020 guiding the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting, the amended Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting; and QCVN 03:2021/BCA on Fire Prevention and Fighting Equipment.

fire protection regulations o6 vietnamnet.jpg — Painters working on a construction site in the Hai Phong Industrial Park. (Photo: Hoai Anh)

According to the Ministry, on April 14, 2023, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, in document No. 1091 regarding the removal of difficulties and obstacles in ensuring fire safety, provided guidance.

If the fire-resistant paint has been inspected according to Decree No. 79 of 2014 for each specific project, construction shall continue and acceptance testing shall be conducted according to the existing inspection certificate for the fire-resistant paint.

In cases where fire-resistant paint has been applied but not yet inspected, supplementary inspection may be conducted for the fire-resistant painted structure in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 136 of 2020.

In cases where fire-resistant paint has been applied but fails the inspection, if no adjustment is approved, alternative fire-resistant paints of acceptable quality can be selected to replace the applied paint, or other protective coating methods can be used.

Regarding fire fighting water supply systems, the Ministry of Construction stated that, based on the regulations on fire fighting water supply systems in TCVN 2622:1995 on fire prevention and control for buildings and structures, since 2020, the versions of QCVN 06 issued by the Ministry of Construction have expanded the scope of application to fire fighting water supply in Part 5 Fire Fighting Water Supply (QCVN 06).

Regarding fire fighting water supply infrastructure, the Ministry of Public Security issued Joint Circular 04 of 2009 guiding localities on fire fighting water supply infrastructure.

"Therefore, the regulations on fire fighting water supply are complete," the Ministry of Construction affirmed.

For products that have been declared compliant with fire safety standards, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department has also issued guidance in document No. 1091 dated April 14, 2023.

Following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Construction has assigned the Institute of Construction Science and Technology to lead the review and revision of QCVN 06:2022/BXD on Fire Safety for Buildings and Structures, ensuring its suitability to the practical context of Vietnam, specifying regulations for convenient use across different types of buildings, and guaranteeing the basic principles of fire prevention and firefighting for buildings and structures.

Previously, voters had submitted petitions regarding the review and resolution of issues related to fire safety regulations. Voters argued that the QCVN 06:2022/BXD fire safety standard, issued in 2010 and amended in 2022, effective from January 16, 2023, lacks transitional guidance on fire-resistant paint standards and regulations on fire water supply systems.

At the same time, products that have already been certified as meeting fire safety standards do not need to be re-inspected at the installation site.

Deputy Prime Minister requests Ministry of Construction to revise fire safety regulations before June 30th. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Construction to research and revise Regulation 06:2022 on Fire Safety for Buildings and Structures, gathering feedback from affected parties, in order to issue it before June 30th.

The Ministry of Construction explains the three consecutive fire safety regulations and how to resolve them . According to the Ministry of Construction, based on feedback from the Ministry of Public Security and localities, the implementation of QCVN 06:2022 has encountered some difficulties, such as inconsistent interpretations and transitional conditions. The Ministry is currently researching to unify solutions and make additions.

Deputy Prime Minister: We must consider whether foreign fire safety standards are suitable for Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that if experts in the field of fire prevention and fighting still have differing opinions after reading Regulation 06:2022/BXD, it is clear that the document lacks simplicity and ease of application.

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