Thông tư 01/2020/TT-BXD

CIRCULAR

ON ISSUANCE OF NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONS ON FIRE SAFETY FOR BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

Pursuant to Decree No. 81/2017/ND-CP dated July 17, 2017 of Government on functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of Ministry of Construction;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 1, 2007 of Government on elaborating to Law on Technical Standards and Regulations;

Pursuant to Decree No. 78/2018/ND-CP dated May 16, 2018 of Government on amendments to Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 1, 2007 of Government on elaborating to Law on Technical Standards and Regulations;

At request of Director General of Department of Science, Technology and Environment,

Minister of Construction promulgates Circular on issuance of National Technical Regulations on fire safety for buildings and constructions, No. QCVN 06:2020/BXD.

Article 1. National Technical Regulations on fire safety of buildings and constructions No. QCVN 06:2020/BXD are attached to this Circular.

Article 2. This Circular comes into force from July 1, 2020 and replaces Circular No. 07/2010/TT-BXD dated July 28, 2010 of Ministry of Construction on issuance of National Technical Regulations on fire safety for buildings and construction No. QCVN 06:2010/BXD

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial agencies, governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities, relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementation of this Circular./.

QCVN 06:2020/BXD

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTIONS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

2. FIRE-RELATED TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION

3. HUMAN SAFETY ASSURANCE

4. FIRE SPREAD PREVENTION

5. WATER SUPPLY FOR FIREFIGHTING

6. FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE

7. REGULATIONS ON MANAGEMENT

8. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

9. IMPLEMENTATION

Annex A Additional regulations on fire safety for specific types of buildings

Annex B Classification of building materials according to fire-related properties

Annex C Classification of buildings and rooms according to fire and explosion hazards

Annex D Regulations on smoke protection for buildings and construction

Annex E Requirements for fire separation distance between buildings and construction

Annex F Fire-resistance rating of some structures and components

Annex G Regulations on distances to evacuation exits and width of evacuation exits

Annex H Regulations on permissible number of storeys (permissible height) and fire compartment area of buildings

Annex I (reference) Illustrations of regulations

Preface

QCVN 06:2020/BXD is prepared by Institute For Building Science And Technology, approved by Department of Science, Technology and Environment, appraised by Ministry of Science and Technology and issued by Ministry of Construction as attachment to Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BXD dated April 6, 2020 of Minister of Construction.

QCVN 06:2020/BXD replaces QCVN 06:2010/BXD attached to Circular No. 07/2010/TT-BXD dated July 28, 2010 of Minister of Construction.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTIONS

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Scope

1.1.1 These Regulations prescribe general requirements for fire safety of rooms, buildings and constructions (hereinafter collectively referred to as “buildings”) which must be applied in all stages of construction, innovation, repair or change of purposes and provide fire-related technical classification for buildings, parts, sections, rooms, structural components and construction materials thereof.

1.1.2 Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of these Regulations do not apply to buildings for special purposes (buildings for manufacturing or preserving explosive substances and/or materials; buildings for storing oil, oil products, natural gas, flammable gas and/or substances liable to spontaneous combustion; buildings for manufacturing or storing toxic chemicals; buildings for national defense purposes; underground sections of subway structures; mining buildings; etc.).

1.1.3 Apart from regulations in 1.1.2, regulations in Section 5 of these Regulations do not apply to: facilities and buildings for preserving and processing cereal; gas stations; power stations (buildings and constructions for generating thermal power, hydropower, steam generating facilities for producing heat, power plants for heat, wind, diesel energy and power grids).

1.1.4 Apart from regulations in 1.1.2, regulations in Section 5 of these Regulations do not apply to: fire suppression system for suppressing fire caused by metal or strong chemically-active substances and materials which when contacts with water will result in explosions, create extreme burning and heat, e.g. compounds of aluminum-organic matters, alkali metals, compounds of lithium-organic matters, azure lead, hydrides of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, sulfuric acid, titanium chloride and thermite.

1.1.5 Standards and requirements for fire safety of documents prescribing standards in construction sectors must be developed based on these Regulations.

In addition to these Regulations, other requirements for fire safety must be complied with, particularly requirements in other documents prescribing standards applied to specific buildings and constructions. In case documents prescribing specific standards developed based on these Regulations are not available, specific regulations in applicable standards shall be permitted for use until said standards are reexamined, foreign applicable standards that fulfill these Regulations, regulations and law of Vietnam on fire safety and application of foreign standards in construction in Vietnam shall be permitted for use.

In case of any discrepancy between applicable documents prescribing standards for fire safety of buildings and constructions and these Regulations, these Regulations shall prevail.

1.1.6 Design dossiers and technical documents of buildings, parts, structural components and construction materials must specify all fire-related technical properties thereof according to these Regulations.

1.1.7 When designing and constructing buildings and constructions, in addition to these Regulations, other compulsory regulations and technical requirements must be complied with according to applicable regulations and law, namely: planning, structure, water supply and drainage system, electrical system, electric equipment, lightning arresters, fuel supply system, energy efficiency, ventilation systems, air conditioning, mechanical affairs, glass safety, falling and collision prevention.

1.1.8 Buildings or constructions for manufacturing products and goods under heading F5.1 and F5.2 as specified in 2.6.4 that have no more than 1 basement (also known as “industrial buildings”) must comply with regulations on fire safety in A.1 under Annex A in addition to provisions under these Regulations.

1.1.9 Buildings under fire hazard categories F1.2 and F4.3 and multi-purpose buildings whose height ranges from 50 m to 150 m (with no more than 3 basements¹) must comply with regulations on fire safety in A.2 under Annex A in addition to provisions under these Regulations. Buildings under fire hazard category F1.3 whose height ranges from 75 m to 150 m must comply with 04:2019/BXD in addition to these Regulations.

NOTE: ¹ Hospitals, preschools, secondary schools and post-secondary schools shall be limited to 1 basement.

1.1.10 Buildings that do not have fire safety standards and buildings under fire hazard categories F1.2, F1.3 and F4.3, multi-purpose buildings whose height exceeds 150 m or having 4 basements or more and particularly complicated and unusual buildings must develop technical requirements and solutions regarding organization and technical structure conforming to specific fire safety characteristics of said buildings based on applicable documents prescribing standards in addition to these Regulations. Requirements and solutions above must be approved by Police Departments of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue.

1.1.11 In rare cases, Ministry of Construction may only allow specific constructions to replace certain provisions of these Regulations if written presentation is submitted to Ministry of Construction specifying additional and substitutional solutions or basis of calculations for ensuring fire safety for said specific construction. The written presentation must be appraised by the Police Departments of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue prior to submission to Ministry of Construction,

1.1.12 Upon changing purposes or methods of planning distribution – spaces and structure of existing buildings or rooms of said buildings, apply these Regulations and documents prescribing standards for said changes.

1.1.13 Individual residential buildings for households whose height reaches 6 storeys or lower or having no more than 1 basement are not required to comply with these Regulations but following separate guidelines suitable for each building and neighborhood.

In case buildings that require appraisal of fire safety design are converted for other purposes, comply with these Regulations and be approved by the Police Departments of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue.

1.2 Regulated entities

These Regulations apply to organizations and individuals related to investment for construction, management and use of residential buildings and industrial buildings in Vietnam territory.

1.3 Reference documents

Following reference documents are vital for application of these Regulations. In case following reference documents are amended or replaced, the new version shall prevail.

TCVN 3890:2009 Fire prevention and suppression equipment for buildings and constructions. Equipment, placement and maintenance.

TCVN 9310-4:2012 Fire prevention and suppression – Terminology – Part 4: Firefighting equipment.

TCVN 9310-8:2012 Fire prevention and suppression – Terminology – Part 8: Terminology for fire suppression, rescue and handling of dangerous materials.

TCVN 9311-1:2012 Fire resistance test – Structural components of buildings – Part 1: General requirements.

TCVN 9311-3:2012 Fire resistance test of structural components of buildings – Part 3: Guidelines on testing methods and application of test figures.

TCVN 9311-4:2012 Fire resistance test of structural components of buildings – Part 4: Separate requirements of separate bearings to take vertical load.

TCVN 9311-5:2012 Fire resistance test of structural components of buildings – Part 5: Separate requirements of separate bearings to take horizontal load.

TCVN 9311-6:2012 Fire resistance test of structural components of buildings – Part 6: Separate requirements for beams.

TCVN 9311-7:2012 Fire resistance test of structural components of buildings – Part 7: Separate requirements for pillars.

TCVN 9311-8:2012 Fire resistance test of structural components of buildings – Part 8: Separate requirements for vertical separate non-bearing structures.

TCVN 9383:2012 Fire resistance test – Doors and fire rated doors.

1.4 Interpretations

In these Regulations, terms below are construed as follows:

1.4.1

Fire safety for buildings and constructions (work items)

Fulfill requirements regarding material properties and construction structures, construction and planning solutions, appropriate technical and technology solutions suitable to usage of the constructions to prevent fire (fire prevention), limit the spread and extinguish the fire (fire suppression), prevent factors that are dangerous to humans, minimize damage to assets in case of fire.

1.4.2

Parking lots for fire engines

Roads with finished surface capable of bearing heavy weight that are distributed along the circumference or part of the circumference of the buildings which allow firefighting vehicles to deploy firefighting activities.

NOTE: Compared to driveway for fire engines, parking lots for fire engines are designed to bear a greater load with wider dimension to enable deployment of firefighting vehicles.

1.4.3

Fire protection

A combination of organization solution and technical measures to prevent fire from affecting human and limiting material damage to assets and properties due to the fire.

1.4.4 Fire resistance categories

Ability to withstand fire of buildings is classified into levels from I to V and is determined by fire resistance ratings of primary structure components (Article 1.5.1 and 2.6.2).

1.4.5

Smoke control devices

Devices for diverting, trapping and/or preventing spread of smoke (gaseous product of fire).

NOTE: Smoke protection devices may also be referred to as: smoke curtains, smoke blinds and smoke screens.

1.4.6

Fire hazard levels of structural components

A characteristic of structural components which is determined based on different levels of experiment results of combusting materials of structural components according to regulations and standards.

NOTE: (consult 2.3 and Annex B)

1.4.7

Structural fire hazard levels of buildings

Structural fire hazard levels of a building are determined based on fire hazard levels of the building’s structural components.

1.4.8

Height

In these Regulations, height refers to height for firefighting, evacuation and rescue and is defined as follows: Except for special cases which shall be specified, a building’s height shall equal the where the topmost storey is situated, excluding the topmost mechanical floor. The height where a storey is situated shall equal the distance from the lowest driveways for fire engines to the lowest point of an open window on the outer wall of said storey. In case of no windows, the height where a storey is situated shall equal half of total altitude of the floor and ceiling of that storey.

1.4.9

Solid stream height

Equals 0.8 times the height of a stream introduced vertically.

1.4.10

Accessible floor area

Refers to floor area of all covered spaces in a building or part of a building, including area of service ducts, elevator shafts, toilets, staircases areas occupied by fixed/movable furniture/equipment/facilities and any open-to-sky habitable areas above or below the first storey of the building.

1.4.11

Driveways for fire engines

Refers to driveways within a facility/building/construction premises to enable fire engines to arrive and move to perform firefighting, evacuation and rescue activities.

1.4.12

Fire resistance ratings

Refers to period (in hours or minutes) from the moment in which fire resistance tests are conducted with standard heat until any of the limit states of structure and components appear (Article 2.3.2).

1.4.13

Area of refuge

Refers to an area located in refuge floors for temporary evacuation in case of fire.

1.4.14

Technical rooms

Refer to rooms for storing technical equipment and devices of the buildings or storeys. Technical rooms can be situated on the whole or part of mechanical floors.

1.4.15

Open corridors

Refer to corridors receiving uninterrupted ventilation from the environment along the length of the corridors, with clearance height from the highest point of the walls along the corridors going upwards not less than 1.2 m.

1.4.16

Fire protection systems

Fire protection systems include: Smoke protection systems, indoor fire hydrant systems, outdoor hydrant booster systems, automatic fire suppression systems, fire alarm and public audio systems, emergency lighting and instruction systems, fire service elevators, evacuation and rescue equipment, evacuation exit solutions, smoke control measures and fire spread prevention measures.

1.4.17

Fire hydrants

A combination of pre-installed specialized equipment including valves and nozzles ready to deliver water to extinguish fire.

1.4.18

Fire compartment

Refers to a section of a building separated from other sections of the building with class 1 fire-rated walls.

1.4.19

Vestibule

Refers to a transitional space between two doors to prevent smoke and other gases from entering the buildings, staircases or other rooms of the buildings.

1.4.20

Fire-rated vestibule

Refers to vestibules constructed from materials having fire-resistance ratings satisfactory to regulations and law (consult 2.4.3).

1.4.21

Smoke

Refers to gas generated by partially burnt materials which are in liquid form and/or solid form.

1.4.22

Protective concrete coatings, Thickness of protective concrete coatings

- Refers to the concrete coatings from the edge of the structure to the nearest surface of reinforce bars.

- Thickness of the protective concrete coatings shall be calculated from the edge of the structure to the nearest surface of the reinforce bars.

1.4.23

Flame

Refers to burning air within the visible spectrum.

1.4.24

Building

Refers to a construction whose primary functions is to protect and shelter human or interior contents; usually covered partially or totally and constructed fixed in place. Including civil buildings (houses, apartment buildings, public buildings and multi-purposes buildings) and industrial buildings.

1.4.25

Apartment building

Refers to a building with 2 storeys or higher, with multiple flats, shared corridors and staircases, private sections, shared sections and infrastructure systems mutually shared by all households, individuals and organizations, including apartment buildings constructed for residential purposes, mixed purposes and business purposes.

1.4.26

Multi-purposes building

Refers to a building for multiple purposes (e.g. a building designed for office, commercial service, residential and public activity purposes).

NOTE: A building under function fire hazard category depending on its defined purpose, with total area for another purpose (other than residential purpose) which is to assist the primary purpose is no larger than 10 % of total floor area for the assisted purpose shall not be considered as a multi-purpose building.

1.4.27

Functional fire hazard category

Characteristics of the buildings (or their components) based on use purposes and factors potentially threatening human safety in case of fire, taking into accounting of age, physiques and chances of persons sleeping, etc. of group of individuals using the primary purposes.

1.4.28

Fire hazards of construction materials

Characteristics of construction materials, based on different levels of experiment results of combusting materials according to standards.

1.4.29

Fire prevention

A combination of organizational and technical measures to ensure safety for human, prevents fire incidents, limits fire spread and facilitates effective fire extinguishing.

1.4.30

Compartment volume

Refers to volume of space within a building or a fire compartment. This volume does not include walls of protected elevators, emergency staircases and other spaces (e.g. sanitation areas and storage units) covered by walls with fire resistance ratings less than 1 hour and corridors passing through walls protected by class 2 fire rated doors installed with automatic door closing mechanisms. Compartment volume shall be calculated based on following dimensions:

a) Clearance area is based on distance between inner finished area of surrounding walls, or in case of all surfaces without surrounding walls, calculated from a vertical surface to the topmost outer edge of the floor.

b) Height is based on distance from the highest point of the lower floor to the lowest point of the upper floor; and

c) In case of a building or fire compartment that extends to the ceiling, calculate up to the lowest point of the ceiling or lower surface of ceiling of the highest level in a fire compartment, including spaces occupied by unprotected walls, vertical shafts, service ducts, or structure within the calculated space.

1.4.31

Smoke control lobby

Refers to a lobby situated outside of entrance to an emergency staircases. Design of the lobby must be able to prevent or minimize infiltration of smoke into staircases.

1.4.32

Elevator hall

The empty space in front of elevator entrance.

1.4.33

Storey

Refers to number of levels of a building including all storeys above ground (including mechanical floors and roof deck), basements and semi-basements, not including garret.

NOTE: A roof deck shall not be taken into account for total number of storey of a building if its primary function is to cover staircases/elevator shafts and technical equipment of the building (if any) with ceiling not exceeding 30 % of rooftop area.

1.4.34

Fire incident

Uncontrolled fire leading to losses in terms of human and/or assets.

1.4.35

Burning

Refers to a rapid oxidation that generating heat of a material accompanied by any of the 3 factors: flame; light and smoke.

1.4.36

Documents prescribing standards

Refer to documents prescribing principles, guidelines or properties for certain activities or their results.

NOTE 1: The term “documents prescribing standards” is a general terminology including documents namely technical standards and regulations, practice regulations and technical regulations.

NOTE 2: “documents” shall be interpreted as containers of information.

NOTE 3: Terms for different form of documents prescribing standards shall be identified by considering the documents and contents thereof as a whole entity.

1.4.37

Fire loading

Refers to total heat generated by burning of combustible materials within a building space.

1.4.38

Garret

Refers to the level contained within the pitched roof whose entire or part of vertical surface is created by pitched roof or gable roof; in which surrounding walls (if any) must not be more than 1.5 m from the floor.

1.4.39

Basement

Refers to a floor with more than half of its height situated below ground according to approved construction planning.

NOTE: When considering fire safety requirements for buildings surrounded with different ground storeys, storeys below ground storey according to approved plan shall not be considered as basements if evacuation exits from that storey are not constructed upwards.

1.4.40

Refuge floor

Refers to a floor for temporary evacuation situated in buildings higher than 100 m. A refuge floor may have one or many areas of refuge.

1.4.41

Semi-basement

Refers to a storey with half of its height at ground storey or above ground storey on which the building is constructed according to approved planning.

1.4.42

Mechanical floor

Refers to a storey or part of a storey where technical rooms and technical equipment of the building are stored. Mechanical floors can be basements, semi-basements, garrets, topmost storey or any storey in-between the building.

1.4.43

Above-ground storey

Refers to a storey whose floor is at or higher that ground storey on which the building is constructed according to approved planning.

1.4.44

Fire service elevator

Refers to an elevator primarily installed to carry passengers, equipped with protection control and communication systems and marked with signs dictating that the elevator shall be used under direct operation of fire brigade to provide access to storeys of a building in case of fire.

1.4.45

Smoke-free area

Refers to an area in a building that is limited or surrounded with smoke control devices or structural components to prevent the spread of smoke in case of fire.

NOTE: Consult Annex D, Section D.7.

1.4.46

Structural fire protection

Refers to impregnation, coating or covering of protective coatings on structural components to enhance fire resistance and/or reduce fire risks of said structural components.

1.5 General provisions

1.5.1 While designing a building, develop structure, clearance - space distribution and technical solutions to fulfill following requirements in case of fire:

- The building must be able to maintain overall structural integrity and endurance in a specific period determined by fire resistance category of the building.

- Every individual in the building (regardless of age and health conditions) may evacuate to outside safe areas (hereinafter referred to as “outside”) before emergence of life and health threatening situations due to dangerous factors of the fire.

- Must be able to protect humans.

- Fire brigade and vehicles can access the fire and adopt measures to extinguish the fire, rescue people and assets.

- The fire must be prevented from spreading to neighboring buildings, including the case in which the burning building collapses.

- Direct and indirect losses regarding assets, including the building and interior properties must be minimized, taking into account financial relationship between the damage and expenditure on fire safety measures and equipment.

1.5.2 During construction process, satisfy following requirements:

- Adoption of fire safety measures approved as per the law conforming to applicable regulations and standards.

- Adoption of fire prevention measures for buildings under construction and auxiliary constructions and regulations on fire prevention in construction according to applicable regulations and law on fire prevention.

- Availability and readiness of firefighting equipment according to regulations and law.

- Capability to ensure safe evacuation, human rescue and asset protection in case of fire on construction sites and buildings under construction.

1.5.3 During utilization and operation process, satisfy following requirements

- Ability to retain structure and interior of the building and working capacity of firefighting equipment according to design documents and technical documents thereof.

- Implementation of applicable regulations and law on fire prevention.

- Restriction from changing structure or clearance - space distribution and structure technical solutions without having approved design as per the law.

- Upon repair, restriction from using components and materials unsatisfactory to applicable regulations and standards.

In case of buildings licensed with limited fire loading or number of people in buildings, place notice on such limitations in visible spots, managers of the buildings must develop separate solutions for fire prevention and evacuation in case of fire.

1.5.4 While analyzing fire hazards of buildings, may take into account situations calculated based on correlation between: development and spread of dangerous factors in a fire, human evacuation and firefighting organization.

2. FIRE-RELATED TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION

2.1 General provisions

2.1.1 Buildings, sections, parts, rooms, materials and structural components shall be classified based on following properties:

- Fire risk: ability to start and develop elements bearing fire risks.

- Fire resistance: ability to resist effect of the fire and prevent the spread of dangerous elements of the fire.

2.1.2 Fire-related technical classification is to establish necessary requirements for fire protection for structure, rooms, buildings, sections and parts of buildings based on fire resistance and/or fire risk thereof.

2.2 Construction materials

2.2.1 With respect to fire safety, construction materials shall be characterized with only flammability. Fire risk of construction materials shall be determined based on: flammability, combustibility, ability to spread the fire on surfaces, produce smoke and toxic substances.

2.2.2 With respect to flammability, construction materials shall be classified as non-flammable construction materials and flammable construction materials. Flammable materials shall be divided into 4 categories:

- Ch1 (mildly flammable).

- Ch2 (moderately flammable).

- Ch3 (flammable).

- Ch4 (Highly flammable).

Flammability and groups of construction materials classified according to flammability shall conform to Annex B, Section B.2.

With respect to non-flammable construction materials, fire risk and other properties are not required to be determined.

2.2.3 With respect to combustibility, flammable construction materials shall be classified into 3 categories:

- BC1 (hardly combustible).

- BC2 (moderately combustible).

- BC3 (combustible).

Groups of construction materials classified according to combustibility shall conform to Annex B, Section B.3.

2.2.4 With respect to surface fire spread, flammable construction materials shall be classified into 4 categories:

- LT1 (no spread).

- LT2 (weak spread).

- LT3 (moderate spread).

- LT4 (fast spread).

Groups of construction materials classified according to ability to spread fire on surfaces are applied to surface materials of roofs, floors and flooring materials according to Annex B, Section B.4.

With respect to other construction materials, classifying in terms of ability to spread fire on surfaces is not required.

2.2.5 With respect to ability to produce smoke, flammable construction materials shall be classified into 3 categories:

- SK1 (low smoke production).

- SK2 (moderate smoke production).

- SK3 (high smoke production).

Groups of construction materials classified according to ability to produce smoke shall conform to Annex B, Section B.5.

2.2.6 With respect to toxicity of combustion products, flammable construction materials shall be classified into 4 categories:

- DT1 (low toxicity).

- DT2 (moderate toxicity).

- DT3 (high toxicity).

- DT4 (particularly high toxicity).

groups of construction materials classified according to toxicity of combustion products shall conform to Annex B, Section B.6.

2.3 Construction components

2.3.1 Construction components shall be characterized by fire resistance and fire risk.

Fire resistance of a component is represented by the fire-resistance rating of that component. Fire risk of a component is represented by fire hazard level of the component.

2.3.2 Fire-resistance ratings of construction components are determined by a period of time (in minutes) from the point in which fire resistance tests with standard heat begin until one or many following signs of limit states prescribed for the components as per the law appear:

- Loss of load-bearing capacity (load-bearing capacity is assigned with the letter “R”).

- Loss of integrity (integrity is assigned with the letter “E”).

- Loss of thermal insulation (thermal insulation is assigned with the letter “I”).

NOTE 1: Fire-resistance ratings of construction materials shall be determined by fire resistance test according to standards from TCVN 9311-1:2012 to TCVN 9311-8:2012 or equivalent standards. Fire-resistance rating of construction materials can be identified by calculation according to applicable fire-resistance design standards.

Fire-resistance ratings of air ducts shall conform to ISO 6944 or equivalent standards.

Fire resistance rating of fire suppression valves of ventilation systems shall conform to ISO 10294.

Fire-resistance rating of doors, windows and door bars shall conform to TCVN 9383:2012.

NOTE 2: Required fire-resistance ratings of specific construction components are mentioned in these Regulations and technical regulations applied to each type of construction. Fire-resistance ratings of construction components are represented with REI, EI, RE or R accompanied by number dictating duration of burning in minute. E.g. A component with fire-resistance rating of REI 120 means the component must be able to retain all 3 capacities: load-bearing, integrity and thermal insulation under impact of fire for 120 minutes; a component with fire-resistance rating of R 60 means the component must be able to retain load-bearing capacity for 60 minutes regardless of integrity and thermal insulation.

NOTE 3: Some construction components are considered as satisfactory to fire resistance (fire-resistance ratings) if any of following conditions is satisfied:

a) The components share technical properties with samples of fire resistance test and samples display fire-resistance ratings no lower than the required fire-resistance ratings of those components.

b) The components share technical properties with components specified in Annex F and corresponding fire-resistance rating under Annex F is no lower than required fire-resistance ratings of said components.

c) Fire-resistance rating of components determined by calculation according to standard fire resistance design must be no lower than required fire-resistance ratings of said components.

2.3.3 With respect to fire risks, construction components shall be classified into 4 categories:

- K0 (no fire risk).

- K1 (mild fire risk).

- K2 (moderate fire risk).

- K3 (fire risk).

NOTE 1: Fire risks of components are developed based on testing in accordance with applicable Vietnamese standards or equivalent standards.

NOTE 2: May determine fire hazard levels of components without testing as follows:

- Components shall be classified as K0 if they are made solely from non-flammable materials.

- Components shall be classified as K1 if outer surfaces of the components are made from materials with fire-related technical requirements no higher than Ch1, BC1 and SK1.

- Components shall be classified as K2 if outer surfaces of the components are made from materials with fire-related technical requirements no higher than Ch2, BC2 and SK2.

- Components shall be classified as K3 if outer surfaces of the components are made from materials with any of the fire-related technical requirements is Ch3, BC3 and SK3.

2.4 Fire prevention devices

2.4.1 Fire prevention devices are for preventing fire and other combustion products from spreading from one fire compartment or a room with fire to another room.

Fire prevention devices include fire-rated walls, fire-rated partitions and fire-rated floor.

2.4.2 Fire prevention devices shall be characterized by fire resistance and fire risk.

Fire resistance of a fire prevention device shall be determined by fire resistance of its component, including:

- Separating sections (partitions, walls, floors, etc.).

- Stabilizing sections (frames, rebar, etc.).

- Supporting section (supporting beams, supporting sides, supporting walls, etc.).

- Connecting components in-between.

Fire-resistance ratings based on load-bearing (R) capacity of stabilizing sections and connecting components must not be lower than required fire-resistance ratings of the separating sections.

Fire risks of fire prevention devices shall be determined by fire risks of separating sections, stabilizing sections and connection components thereof.

2.4.3 Fire prevention devices shall be classified based on fire-resistance ratings of separating sections as shown in Schedule 1. If separating sections are installed with doors, gates, trapdoors, air valves, windows and blinds (hereinafter collectively referred to as “fire rated doors and valves”) or vestibules (fire-rated vestibules), fire-rated doors, fire-rated valves and fire-rated vestibules must have the ability to prevent fire spread corresponding to type of fire prevention devices under Schedule 1.

Schedule 1 – Classification of fire prevention devices

Fire-resistance ratings of fire-rated doors and valves in fire prevention devices are specified in Schedule 2.

Fire-resistance ratings of components of fire-rated vestibules (fire-rated partitions, floors, doors and valves) in fire-rated doors and valve of fire prevention devices must conform to Schedule 3.

Type 1 fire prevention devices must have K0 fire hazard level. In special cases, may utilize K1 fire hazard level in type 2 to type 4 fire prevention devices.

Schedule 2 - Fire-resistance ratings of fire-rated doors and valves in fire prevention devices

Schedule 3 – Fire-resistance ratings of components of vestibules of fire-rated doors and valves in fire prevention devices

2.5 Stairs and stairwells

2.5.1 Stairs and stairwells for evacuation exit shall be classified into following categories:

NOTE: Under Annex I are illustrations of stairs and stairwells.

a) Types of stairs:

- Type 1 – indoor stairs, positioned inside stairwells.

- Type 2 – indoor stairs, exposed.

- Type 3 – outdoor stairs, exposed.

NOTE: “Exposed” means not positioned inside a stairwell.

b) Common types of stairwells:

- L1 – a stairwell with doors granting access to each level (with or without glasses installed).

- L2 – a stairwell receiving natural lighting via skylight (with or without glasses installed).

c) All types of smoke proof enclosure:

- N1 – a stairwell granting access to each storey through a smoke proof vestibule implemented by appropriate natural ventilation solutions. Cases of appropriate N1 stairwell designs are specified in 3.4.10.

May replace N1 stairwells with stairwells granting access to each storey through a vestibule. Both vestibules and stairwells must receive positive pressure ventilation in case of fire. Air supply for vestibules and stairwells must be separate from each other.

- N2 – a stairwell receiving positive pressure ventilation (air pressure inside the stairwell must be higher than air pressure outside the stairwell) in case of fire.

- N3 – a stairwell granting access to each storey through a vestibule receiving positive pressure ventilation (the positive pressure ventilation received by the vestibule shall be on a regular basis or in case of fire).

2.5.2 Transport methods serving fire fighting and rescue shall be classified into 2 following types:

- P1 – fire service elevators.

- P2 – stairs with steepness no higher than 6:1 (no more than 80^o).

2.6 Buildings, fire compartments and rooms

2.6.1 Buildings or parts thereof separated by class 1 fire-rated walls (called fire compartments) shall be classified based on fire-resistance categories, structural fire hazard levels and fire hazard categories. May separate fire compartments in buildings with fire resistance categories of level IV and level V by class 2 fire-rated walls.

- Fire resistance categories of buildings and fire compartments shall be determined by fire-resistance ratings of construction materials thereof.

- Structural fire hazard levels of buildings and fire compartments shall be determined by participation of structural components in developing the fire and forming dangerous elements of the fire.

- Fire hazard categories of buildings and sections thereof shall be determined based on use purposes and characteristics of technological procedures situated within.

2.6.2 Buildings and fire compartments shall be classified based on fire resistance categories as shown in Schedule 4.

Load-bearing components of buildings include walls and load-bearing pillars, beams, connectors, hard partitions and sections of floors participating in ensuring overall integrity and ability to resist deformation of the buildings in case of fire.

Load-bearing components that do not participate in ensuring overall integrity of the buildings must be specified by design departments in technical documents of the buildings.

No regulations on fire-resistance ratings for devices sealing openings (doors, gates, windows, trapdoors, skylights and including openings on top and sections allowing light to pass through the roofing), except fire rated doors and valves in fire prevention devices and special cases to be specified.

If minimum required fire-resistance ratings of components are R 15 (RE 15, REI 15), may use steel structure without using protective coatings and relying on actual fire-resistance rating, except for cases in which fire-resistance ratings of load-bearing structures of the buildings are lower than R 8 according to experiment results.

In N1 smoke proof enclosures, may use treads and landings with R 15 fire-resistance rating and K0 fire hazard level.

2.6.3 According to structural fire hazards, buildings and fire compartments shall be classified into 4 levels of S0, S1, S2 and S3 as shown in Schedule 5 – structural fire hazard levels.

No regulations on fire hazards for doors, gates, windows and trapdoors in sheltering structures of buildings are prescribed, except for special cases.

Schedule 4 – Fire resistance categories of buildings

Schedule 5 – Structural fire hazard levels of buildings

2.6.4 Upon constructing structures or series of structures without being able to identify fire-resistance ratings or fire hazard levels based on standard fire resistance tests or calculation, conduct fire resistance tests for samples similar to actual components of said structures according to applicable regulations and law on fire resistance tests.

2.6.5 Buildings and sections thereof (rooms with functions related to one another) shall be classified into fire hazard category depending on their use purpose and threat to human safety in case of fire taking into account: age, physical attributes, possibility of sleeping people, groups of people utilizing primary functions and number of said groups. Fire hazard categories are specified under Schedule 6.

Buildings and rooms for manufacturing or storing shall be classified (A, B, C (C1, C2, C3, C4), D, E) based on fire risks and explosion risks according to quantity and explosion risks of substances and materials within, taking into account properties of manufacturing technology. Classification shall be specified under Annex C.

Rooms for manufacturing and storing, including laboratories and warehouses with more than 50 m² in area, rooms for preparing food with more than 10 KW with cooking equipment in buildings under categories F1, F2, F3 and F4 shall be placed under category F5.

2.6.6 With respect to buildings with defined fire hazard categories, in general cases, may allocate rooms having other fire hazard categories while complying with regulations under design standards for specific buildings and technical equipment in addition to these Regulations.

Schedule 6 – Classification of buildings depending on fire hazard categories

3. ENSURING HUMAN SAFETY

3.1 General provisions

3.1.1 Requirements of this section are to prescribe:

- Timely and unobstructed evacuation for humans.

- Rescue of people under influence of dangerous elements of the fire.

- Protection of people during evacuation away from dangerous elements of the fire.

3.1.2 Evacuation refers to organized movement of humans from rooms where dangerous elements of the fire may affect them to outside. Evacuation also refers to involuntary movement of people having limited movement capabilities with assistance of servers. Evacuation is done via evacuation exits.

3.1.3 Rescue refers to forced movement of people towards the outside who are under influence of dangerous elements of the fire or in case of direct presence of said influences. Rescue shall be performed voluntarily with assistance of fire brigade or professionally trained employees, including use of rescue equipment via evacuation exits and emergency exits.

3.1.4 Protection of humans on evacuation route must be guaranteed by clearance – space organization solutions, conveniences, structures and technical properties of buildings and organizations.

Evacuation routes within the rooms must guarantee safe movement towards evacuation exits from said rooms without taking into account smoke protection and fire suppression in the rooms.

Outside of the rooms, must protect evacuation routes taking into account of fire hazard categories of rooms above the evacuation routes, number of people evacuating; fire-resistance categories and structural fire hazard levels of buildings, number of evacuation exits on one storey and from the entire buildings.

Construction material fire hazard levels of rooms and evacuation routes outside of rooms must be limited on surface levels (finishing layers and cladding) depending on fire hazard categories of the rooms and buildings, taking into account other solutions regarding protecting evacuation routes.

3.1.5 When designing evacuation from rooms and buildings, do not take into account of rescue measures and devices and exits that fail to satisfy exit requirements under 3.2.1.

3.1.6 Do not situate rooms under category F5 class A or class B below rooms simultaneously occupied by 50 people; do not situate F5 rooms in basements and semi-basements.

Do not situate F1.1, F1.2 and F1.3 rooms in basements and semi-basements.

3.1.7 In buildings with 2 to 3 basement storeys, may situate smoking rooms, supermarkets, commercial centers, diners, drinks store and other public spaces below the first basement storeys only if additional fire safety measures are developed and approved by competent Police Departments of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue.

At least 1 entry leading to exit stairwells via smoke control lobbies separated with surrounding spaces with class 2 fire-rated walls must be installed on each basement storey. Doors must be installed with auto-close mechanism.

3.1.8 To ensure safe exit, must detect and report fire promptly. Buildings and sections thereof must be equipped with fire alarm systems according to applicable regulations and law.

NOTE: Basic requirements regarding fire alarm systems are specified in TCVN 3890.

3.1.9 To protect building inhabitants during evacuation, prevent smoke from infiltrating evacuation routes of buildings and sections thereof.

NOTE: Basic requirements regarding smoke protection of buildings are specified under Annex D.

3.1.10 Effectiveness of methods ensuring safety for humans in case of fire can be assessed by calculation.

3.2 Exits and emergency exits

3.2.1 An exit is considered to be an evacuation exit if:

a) it leads rooms on the 1^st storey towards outside in any of following manners:

- Directly.

- Via corridors.

- Via lobbies (or waiting rooms).

- Via stairwells.

- Via corridors and lobbies (or waiting rooms).

- Via corridors and stairwells.

b) it leads from rooms on any storeys other than the 1^st storey to:

- Stairwells or type 3 staircases directly.

- Corridors heading directly to stairwells or type 3 staircases.

- Commonly shared rooms (or waiting rooms) with direct exits leading to stairwells or type 3 staircases.

- Side corridors of buildings under 28 m heading directly to type 2 staircases.

c) it leads to adjacent rooms (other than rooms under category F5 class A or B) on the same storey with exits specified in Points a) and b). Exits leading to class A or B rooms shall be considered evacuation exits if they lead from technical rooms without frequent operators and are used to serve class A or B rooms above.

3.2.2 Exits from basements and semi-basements are evacuation exits if they lead directly outside separately from common stairwells of the buildings (illustration in Figure I.1, Annex I).

May allocate:

- Evacuation exits from basement through common stairwells with separate exits leading outside isolated from remaining parts of stairwells by class 1 solid fire-rated partitions (illustration in Figure I.2, Annex I).

- Exits from basements and semi-basements where class C, D and E rooms are situated that lead to class C4, D and E rooms and to lobbies on the 1^st storey of category F5 buildings if requirements under 4.25 are satisfied.

- Evacuation exits from waiting rooms, storage rooms, smoking rooms and bathrooms in basements and semi-basements of category F2, F3 and F4 buildings to lobbies of 1^st storey via separate type 2 staircases.

- Vestibules, including double vestibules on direct exits from buildings, basements and semi-basements.

3.2.3 An exit shall not be considered as an evacuation exit if sliding, folding, rolling or revolving doors are situated on the exit.

Exits with hinged doors situated within doors or gates above shall be considered as evacuation exits if designed conforming to requirements.

3.2.4 Quantity and width of evacuation exits from rooms, storeys and buildings are defined based on the largest amount of people possible travelling through and permissible maximum distance from places potentially occupied by humans to the nearest evacuation exits.

NOTE 1: The largest amount of people to evacuate from different spaces of buildings or sections is determined according to Annex G, Section G.3.

NOTE 2: Apart from general requirements specified under these Regulations, specific requirements regarding quantity and width of evacuation exits are specified in technical regulations on each type of construction. Annex G prescribes specific requirements for commonly seen types of buildings.

When rooms simultaneously occupied by more than 50 people and having fire risk categories different from those of buildings, ensure separate evacuation routes for said rooms (leading directly outside or into stairwells).

3.2.5 Following rooms must have at least 2 evacuation exits:

- F1.1 rooms simultaneously occupied by more than 15 people.

- Rooms in basements and semi-basements simultaneously occupied by more than 15 people; and rooms in basements and semi-basements simultaneously occupied by 6 to 15 people may have 1 of 2 exits conforming to 3.2.13d).

- Rooms simultaneously occupied by more than 50 people.

- Rooms under category F5 class A or B with more than 5 people working in a shift, class C with more than 25 people working in a shift or larger than 1 000 m².

- Exposed working floors or floors for people operating and maintaining equipment in category F5 rooms larger than 100 m² – with respect to rooms under class A or B or larger than 400 m² – for rooms under other classes.

- With respect to category F1.3 rooms (flats) situated on both storeys (commonly referred to as bi-level flats), if height of upper storey is more than 18 m, install evacuation exits on each storey.

3.2.6 Storeys of following building categories must have no less than 2 evacuation exits:

- F1.1; F1.2; F2.1; F2.2; F3; F4.

- F1.3 when total area of flats on a storey exceeds 500 m² (for detached houses, calculate area of that storey). In case total area is not larger than 500 m² and only 1 evacuation exit from each storey, each flat situated a height taller than 15 m must have an emergency exit according to 3.2.13 in addition to emergency exits.

- F5, class A or B if at most more than 5 people simultaneously working in a shift, class C if at most more than 25 people simultaneously working in a shift.

Basements and semi-basements must have no less than 2 evacuation exits if they are larger than 300 m² or simultaneously occupied by 15 people.

May install 1 evacuation exit on each storey (or from parts of storeys separated from other sections of the buildings by fire prevention devices) with fire hazard category of F1.2, F1.4, F2, F3, F4.2, F4.3 and F4.4 with no more than 20 people on each storey, according to Schedule G.9 (Annex G) and when evacuation exits leading to smoke proof enclosures with class 2 fire-rated doors (according to Schedule 2) while satisfying any of following conditions:

- With respect to buildings no taller than 15 m, area of each storey must not exceed 300 m².

- With respect to buildings whose height ranging from 15 m to 21 m, area of each storey must not exceed 200 m2 and the entire buildings must be protected by automatic fire suppression systems.

3.2.7 Number of evacuation exits from any storey must not be less than 2 if such storey is where room(s) that requires 2 or more evacuation exits situates.

Number of evacuation exits from a buildings must not be less than then number of evacuation exits on any given storey of said buildings.

3.2.8 In case of at least 2 evacuation exits, situate said exits separately and take into account chances of the fire preventing people from using any of the exits when calculating evacuation possibilities. Remaining exits must be able to ensure safe evacuation for all people in the rooms, on the storeys or in the buildings (illustration in Figure I.3).

If a room, section or storey of a building requires at least 2 evacuation exits, at least 2 of said exits must be separated from another and the distance between any 2 exits must equal or larger than half of the longest diagonal line across the room, section or storey of the building. Distance between 2 evacuation exits shall be measured by the straight lines connecting their 2 nearest sides (illustration in Figure I.4 a), b) and c)).

If buildings are totally protected by sprinkler fire suppression systems, the distance may be reduced to 1/3 of the longest diagonal line of spaces mentioned above (illustration in Figure I.4 d)).

If 2 evacuation stairwells are connected by a corridor, the distance between 2 evacuation exits (2 doors leading to the evacuation stairwells) shall be measured along the corridor (Figure I.5). The corridor must be protected according to 3.3.5.

3.2.9 Clearance height of emergency exits must not be less than 1.9 m, clearance width must not be less than:

+ 1.2 m – from rooms under category F1.1 when number of people evacuating exceeds 15 people, from rooms and buildings with other fire hazard categories with more than 50 people evacuating, except for category F1.3.

+ 0.8 m – in all remaining cases.

Width of doors leading outside from stairwells and from stairwells to lobbies must not be less than calculated value or width of stair treads under 3.4.1.

In all cases, when determining width of an evacuation exit, must take into account geometric shapes of emergency exits via doorways or doors in order to not obstruct transportation of medical stretches carrying injured persons.

3.2.10 Doors of evacuation exits and other doors along evacuation route must be opened outwards. No regulations on open direction for doors of:

- Rooms under categories F1.3 and F1.4.

- Rooms simultaneously occupied by no more than 15 people, other than class A or B rooms.

- Storage no larger than 200 m² and not regularly occupied by workers.

- Bathrooms.

- Exits leading to landings of type 3 staircases.

3.2.11 Doors of evacuation exits from corridors on storeys, commonly shared spaces, waiting rooms, lobbies and stairwells must not have locks so as to be opened from inside without keys. With respect to buildings taller than 15 m, doors mentioned above must be solid doors or doors with tempered glass.

Doors of evacuation exits from rooms or lobbies that are forced smoke proofed must be solid doors equipped with auto closing mechanism and jambs must be tightly wedged. If said doors need to be opened during use, they must be equipped with mechanism that automatically closes the doors in case of fire.

With respect to stairwells, doors must be equipped with auto closing mechanism and jambs must be tightly wedged. Doors stairwells that are opened directly outside may not be equipped with auto closing mechanism and jambs may not be tightly wedged. Except for cases otherwise specified, doors of stairwells must be class 1 fire-rated doors in category I or II fire-resistance buildings; class 2 in category III or IV buildings; and class 3 in category V buildings.

Apart from specific regulations, doors of evacuation exits from lobbies leading to stairwells in a building with at least 4 storeys (except for buildings for incarceration or rehabilitation) must ensure:

- All electric locks installed on doors must be automatically unlocked as soon as fire alarm systems are activated. Said electric locks must also be automatically unlocked in case of power loss.

- People using stairwells can go back into the buildings via the doors that they leave or other doors allowing returning to the buildings.

- Allocate points of re-entry following the principles that doors may only prevent re-entry if all requirements below are satisfied:

+ No more than 2 storey may leave a stairwell to get to another evacuation exit.

+ No more than 4 storeys situated in-between storeys that grant access to another evacuation route via stairwells.

+ Building re-entry may be done at the top storey or the storey immediately below the top storey granted access to by the same stairwells if said storeys allow access to another evacuation exit.

+ Doors allowing re-entry must be marked on the inside with “Cửa có thể đi vào trong nhà” (Doors allowing entry) with each letter is at least 50 mm tall and placed at a height of no lower than 1.2 m and no higher than 1.8 m.

+ Doors that do not allow re-entry must have notice posted on the inside in order to distinguish locations of doors allowing re-entry or the nearest exits for each direction of movement.

NOTE: With respect to doors that do not allow re-entry, place warning signs on the corridors inside the buildings (outside of the stairwells) dictating that people cannot re-enter the buildings once they go through the door.

3.2.12 Exits that do not satisfy requirements for evacuation exits may be considered as emergency exits to raise safety storey for people in case of fire. Emergency exits must not be accounted for while calculating fire evacuation.

3.2.13 Apart from cases specified in 3.2.12, emergency exits also include:

a) Exits leading to balconies or loggias with solid walls no narrower than 1.2 m from edges of balconies (or loggias) to windows (or doors with glass) or no narrower than 1.6 m between glass windows opening towards the balconies (or loggias).

b) Exits leading to exposed continuous passages (overpasses) and to adjacent blocks of buildings under category F1.3 or to adjacent fire compartments. These passages must not be narrower than 0.6m.

c) Exits leading to balconies or loggias where external ladders connecting balconies and loggias on each storey.

d) Direct exits from rooms having finished floor elevation no lower than negative 4.5 m and no higher than 5.0 m through windows having dimensions no less than 0.75 m x 1.5 m or via trapdoors no smaller than 0.6 m x 0.8 m; such exits must be equipped with ladders; no regulations on steepness of the ladders.

e) Exits leading to roofs of buildings under fire-resistance category I, II and III under classes S0 and S1 through windows, doorways or trapdoors with dimensions and ladders specified in d).

3.2.14 May position evacuation exits with a height no less than 1.8 m in mechanical floors.

In mechanical floors for placement of technical networks (ducts, lines, etc.), may situate emergency exits through doorways no smaller than 0.75 m x 1.5 m or via trapdoors no smaller than 0.6 m x 0.8 m without situating evacuation exits.

In case of mechanical floors reaching up to 300 m2 allowing 1 evacuation exit, every following area equivalent or smaller than 2 000 m2, situate no less than 1 additional evacuation exit.

In underground mechanical floors, these exits must be separated from other exits of the buildings and leading directly outside.

3.3 Evacuation route

3.3.1 Evacuation routes are continuous and unobstructed passages starting from any point in buildings or construction to outside. Evacuation routes must be lit and presented with directions conforming to TCVN 3890.

3.3.2 Maximum permissible distance from the furthest position of the rooms or from the furthest workplaces to the nearest exit routes measured along the exit routes must be limited depending on:

- Fire hazard categories and fire risk classes (consult Annex C) of rooms and buildings.

- Number of people evacuating.

- Geometric calculations of rooms and evacuation routes.

- Fire hazard categories and fire resistance categories of buildings.

Length of evacuation routes along type 2 staircases shall equal 3 times the height of said stairs.

NOTE: Specific requirements regarding maximum permissible distance from the furthest point to the nearest evacuation exits are specified on a case-by-case basis. Annex G specifies specific regulations applied to commonly seen building types.

3.3.3 When allocating and designing evacuation routes, must rely on requirements under 3.2.1. Evacuation routes must not include elevators, escalators and passages below:

- Passages through inner corridors with exits from elevator shafts, through elevator lobbies and vestibules in front of elevators if structures covering elevator shafts, including elevator doors fail to meet requirements applied to fire prevention devices.

- Passages going through stairwells when paths cutting across landings of stairwells are parts of inner corridors or cutting across rooms where type 2 staircases are situated and said stairs are not for evacuation.

- Passages going along roofs, except for roofs under utilization or parts of roofs furnished only for evacuation.

- Passages going along type 2 staircases, connecting at least 3 storeys, or starting from basements/semi-basements, except for cases specified in 3.2.2.

3.3.4 Along evacuation routes in buildings of all fire resistance categories and fire hazard categories, except for buildings under fire resistance category V and buildings under class S3, do not use materials more flammable than groups below:

- Ch1, BC1, SK2, DT2 – for finished layers of walls, ceilings and ceiling materials in lobbies, stairwells and elevator lobbies.

- Ch2, BC2, SK3, DT3 or Ch2, BC3, SK2, DT2 – for finished layers of walls, ceilings and ceiling materials in commonly shared lobbies, commonly shared rooms and waiting rooms.

- Ch2, LT2, SK2, DT2 – for floor coatings in lobbies, stairwells and elevator lobbies.

- BC2, LT2, SK3, DT2 – for floor coatings in commonly shared lobbies, commonly shared spaces and waiting rooms.

In rooms of category F5 class A, B and C1 where flammable liquid are manufactured, stored or used, floors must be made from non-flammable materials or materials with flammability Ch1.

Hanging ceiling frames in rooms and on evacuation routes must be made from non-flammable materials.

3.3.5 In corridors along evacuation exits mentioned in 3.2.1, except for cases otherwise specified in these Regulations, do not place: equipment/devices protruding from flat wall surfaces at a height no less than 2 m; ducts carrying flammable gas and liquid, wall cabinets, except for communication panels and cabinets containing fire hydrants.

Corridors mentioned in 3.2.1 must be coated with fire prevention devices conforming to regulations applied to each type of work item. Fire prevention devices covering middle corridors of category I fire resistant buildings must be made from materials with fire-resistance ratings no lower than EI 30 and of category II, III and IV fire resistant buildings must be made from non-flammable materials or materials with Ch1 flammability with fire-resistance ratings no lower than EI 15. With respect to buildings with fire resistance category II of fire hazard class D or E (consult Annex C), may cover corridors by glass walls. Doors leading to the corridors must be fire-rated doors with fire-resistance ratings no lower than fire-resistance ratings of fire prevention devices.

Corridors that are longer than 60 m must be divided by class 2 fire-rated partitions into sections with length defined in Annex D according to smoke protection requirements but no more than 60 m. Doors in the fire-rated partitions must conform to 3.2.11.

When doors of rooms are opened outward to corridors, width of evacuation routes along the corridors shall equal clearance width of the corridors subtract:

- Half the width of protruding sections of the doors (calculate whichever doors protruding the most) – when doors are placed on one side of the corridors.

- The entire protruding width of the doors (calculate whichever doors protruding the most) – when doors are placed on both sides of the corridors.

- These requirements do not apply to lobbies of storeys (commonly shared lobbies) situated between doors of flats and doors leading to stairwells in blocks of category F1.3 buildings.

3.3.6 Clearance height of horizontal sections of evacuation routes must not be less than 2 m, clearance width of horizontal sections of evacuation routes and slope sections must not be less than:

a) 1.2 m – for commonly used lobbies for evacuation for more than 15 people from category F1 rooms, more than 50 people – from rooms under other fire hazard categories.

b) 0.7 m – for passages leading to individual working spaces.

c) 1.0 m – for all remaining cases.

In any case, evacuation routes must be wide enough, taking into account of geometry shapes thereof in order to not obstruct transportation of medical stretches carrying injured persons.

3.3.7 On floors of evacuation routes must not have raised flooring with difference in height less than 45 cm or raised edges, except for doorsteps. At raised flooring sections, install steps with no less than 3 steps or slopes with steepness no more than 1 : 6 (height difference must not exceed 10 cm over length of 60 cm or angle created by slopes with flat surfaces must not be more than 9.5^o).

When constructing steps for places with more than 45 cm of differences in height, install guardrails.

Except for specific cases under 3.4.4, must not install spiral staircases, totally or partially curved stairs in terms of overall area and in any stair tread and a stairwell must not have steps with different height and tread width along evacuation routes. Do not install mirror along evacuation routes in order to avoid any confusion regarding evacuation routes.

3.4 Staircases and stairwells on evacuation routes

3.4.1 Width of treads of stairs for evacuation, including stairs situated in stairwells, must not be smaller than calculated value or width of any evacuation exit (door) within the stairwells and must not smaller than:

a) 1.35 m – for buildings under category F1.1.

b) 1.2 m – for buildings with any storey, other than the 1^st storey, simultaneously occupied by more than 200 people.

c) 0.7 m – for staircases leading to individual working spaces.

d) 0.9 m – for all remaining cases.

3.4.2 Slope (angle) of stairs along evacuation routes must not be more than 1 : 1 (45^o); depth of tread must not be less than 25 cm and riser of tread must not be more than 22 cm.

Slope (angle) of exposed staircases leading to individual workplaces may be increased up to 2 : 1 (63.5^o).

May reduce tread depth of starting curved stairs (usually situated in lobbies of storey 1) in the inner curve down to 22 cm; may reduce tread depth down to 12 cm for stairs used for rooms simultaneously occupied by no more than 15 people (other than category F5 class A or B rooms).

Type 3 staircases must be made of non-flammable materials and situated next to solid sections (without windows or skylights) of walls having fire hazard category no lower than K1 and fire-resistance ratings no lower than REI 30. These staircases must have landings situated at the same elevation as evacuation exits with guardrails situated at a height of 1.2 m and no less than 1.0 m away from the nearest windows.

Type 2 staircases must satisfy requirements applied to treads and landings in stairwells.

3.4.3 Width of staircase landings must not be less than the width of stair tread. Width of landings in front of entrance to elevators (landings acting as elevator lobbies) of elevators having hinged doors opening outwards must not be less than total width of tread, half the width of elevator door and not be less than 1.6 m.

Length of intermediate landings in straight staircases must be no less than 1.0 m.

Doors that are opened to staircases must not reduce calculated width of landings and treads when they are opened.

3.4.4 Buildings under fire hazard category F4 may be installed with curved staircases on evacuation routes when all following conditions are met:

- Stair height must not exceed 9.0 m.

- Width of flights of stairs shall conform to requirements under these Regulations.

- Smallest curve radius must not be less than twice the width of stair flights.

- Riser height must range from 150 mm to 190 mm.

- Width of inner treads (270 mm away from the small ends of the treads) must not be less than 220 mm.

- Width at the middle of the treads must not be less than 250 mm.

- Width of outer treads (270 mm away from the big ends of the treads) must not be more than 45 mm.

- Sum of 2 times the riser and width of inner treads must not be less than 480 mm and in case of width of outer treads, no greater than 800 mm.

3.4.5 In stairwells and vestibules (if any), do not place:

- Ducts carrying flammable gas and liquid.

- Wall cabinets, other than communication panels and cabinets containing fire hydrants.

- Exposed cables and power lines (except for power lines for low voltage electric devices) including for lighting corridors and stairwells.

- Exits from cargo elevators and cargo lifting devices.

- Exits leading to storage or mechanical rooms.

- Equipment protruding from wall surfaces at a height less than 2.2 m from surfaces of treads and landings.

In spaces of stairwells, do no situate any function rooms.

3.4.6 In spaces of stairwells, other than smoke proof enclosures, may situate no more than 2 passenger elevators capable of descending to the 1^st storey with structures sheltering elevator shafts made from non-flammable materials.

With respect to elevator shafts situated outdoors, use structural components made from non-flammable materials as sheltering structures.

3.4.7 Stairwells in the 1^st storey must have exits leading directly outside to the plot adjacent to the buildings or through lobbies separated from connecting corridors by class 1 fire-rated partitions with doorways. When situating evacuation exits from 2 stairwells through common lobbies, one of the evacuation exits must lead directly outside apart from leading to the lobbies.

May allocate evacuation exits from 2 stairwells through common lobbies with respect to buildings under 28 m, area of each storey does not exceed 300 m², number of occupants on each storey does not exceed 50 according to Schedule G.9 (Annex G) and the whole buildings must be protected by automatic fire suppression systems satisfactory to applicable regulations.

N1 type staircases must have exits that lead directly outside.

3.4.8 Stairwells must be well lit. Except for L2 stairwells, lighting can be performed by skylights with less than 1.2 m² in area on outer walls of each storey.

May situate no more than 50% of stairwells without skylights for evacuation purposes in following cases:

- Category F2, F3 and F4 buildings: for N2 or N3 stairwells with positive pressure ventilation in case of fire.

- F5 class C buildings with 28 m in height and regardless of height in case of class D and E buildings: for N3 stairwells with positive pressure ventilation in case of fire.

L2 stairwells must have skylights on the roofs with less than 4 m² in area and gaps between stair flights not less than 0.7 m or skylights along the height of stairwells with cross-section area no less than 2 m².

3.4.9 Implementation of smoke proof of N2 and N3 stairwells shall conform to Annex D. If necessary, N2 stairwells shall be divided into compartments at different height with class 1 fire-rated solid partitions with respect to passages between compartments situated outside of the stairwells.

Windows in N2 stairwells must not be opened.

Vestibules of N3 stairwells must not be less than 3.0 m² and no less than 6.0 m² if said vestibules also act as lobbies of fire service elevators.

3.4.10 Smoke proof of smoke proofed vestibules leading to N1 smoke proof enclosures must receive natural ventilation with appropriate structural and surface planning solutions. Cases considered to be appropriate are:

NOTE: Annex I (I.3.2) illustrates methods of situating smoke proof vestibules to allow access to N1 stairwells.

a) Smoke proof vestibules must be open and connected to the outside and not usually situated in inner corners of buildings while must satisfy following requirements (Figure I.7):

- When parts of outer walls of the buildings are connected with other walls with an angle of less than 135^o, the horizontal distance from the nearest doorways in one vestibule to the vertex of adjoining angle must not be less than 4m; this distance may reduce to equal the protruding value of outer walls; the requirement does not apply to passages situated in adjoining corners exceeding 135^o and to protruding sections of outer walls that are less than 1.2 m.

- Width of walls between doorways of smoke proof vestibules and the nearest doorways of the rooms must not be less than 2 m.

- Passages must not be narrower than 1.2 m with guardrails at a height of 1.2 m, width of wall sections between doorways in smoke proof vestibules must not be less than 1.2 m.

NOTE: Cases similar to this model are illustrated in Annex I, Figures I.8 a), b) and c).

b) Smoke proof vestibules alongside corridors (Figure I.8 h), i) and k)) shall receiving natural lighting and ventilation by openings leading to and connecting to following spaces:

- Outside space.

- Streets, public streets or other public spaces above.

- Vertical skylights no narrower than 6 m and clearance area no less than 93 m².

c) Smoke proof vestibules crossing smoke proof corridors that are no smaller than 6 m² with the smallest area of each dimension no less than 2 m are separated from adjacent areas of the buildings with class 2 fire-rated walls. Doors must be equipped with auto closing mechanism and jambs must be tightly wedged. Design of smoke proof vestibules must not obstruct movement of people who are evacuating. Smoke proof capacity of smoke proof vestibules must be guaranteed by:

- Air vents no smaller than 15 % of floor area of smoke proof vestibules and situated no more than 9 m from any sections of the lobbies. These air vents must be connected to vertical skylights or concave ventilation compartments along the vertical sections of the buildings. Dimension of vertical skylights concave compartments must not be narrower than 6 m and clearance area must not be less than 93 m². Walls surrounding the vertical skylights must be able to resist fire for at least 1 hour and no other ventilation openings are situated in the skylights other than ventilation openings of smoke proof vestibules, evacuation stairwells and sanitation areas (Figure I.8 d), e) and f)); or

- Corridors receiving horizontal ventilation with fixed ventilation openings situated on 2 outer walls. Ventilation openings on each outer walls must not have less 50 % of clearance area of the opposite outer walls. Distance from all points of corridor floors to any ventilation opening must not exceed 13 m (Figure I.8g)).

3.4.11 L1 stairwells and type 3 staircases may be situated in buildings of all fire hazard categories reaching as tall as 28 m; in that case, in category F5 and class A or B buildings, exits leading to corridors in class A or B rooms must travel across vestibules receiving positive air pressure ventilation.

3.4.12 L2 stairwells may be situated in buildings with fire resistance category I, II or III with structural fire hazard level S0, S1 and fire hazard category F1, F2, F3 and F4 with a height no more than 9m. May increase height of the buildings up to 12 m if the top skylights automatically open in case of fire and in F1.3 buildings having automatic fire alarm systems or independent fire alarm devices.

When situating L2 stairwells, must satisfy following requirements:

- In F2, F3 and F4 buildings, number of L2 stairwells must not exceed 50 % of total number of stairwells, remaining stairwells must have skylights installed on outer wall at each level (L1 type).

- For F1.3 buildings constructed in blocks, each flat situated at a height above 4 m must have an emergency exit according 3.2.13.

3.4.13 In buildings taller than 28 m, and F5 class A or B buildings, situate smoke proof enclosures and N1 stairwells.

NOTE: N1 stairwells may be replaced as specified in 2.5.1c) as long as the systems providing outside air to vestibules and stairwells must be powered by 3 prioritized sources (1 power grid systems and 2 backup power generators or 2 prioritized power sources and 1 backup power generators) to ensure continuous power supply for steady operation in case of fire.

Permit:

- Situate more than 50 % of N2 stairwells in F1.3 buildings in form of corridors.

- Situate no more than 50 % of N2 or N3 stairwells receiving positive air pressure ventilation in case of fire in F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3 and F4 buildings.

- Situate N2 and N3 stairwells receiving natural lighting and positive air pressure ventilation in F5 class A or B buildings.

- Situate N2 or N3 stairwells receiving positive air pressure ventilation in F5 class B buildings.

- Situate N2 or N3 stairwells receiving positive air pressure ventilation in F5 class C or D buildings. When situating L1 stairwells, the stairwells must be separated into compartments by solid fire rated partitions every 20 m in height and passages leading from one compartment to the next compartment of the stairwells must be situated outside of the stairwell spaces.

- For apartment buildings (F1.3) taller than 28 m without exceeding 75 m and total area of all flats in each storey not exceeding 500 m², may situate 1 evacuation stairwell if evacuation exit of the storey conforms to 3.2.6, flats are equipped with fire alarm devices, each storey is equipped with automatic fire suppression systems and following requirements must be satisfied:

+ Indoor N1 stairwells are utilized in form of corridors;

+ N2 or N3 stairwells are utilized, integrate 1 elevator as fire service elevator in building blocks.

3.4.14 In buildings with smoke proof enclosures, guarantee smoke protection for commonly shared corridors, lobbies, spaces and waiting rooms.

3.4.15 In buildings with fire resistance category I and II and structural fire hazard level S0, may situate type 2 staircases leading from lobbies to the 2^nd storey taking into account of 4.26.

3.4.16 In buildings not taller than 28 m with fire hazard category F1.2, F2, F3, F4, fire resistance category I, II and structural fire hazard level S0, may use type 2 stair cases to connect 2 storeys or more when as long as evacuation stairwells conform to documents prescribing standards and 4.27.

3.4.17 Escalators must be situated satisfactory to requirements applied to type 2 staircases.

4. FIRE SPREAD PREVENTION

4.1 Fire spread shall be prevented by adopting measures to limit fire area, fire intensity and duration. To be specific:

- Utilize structure and spatial – clearance planning solutions to prevent further spread of dangerous elements of the fire in a rooms, between rooms, between groups of rooms with different fire hazard categories, between storeys, between blocks, between fire compartments and between buildings.

- Limit fire and explosion risks related to technology in rooms and buildings.

- Limit fire hazard of construction materials used on surface levels of building structures, including: roofing, finishing layers of outer walls, rooms and evacuation routes.

- Install initial fire extinguishing devices, including automatic and manual devices.

- Install fire detection and alarm devices.

NOTE: Regulations on fire safety distance between buildings, public constructions and manufacturing facilities are specified in Annex E. Distance from storage containing flammable liquid, exposed storage situated above ground containing flammable liquid, tanks containing LPG (Liquified Petrolium Gas) and flammable gas to other structures must conform to specialized standards.

4.2 Buildings, dorms, public structures, manufacturing facilities and warehouses must satisfy fire safety requirements under these Regulations and provisions under design regulations applied to each type of construction. Number of storeys (permissible height of buildings), area of fire compartments and maximum height for placement of conference rooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms, sports training spaces, etc. shall conform to regulations under Annex H.

4.3 Building sections (rooms, areas of refuge, mechanical floors, basements, semi-basements and other sections) where fire suppression is difficult to be implemented must be equipped with additional measures to limit fire area, intensity and duration.

4.4 Effectiveness of measures adopted to prevent fire spread shall be assessed by economic – technical calculation based on requirements of 1.5.1 regarding limiting direct and indirect consequences of the fire.

4.5 Building sections and rooms with different fire hazard categories must be separated from each other by partitioning structures with appropriate fire resistance ratings and structural fire hazard level or by fire prevention devices.

In such case, requirements for partitioning structures and fire prevention structures shall be considered taking into account structural fire hazard categories of rooms, fire loading value, fire resistance categories and structural fire hazard levels.

4.6 With respect to a building whose sections with different fire hazard levels have been separated by fire prevention devices, each section must satisfy requirements regarding fire safety applied to buildings with similar fire hazard levels.

Fire protection systems must be selected on the basis of: when sections of buildings have different fire hazard levels, fire hazard levels of the whole buildings may be greater than fire hazard levels of any sections thereof.

4.7 With respect to F5 buildings, if the technology allows, situate class A and B rooms near the outer walls; with respect to multi-storey buildings, situate these rooms at upper storeys.

4.8 Do not situate rooms that utilize or store flammable gas and liquid and flammable materials in basements and semi-basements, except for cases specifically considered.

4.9 Construction components must not facilitate hidden fire.

4.10 Fire resistance of connecting details of construction components must not be lower than required fire resistance applied to those components.

4.11 Structures creating slopes in auditorium must satisfy fire resistance and fire hazard level requirements according to Schedule 4 and Schedule 5 similar to floors in-between storeys.

4.12 When situating service ducts and cables across walls, floors and partitions, the adjoining section must be sealed or properly processed in order to not reduce fire-related technical standards applied to the components respectively.

4.13 Fireproof coating and impregnation layers applied on exposed surfaces of components must satisfy requirements prescribed for finishing of said components.

Technical documents for fireproof coatings and impregnation layers must specify frequency of replacement or restoration depending on use conditions.

In order to enhance fire resistance or reduce fire hazard level of components, do not use fireproof coatings and impregnation layers in places that cannot be restored or replaced regularly.

4.14 Effectiveness of fireproof substances (materials) for reducing fire risks of materials must be assessed by tests for fire hazard category of construction materials in Section 2 (Fire-related technical classification).

Effectiveness of fireproof substances (materials) for enhancing fire resistance of materials must be assessed by tests for fire resistance of construction materials in Section 2 (Fire-related technical classification).

Effectiveness of fireproof substances (materials) not taken into account when determining load-bearing capacity of metal components (pillars or beams) shall be assessed by tests comparing minimized model of pillars with height of exposed fire must not be less than 1.7 m or beam models with length of exposed fire no less than 2.8 m without continuous load.

4.15 With respect to rooms having hanging ceilings and fire-rated partition, hanging ceilings must satisfy fire hazard requirements (as specified in 3.3.4) and fire-rated partitions must also separate the space above the hanging ceilings.

Do no situate channels and ducts to carry flammable substances in gas, dust - gas or liquid form and flammable materials. Hanging ceilings cannot be situated in class A or B rooms.

4.16 At intersection between fire prevention devices with sheltering structures of the buildings including points where building sections are altered, adopt measures to prevent fire from spreading through said places.

4.17 Fire-rated walls for separating buildings into fire compartments must be situated along the height of the buildings and must prevent fire from spreading into adjacent fire compartments when building structures that are on fire collapse.

4.18 Openings in fire prevention devices must be sealed in case of fire.

Windows in fire prevention devices cannot be opened, doors, gates, trapdoors and valves must be equipped with auto closing mechanism and jambs must be tightly wedged. Doors, gates, trapdoors and valves that need to be left open during utilization must be equipped with mechanisms that automatically close said components in case of fire.

4.19 Total area of doorways in fire prevention devices, other than sheltering structures of elevator shafts, must not exceed 25 % of area of said fire prevention devices. Fire-rated doors and valves in fire prevention devices must satisfy requirements under 2.4.3 and requirements under this section.

Install vestibules receiving positive air pressure ventilation as specified in Annex D in doors of fire prevention devices for separating class A or B rooms from other spaces namely: rooms of classes other than A or B, corridors, staircases and elevator lobbies. Do not situate a vestibule for more than 2 class A or B rooms.

4.20 If unable to situate fire-rated vestibules in fire prevention devices for separating class A or B rooms from other rooms or unable to situate doors, gates, trapdoors and valves in fire prevention devices for separating class C rooms from other rooms, establish measures to prevent fire spread and infiltration of combustible gas, air, fume of liquid, dust and ashes which are capable of creating explosion with appropriate contents into adjacent rooms and storeys. Effectiveness of measures mentioned above must be proved.

In doorways of fire prevention devices between class C, D and E rooms, if unable to close by fire-rated doors or gates, may situate exposed vestibules equipped with automatic fire suppression devices. Sheltering structures of the vestibules must be appropriate fire prevention structures.

4.21 Fire-rated doors and valves in fire prevention devices must be made from non-flammable materials.

May use materials with flammability no less than Ch3 and protected by non-flammable materials no thinner than 4 mm as fire-rated doors, gates, trapdoors and valves.

Doors of fire-rated compartments, doors, gates and trapdoors in all fire prevention devices of rooms that do not store or use flammable gas, air and materials and do not include technological processes that involve burning dusts may be made from materials with Ch3 flammability with thickness no less than 40 mm and not hollow.

4.22 Do not situate channels, shafts and ducts carrying flammable gas, mixture of flammable dust, flammable liquid, flammable substances and materials across class 1 fire-rated walls and floors.

For channels, shafts and ducts for carrying other substances and materials with types mentioned above, at intersection with the fire prevention devices, install devices that automatically prevent spread of burning products along the channels, shafts and ducts.

NOTE 1: May situate ventilation ducts and chimneys in fire-rated walls of buildings, public constructions and auxiliary buildings if minimum thickness of fire-rated walls (excluding the ducts) is not under 25 cm and thickness of separation layers between chimneys and ventilation ducts is at least 12 cm.

NOTE 2: Openings for placement of water pipes in fire prevention devices must be processed according to 4.12.

4.23 Sheltering structures of elevator shafts (except for shafts mentioned in 3.4.6) and elevator mechanical rooms (other than rooms situated on the roofs), channels, shafts and mechanical panels must satisfy requirements applied to class 1 fire-rated partitions and class 3 fire-rated floors. No regulations on fire-resistance ratings of sheltering structures between elevator shafts and mechanical rooms.

If unable to install fire-rated doors in sheltering structures of elevator shafts mentioned above, situate vestibules or lobbies with class 1 fire-rated partitions and class 3 fire-rated floors or curtains that automatically close doorways leading to elevator shafts in case of fire. The curtains must be made from non-flammable materials and have fire-resistance ratings no less than E 30.

In buildings with smoke proof enclosures, equip automatic smoke protection for elevator shafts whose exits are not installed with fire-rated vestibules with positive air pressure ventilation in case of fire.

4.24 Garbage rooms, garbage chutes and doors to garbage chute systems must be designed and installed satisfactory to technical standards and requirements applied specifically to said components and following specific requirements:

- Garbage chutes and garbage rooms must be separated from other sections of the buildings by fire prevention devices; doors to garbage chute systems must have fire-rated doors equipped with auto-closing mechanisms.

- Garbage chutes must be made from non-flammable materials.

- Do not place garbage chutes and garbage rooms in stairwells, waiting lounges or vestibules coated with fireproof layers for evacuation purposes.

- Rooms containing garbage chutes or garbage must guarantee direct entrance from spacious areas outside of the buildings or via a fire-rated vestibules receiving regular ventilation.

- Doors to garbage rooms must not be situated adjacent to evacuation exits or doors leading outside the buildings or near windows of houses.

4.25 Depending on technological advances, may situate staircases separately to allow access between basements/semi-basements with the 1^st storey.

The staircases must be covered by class 1 fire-rated partitions and fire-rated vestibules receiving positive air pressure ventilation in case of fire.

May not situate fire-rated vestibules as mentioned above for staircases in F5 buildings if the staircases lead from basements/semi-basements where class C4, D and E are located to rooms of the same class on the 1^st storey.

The staircases must not be taken into account when calculating evacuation, except for cases specified in 3.2.1.

4.26 When situating type 2 staircases leading from lobbies on 1^st storey to the 2^nd storey, the lobbies must be separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by class 1 fire-rated partitions.

4.27 Rooms where type 2 staircases according to 3.4.16 are situated must be separated from adjoining corridors and other rooms by class 1 fire-rated partitions. May not separate rooms where type 2 staircases are situated by fire-rated partitions if:

- The whole buildings are equipped with automatic fire suppression devices; or

- Buildings no taller than 9 m with area of any storey does not exceed 300 m².

4.28 In buildings/semi-basements, install class 1 fire-rated vestibules receiving positive air pressure ventilation in case of ire in front of entrances to elevators.

4.29 Choosing dimensions of buildings, fire compartments and distance between buildings must rely on fire-resistance categories, structural fire hazard levels and fire loading values, taking into account effectiveness of used fire protection devices, presence, location and level of equipment of fire brigade, potential economic and ecological consequences due to the fire.

4.30 During operation process, functionality of all technical equipment for fire protection must be guaranteed according to predetermined requirements.

4.31 Installation of automatic fire alarm and suppression must conform to TCVN 3890.

5. WATER SUPPLY FOR FIREFIGHTING

5.1 Outdoor hydrant boosters

5.1.1 Fire safety requirements for outdoors hydrant boosters

5.1.1.1 Installation of outdoors hydrant must conform to TCVN 3890 and other revised documents prescribing standards.

5.1.1.2 Water quality of supply sources must conform to operation conditions of firefighting equipment and methods.

5.1.1.3 Water pipes for firefighting are usually maintained at low pressure and only at high pressure when satisfactory to statements. For high pressure pipelines, fire fighting pumps must be equipped with mechanisms guaranteeing operation no later than 5 minutes after fire alarms go off.

5.1.1.4 Minimum discharge rate in low-pressure water pipes for firefighting (situated above ground) during fire fighting must not be less than 10 m. Minimum discharge rate in high-pressure water pipe systems for firefighting must ensure height of solid stream no less than 20 m in case of maximum fire fighting load and fire nozzles situated at the highest point of the buildings. Discharge rate in mixed pipelines must not be lower than 10 m and not higher than 60 m.

5.1.2 Fire safety requirements for water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting.

5.1.2.1 Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting (for 1 fire) and number of simultaneous fire in a residential area calculated for primary pipe network shall conform to Schedule 7.

5.1.2.2 Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting (for 1 fire) for buildings of fire hazard categories F1, F2, F3 and F4 calculated for mixed pipelines, distribution pipelines of pipe networks and small scale pipe networks (1 hamlet, 1 block, etc.) shall use the highest value in Schedule 8.

5.1.2.3 Water flow rate for outdoor for buildings of fire hazard level F5, for 1 fire, shall conform to buildings requiring the highest value in Schedule 9 and Schedule 10.

NOTE 1: When calculating water flow rate for extinguishing 2 fires, use value of 2 buildings requiring the highest value.

NOTE 2: Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting in independently situated auxiliary buildings shall conform to Schedule 8 similar to buildings with fire hazard level F2, F3 and F4, and in case of manufacturing faculties, calculate according to general volume of manufacturing facilities and Schedule 9.

NOTE 3: Water flow rate for outdoor firefighting of buildings of agricultural facilities with fire-resistance categories I and II with volume not exceeding 5 000 m³, fire and explosion hazard class D and E shall equal 5 l/s.

NOTE 4: Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting in radio stations and television stations does not depend of volume of the stations and number of people living in the vicinity of the stations but rather no less than 15 l/s even when Schedule 9 and Schedule 10 specify a lower value.

NOTE 5: Water flow rate for outdoor fire for buildings with volume exceeding values under Schedule 9 and Schedule 10 must comply with special requirements.

NOTE 6: In case of buildings with fire-resistance category II and made from wooden structures, water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting shall equal values under Schedule 9 and Schedule 10 plus 5 l/s.

NOTE 7: Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting for buildings and areas of refrigerated food warehouses shall use values of buildings with C level of fire hazard.

Schedule 7 – Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting in residential areas

Schedule 8 – Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting in buildings with F1, F2, F3 and F4 fire hazard levels

5.1.2.4 Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting separated with fire-rated walls shall depend on sections of the buildings that require the most amount.

5.1.2.5 Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting separated by fire-rated walls shall be determined by overall volume of the buildings and the highest value of fire and explosion hazard level.

5.1.2.6 Water flow rate for firefighting must be guaranteed even when other water demand is most needed, specifically:

- Domestic water.

- Individual business households.

- Industrial and agricultural manufacturing facilities where drinking water quality or economic purposes are inadequate for installation of separate pipelines.

- Water treatment stations, pipe and duct networks, etc.

- In case technological advances allow, may use part of water for manufacturing for fire fighting, connect hydrants of manufacturing pipe networks with hydrants of fire fighting pipe networks to guarantee adequate amount of water for fire fighting.

Schedule 9 – Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting in category F5 buildings

5.1.2.7 Water supply systems for firefighting (water pipes, pumping stations, tanks and tubs containing water for firefighting) must not stop supplying water for more than 10 minutes and reduce flow rate more than 30 % of calculated values for 3 days.

5.1.2.8 In case buildings are situated in areas not installed with adequate outdoor water supply infrastructure for firefighting according to Schedules 8, 9 and 10, comply with instructions of competent Police Departments of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue.

5.1.3 Calculated number of simultaneous fire

5.1.3.1 Number of simultaneous fire of an agricultural facility must be calculated based on area of the facility, to be specific:

- Consider as 1 fire if the facility is as large as 150 ha.

- Consider as 2 fires if the facilities is larger than 150 ha.

NOTE: Number of simultaneous fire calculated for an exposed storage area containing wooden materials shall be as follows: consider as 1 fire if the facility is as large as 50 ha; consider as 2 fires if the facility is larger than 50 ha.

Schedule 10 – Water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting in F5 buildings

5.1.3.2 When merging pipelines of a residential area and an industrial facility situated outside of the residential area, number of simultaneous fire shall be calculated as follows:

- When the industrial area is as large as 150 ha and population of the residential area is 10 thousand people, consider as 1 fire (apply the higher value of water flow rate); and with population ranging from 10 to 25 thousand people, consider as 2 fires (1 fire for the industrial facility and 1 fire for the residential area).

- When the industrial area is larger than 150 ha and the population is 25 thousand people, consider as 2 fires (2 fires for the industrial area or 2 fires for the residential area, whichever side requires more water).

- When the population exceeds 25 thousand people, water flow rate shall equal total flow rate of the higher demand (of industrial facility or residential area) and 50 % of the lower demand (of industrial facility or residential area).

5.1.3.3 Fire fighting duration must be 3 hours, except for special cases specified below:

- With respect to buildings of fire resistance category I, II with structures and thermal insulation layers made from non-flammable materials and areas of fire hazard level D and E, the fire fighting duration shall be 2 hours.

- With respect to exposed storage containing wooden materials, the fire fighting duration must not be less than 5 hours.

5.1.3.4 The maximum amount time to restore amount of water for firefighting must not be more than:

- 24 hours for residential areas and industrial areas with areas under fire hazard level A, B and C.

- 36 hours for industrial facilities with areas under fire hazard level D and E.

- 72 hours for residential areas and agricultural facilities.

NOTE 1: With respect to industrial facilities that require up to 20 l/s for outdoor fire fighting, may increase maximum amount of time to restore water for firefighting as follows:

- Up to 48 hours for areas under fire hazard level D and E.

- Up to 36 hours for areas under fire hazard level C.

NOTE 2: If unable to ensure restoration of water for firefighting within the specified time period, provide additional n^th time of water for fire fighting. Value of n (n = 1.5; 2.0; 2.5; 3.0, etc) depends on actual restoration period, t_tt, and shall be calculated by using following formula:

In which: t_tt – actual period of restoring water for fire fighting.

t_td – period of restoring water for firefighting (according to 5.1.3.4).

5.1.4 Fire safety requirements for pipe networks and constructions performed thereon

5.1.4.1 When installing 2 supply pipes or more, must install valves to switch between the pipes so in case 1 supply pipe is entirely or partially closed, fire fighting is still 100 % guaranteed.

5.1.4.2 Pipeline network carrying water for firefighting must be circular network. May install dead end pipes in case of: supplying water for firefighting or daily routines and fire fighting if the length of the pipelines does not exceed 200 m regardless of required water flow rate for fire fighting.

Do not install circular network of outdoor pipe networks with indoor pipe networks.

NOTE: In residential areas with population of up to 5 000 people and requiring up to 10 l/s water flow rate for firefighting or having up to 12 indoor hydrants, may use dead end networks longer than 200 m if tanks, tubs, pressure towers or circulating baths are constructed for dead end networks which contain the whole amount of water for fire fighting.

5.1.4.3 Valves on pipelines regardless of diameters that are remotely or automatically controlled must be electrically controlled.

May use compressed air, hydraulics or electromagnetic valves.

In case of not being remotely or automatically controlled, valves with up to 400 mm in diameter can be manually locked, valves with more than 400 mm in diameter can be locked electrically or by hydraulics; in special cases, may install manual valves with more than 400 mm in diameter.

In all cases, must allow manual operation.

5.1.4.4 Diameter of supply pipelines and the network after the supply pipelines must be calculated based on:

- Technical and economic factors.

- Working conditions in case accidents interrupt different sections.

Diameter of outdoor fire fighting pipelines in residential areas and manufacturing facilities must not be less than 100 mm, in rural areas – not smaller than 75 mm.

5.1.5 Requirements for tubs and tanks storing water for outdoor fire fighting

5.1.5.1 Functions of tubs and tanks providing water must include circulating, fire fighting, occurring of incidents and containing of feed water.

5.1.5.2 If collection of water for firefighting directly from water sources does not conform to economic and technical conditions, tanks and tubs must contain adequate calculated amount of water for fire fighting.

5.1.5.3 Volume of water in tanks and tubs must be calculated so as to ensure:

- Provision of water for firefighting from outdoor hydrant boosters and other fire suppression systems.

- Provision of water for specialized fire suppression devices (sprinklers, drenchers, etc.) that do not have separate tanks.

- Maximum water amount for daily routines and manufacturing during fire fighting process.

5.1.5.4 Reservoir providing water for fire engines must have access and parking lots with dimensions of no smaller than 12 m x 12 m and surfaces capable of withstanding load of fire engines.

NOTE: When determining volume of water for fire fighting in tubs and tanks, may take into account refilling the tubs and tanks during fire fighting process in case of water supply systems satisfactory to 5.1.2.7.

5.1.5.5 When supplying water via 1 pipeline, prepare back up water for fire fighting, the amount of water shall conform to 5.1.5.3.

NOTE: May not take into account the backup water if the length of a supply pipeline does not exceed 500 m in a residential area with less than 5 000 people and entities requiring no more than 40 l/s of water for outdoor fire fighting.

5.1.5.6 Total number of tanks and tubs for fire fighting in a pipe network must not be less than 2.

The minimum and maximum level of water for fire fighting among all tubs and tanks in the same network must be the same.

Upon shutting a tank or tub, the amount of water for firefighting stored in other tubs and tanks must not be less than 50 % of the amount of water required for fire fighting.

5.1.5.7 Storing water in tubs and tanks or exposed tanks are permitted in case of:

- A residential area with up to 5 000 people.

- Buildings, regardless of purposes, situated separately outside of residential areas having no pipe networks for supplying water for daily routines or manufacturing and for supplying necessary water amount for outdoor hydrant boosters.

- Multi-purpose buildings requiring no more than 10 l/s of water for outdoor fire fighting.

- Buildings with 1 to 2 storeys, regardless of functions, having construction area no larger than area of fire compartments applied to the building types.

5.1.5.8 Amount of water for firefighting of tubs, tanks and man-made reservoirs shall be determined based on calculation of amount of consumed water and duration of fire fighting according to 5.1.2.2 to 5.1.2.6 and 5.1.3.3.

NOTE 1: Calculation volume of water for firefighting of man-made reservoirs must take into account possibilities of evaporation and freezing of water. Minimum water level must not be less than 0.5 m.

NOTE 2: Must ensure access for fire engines.

5.1.5.9 Tanks, tubs, outdoor hydrant boosters, natural and man-made reservoirs for firefighting must be situated within following radius:

- 200 m in case of pump trucks.

- 100 m to 150 m within technical operation range of mobile pumps in case of mobile pumps.

- To increase operation radius, may install dead end pipes no longer than 200 m from the tanks, tubs and man-made reservoirs satisfactory to 5.1.5.8.

- Distance from points of collecting water in tanks, tubs or man-made reservoirs to buildings with fire-resistance category of III, IV and V or to exposed warehouses containing flammable materials must not be less than 30 m, to buildings with fire resistance category of I and II must not be less than 10 m.

5.1.5.10 If unable to suck water for firefighting directly from tanks, tubs or reservoirs by pump trucks or mobile pumps, provide basins with volume ranging from 3 m³ to 5 m³. Diameter of pipes connecting tubs, tanks or reservoirs with the basins shall be calculated based on factors of calculating water flow rate for outdoor fire fighting but no less than 200 mm. Valve boxes must be installed on pipelines to lock water circulation, closing and opening of valves must be performed from the outside of the boxes. The pipe ends in the man-made reservoirs must be installed with sieves.

5.1.5.11 Pressure tanks and tubs for firefighting must be equipped with water level meters, devices reporting water level to pump stations or water distribution stations.

Pressure tanks and tubs of high-pressure pipelines for firefighting must be equipped with devices that automatically stop water from being carried to tubs, tanks and water towers when fire fighting pumps are operating.

5.1.5.12 Pressure tanks and tubs that use pressurized compressed air must have back up pressurizing machines in addition to active pressuring machines.

5.2 Indoor fire hydrant systems

5.2.1 Buildings, public buildings and administrative – auxiliary buildings of industrial constructions must be equipped with indoor fire hydrant systems, minimum water flow rate for firefighting is determined according to Schedule 11, in case of manufacturing facilities and warehouses, consult Schedule 12.

When determining necessary water flow rate, rely on height of solid stream and diameter of nozzles specified in Schedule 13. In that case, calculate simultaneous operation of the nozzles and other fire suppression systems.

NOTE: In case fire hydrants use equipment with specification not mentioned under Schedule 13, guarantee minimum water flow rate for firefighting of a stream and height of solid stream as per the law.

5.2.2 For calculation of pump capacity and reserved water for fire fighting, number of streams and water flow rate for fire fighting in sections of public buildings that are situated at a height above 50 m must be 4 streams and 2.5 l/s per stream. With respect to F5 buildings with A, B or C fire hazard category with volume exceeding 50 000 m³, must be 4 streams and 5 l/s per stream.

Schedule 11 – Minimum number of streams and water flow rate for indoor fire hydrant systems

5.2.3 With respect to manufacturing facilities and warehouses constructed from materials that are prone to damage of fire, minimum water flow rate for determining pump capacity and amount of water reserved for firefighting specified in Schedule 12 must be increased in following cases:

- In case of steel structures that do not receive fire protections in buildings of fire-resistance category III, IV (level S2, S3), as well structures made from natural wood or pressed wood (which is wood that have been processed for fire protection), increase by 5 l/s.

- In case of flammable substances surrounding structures of buildings with fire-resistance category IV (level S2, S3), increase by 5 l/s for buildings with up to 10 000 m³ in volume. In case of buildings with more than 10 000 m³ in volume, increase flow rate by 5 l/s for every extra 100 000 m³ or for extra volume beyond the increased 100 000 m³.

Schedule 12 – Number of streams and minimum water flow rate for indoor fire fighting in manufacturing facilities and warehouses

5.2.4 Number of fire fighting streams for each fire shall be 2 streams for buildings that require more than 2 streams.

5.2.5 With respect to building sections with different purposes, water flow rate for firefighting must be separately calculated for each section according to 5.2.1 and 5.2.2. In that case, water flow rate for indoor fire fighting shall be calculated as follows:

- With respect to buildings that are not separated by fire-rated walls, calculate based on general volume.

- With respect to buildings separated by class 1 or 2 fire-rated walls, calculate based on volume of building sections that require the highest water flow rate.

When connecting buildings of fire-resistance category I and II by passages made from non-flammable materials and equipped with fire-rated doors, volume of buildings serving determination of water flow rate for firefighting shall be volume of individual buildings; in case of no fire-rated doors, calculate based on overall volume and the higher fire hazard levels.

5.2.6 Hydrostatic pressure in domestic – firefighting water systems measured in sanitation – technical equipment situated at the lowest elevation must not exceed 0.45 MPa.

Hydrostatic pressure of separate fire suppression systems measured in fire hydrants situated at the lowest elevation must not exceed 0.90 MPa.

During calculation, if pressure in fire suppression systems exceeds 0.45 MPa, install separate fire suppression systems.

NOTE: When pressure between valves and connecting ends of fire hydrants exceeds 0.4 MPa, install separation layers and devices that adjust pressure to lower excess pressure.

Schedule 13 - Flow rate of water for firefighting depending on height of solid streams and diameter of nozzles

5.2.7 Discharge rate of fire hydrants must guarantee height of solid streams necessary for firefighting at any given time of the day even in the tallest and furthest areas.

Minimum height and operation radius of solid streams for firefighting must equal height of the area calculated from floor to the highest point of beams (ceiling) but no less than following values:

- With respect to residential buildings, public buildings, manufacturing facilities and auxiliary buildings of industrial structures, up to 50 m in height and no less than 6 m in radius.

- With respect to residential buildings, taller than 50 m and not smaller than 8m in radius.

- With respect to public buildings, manufacturing facilities and auxiliary buildings of industrial structures, taller than 50 m and no less than 16 m in radius.

NOTE 1: Pressure of fire hydrants must take into account losses due to fire hose rollers with 10 m, 15 m and 20 m in length.

NOTE 2: To receive solid streams with up to 4 l/s of flow rate, use DN 50 fire hydrants and DN 65 hydrants for higher flow rate. In case economic – technical documents permit, may use DN 50 hydrants for flow rate exceeding 4 l/s.

5.2.8 Pressure tanks in buildings must be designed to ensure generation of solid stream taller than 4m at the highest storey or at the storey situated immediately below the storey where the tanks are placed and must not be less than 6 m for remaining storeys; in that case, ensure 2 streams with flow rate of 2.5 l/s in 10 minutes if number of calculated streams is 2 or more and 1 stream in other cases.

When installing fire hydrants as sensors for automatic operation of fire fighting pumps, consideration to pressure tanks is not required.

5.2.9 In case of installing fire hydrant systems separately from automatic fire suppression systems, volume of reservoir tanks containing water must provide enough water to be used in 1 hour for fire fighting and other purposes.

When installing fire hydrant systems on automatic fire suppression systems, working duration of the hydrant shall equal the working duration of the fire suppression systems.

5.2.10 When domestic water systems and fire fighting water systems in buildings with at least 6 storeys are connected, upper vertical pipes must be connected in circular model. In that case, in order to guarantee household water change, vertical pipes must be connected to one or many vertical exhaust pipes with valves in circular model.

Dry pipes of fire suppression systems installed in buildings that are not heated, valves must be installed in places where the valves cannot be frozen.

5.2.11 Determination of location and number of indoor vertical pipes and fire hydrants must satisfy following requirements:

- May install double hydrant on vertical pipes in manufacturing facilities and public buildings when number of calculated streams is not less than 3 and in residential buildings when number of calculated streams is not less than 2.

- In residential buildings with corridors reaching up to 10 m in length and 2 streams per fire, may generate 2 streams from the same vertical pipes.

- In residential buildings with corridors reaching up to 10 m as well as manufacturing facilities and public buildings with 2 calculated streams or more per fire, ensure 2 streams from 2 adjacent cabinets (2 different fire hydrants).

NOTE 1: Must install fire hydrants in mechanical floor, garrets and technical floors located in basements if objects and structures made from flammable materials are stored in such places.

NOTE 2: Number of streams generated from each cabinet must not exceed 2.

5.2.12 Fire hydrants must be installed in a fashion that hydrant openings are situated at an elevation of 1.20 m ± 0.15 m compared to the floor and in cabinets with ventilation outlets and applied with seal. With respect to double hydrant, may install the hydrants vertically, in that case, the lower hydrant must be at least 1 m from the floors.

5.2.13 With respect to buildings with 17 storeys or taller, landing valves must be installed in indoor fire hydrant systems of each section with proper dimension of outlets to connect with mobile fire-fighting facilities. The landing valves must be installed with check valves and open seal.

5.2.14 Indoor hydrants must be placed at inner corridors (where water cannot be frozen) of stairwells (except smoke proof enclosures), in lobbies, corridors, passages and other easily accessible locations. Installation of indoor hydrants mentioned above must not obstruct evacuation operations.

5.2.15 In areas protected by automatic fire suppression systems, may install indoor fire hydrants on DN 65 pipes or larger, after control valve clusters of water sprinkler systems.

5.2.16 In closed areas where water can be frozen, pipes of indoor hydrant systems after the pump stations may be dry pipes.

5.2.17 Valves to cut water from dead end branching pipes and major cut valves from enclosed steel pipelines must be situated in a manner that each section shall only cut water from a maximum of 5 hydrants located on the same storey.

5.2.18 If more than 12 hydrants or automatic fire suppression systems are installed in buildings, independently or integrated designed indoor water supply systems for firefighting must have at least 2 water supply pipes and must be connected in a circular model.

6. FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE

6.1 Buildings and constructions must guarantee fire fighting and rescue by adopting solutions regarding: structures, premise - spatial distribution, technical - construction and organization.

The solutions include:

- Prepare driveways for fire engines; parking lots for fire fighting and access for fire brigade and fire-fighting facilities which are integrated with road and passages depending on building functions or situated separately.

- Situate fire fighting transports methods outside of buildings and prepare other necessary facilities to provide fire brigade and fire fighting technical equipment with access to storeys and garrets of buildings, which includes elevators that are installed with “fire brigade transportation” (hereinafter referred to as “fire service elevators”).

- Situate water supply pipes for firefighting integrated with water pipes providing water for daily routines or placed separately and if necessary, situate landing valves and water supply pipes that lead indoors to enable fire brigade, water towers, water tanks for firefighting or other sources of water supply for fire fighting.

- Ensure smoke protection for passages enabling fire brigade to move around the buildings.

- Furnish the buildings with medical emergency equipment for personal use and group use where necessary.

- Distribute and develop constructions, fire brigade and stations suitable for number of employees and necessary fire fighting technical equipment, satisfactory to fire fighting conditions in buildings or areas of operation of the brigade and stations as per the law.

The solutions mentioned above shall be selected based on fire-resistance categories, structural fire hazard levels and fire hazard categories of buildings.

6.2 Driveways and parking lots for fire engines must satisfy following requirements:

6.2.1 General requirements

a) Clearance width of driveways for fire engines must not be less than 3.5 m.

b) Clearance width of parking lots for fire engines must ensure accessibility for deployment of fire-fighting facilities satisfactory to height and fire hazard of buildings mentioned in Schedule 14.

c) Only allow overhead obstacles to be placed on driveways and parking lots for fire engines if all following requirements are satisfied:

- Clearance height to enable fire-fighting facilities to travel through must not be lower than 4.5 m; and

- Dimensions of overhead obstacles (measured along length of driveways and parking lots for fire engines) must not exceed 10 m; and

- In case of 2 or more overhead obstacles stretching across driveways or parking lots for fire engines, clearance space between the obstacles must not be lower than 20 m; and

- Length of ends of driveways or parking lots for fire engines unobstructed by overhead obstacles must not be lower than 20 m; and

- Length of parking lots for fire engines must not take into account sections with overhead obstacles.

d) Along outer walls of buildings, install entrances to the buildings via the outer walls from elevated positions (elevated entrances) satisfactory to 6.3 to deploy fire fighting and rescue activity.

6.2.2 Driveways and parking lots for fire engines must be situated in a manner that satisfies following requirements:

6.2.2.1 F1, F2, F3 and F4 buildings that are not taller than 15 m are not required to have parking lots for fire engines but are required to have driveways no larger than 60 m to grant fire engines with access to any point on plan projections of the buildings

6.2.2.2 F1.3 buildings taller than 15 m must fulfill all following requirements:

- Driveways for fire engines no further than 18 m away from all entrances to leading to vestibules of fire service elevators or evacuation stairwells equipped with D65 fire hydrants for professional fire brigade (of dry systems).

- Parking lots for fire engines granting access to at least 1 whole outer side of each building block. Parking lots for fire engines must be positioned no closer than 2 m and no further than 10 m from outer walls of the buildings

- Design of parking lots and driveways for fire engines must satisfy regulations under Article 14.

Schedule 14 - Regulations on dimensions of parking lots for fire fighting

6.2.2.3 F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3 and F4 buildings or sections thereof taller than 15 m must have a parking lot for fire engines at each area where an elevated entrance is situated to provide fire engines with access to doorways of the elevated entrance. Length of parking lots for fire engines must conform to Schedule 15 based on accessible floor area of the storey with the highest accessible floor area. In case of buildings with multi-level floors, the value shall be calculated as follows:

a) With respect to buildings with multi-level floors, including basements merged with above-ground storeys, accessible floor area shall equal sum of area of all accessible floors of all storeys.

b) With respect to buildings with at least 2 groups of multi-level storeys, accessible floor area shall equal sum of area of accessible floors with the highest values.

6.2.2.4 F5 buildings must have parking lots for fire-fighting facilities. Length of parking lots for fire engines must conform to Schedule 16 based on total compartment volume of the buildings (excluding basements).

If manufacturing conditions do not require entrances, may situate 3.5 m wide driveways for fire engines, driveway surface must be reinforced with materials guaranteeing load-bearing capacity and drainage of surface water.

Distance from edge of driveways for fire engines to walls of buildings must not exceed 5 m for buildings shorter than 12 m, not exceed 8 m for buildings taller than 12 m and shorter than 28 m and not exceed 10 m for buildings taller than 28 m.

If necessary, distance from the nearest edge of driveways to the buildings to outer walls of the buildings and construction shall be increased up to 60 m provided the buildings and constructions are led to by dead ends and installed with parking lots for fire engines and fire hydrants. In that case, distance from buildings and constructions to parking lots for fire engines must not be less than 5 m and no larger than 15 m and distance between dead ends must not exceed 100 m.

NOTE 1: Width of buildings and constructions shall be determined based on distances between reference axes.

NOTE 2: Reservoirs used for firefighting must have passages and yards with yards whose dimensions must not be lower than 12 m.

Schedule 15 – Regulations on length of parking lots for fire engines in F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3 and F4 buildings or sections thereof

Schedule 16 – Regulations on length of parking lots for fire engines in F5 buildings or sections thereof

6.2.2.5 Situate driveways and parking lots for fire engines in multi-purpose buildings must satisfy following requirements:

a) If non-residential storeys (not included in F1.3) are only situated at the lower sections of buildings, building height for determination of requirements for driveways or parking lots for fire engines must be based on non-residential sections of the buildings.

b) In case of multi-purpose buildings that do not have any sections under category F1.3, the required lengths applied to driveways or parking lots for fire engines must be the larger value of the two which are determined based on:

- Total compartment volume of F5 sections of buildings; or

- Schedule 15.

c) With respect to multi-purpose buildings with F1.3 sections, length of parking lots for fire engines must be calculated based on 6.2.2.3 while satisfying requirements in 6.2.2.

6.2.2.6 In case of basements, install driveways for fire engines no further than 18 m away from all above-ground entrances leading to vestibules of fire service elevators or evacuation stairwells equipped with D65 fire hydrants for professional fire brigade (of dry systems).

6.2.3 Parking lots for fire engines must guarantee that the horizontal distance from edges of the parking lots that are nearest to the buildings to the middle point of elevated entrances is no closer than 2 m and no further than 10 m.

6.2.4 Surfaces of parking lots for firefighting must be even. If situated on a tilted surface, slope must not exceed 1:15. Slope of driveways for fire engines must not exceed 1:8.3.

6.2.5 If length of dead end driveways or parking lots for fire engines is larger than 46 m, situate u-turn lots designed according to 6.4 at the end of the dead end sections.

6.2.6 Public roads can be used as parking lots for fire engines, if positioning of said roads conforming to regulations on distances to elevated entrances under 6.2.3.

6.2.7 Drive ways and parking lots for fire engines must be clear at all time. Spaces between parking lots for fire engines and elevated entrances must not be obstructed by trees or other immovable objects.

6.2.8 Mark all corners of parking lots and driveways for fire engines other than public roads utilized as parking lots or driveways for fire engines. Marking must be implemented by reflective paints to ensure visibility at night and positioned at both sides of driveways or parking lots for fire engines no further than 5 m.

At the beginning and end sections of driveways or parking lots for fire engines, install warning signs with white background, red letters and height of each letter not less than 50 mm. Height from ground level to the lowest points of the signs must range from 1.0 m to 1.5 m. Signs must be visible at night and must not be more than 3 m away from driveways or parking lots for fire engines. All parts of driveways or parking lots for fire engines must not be more than 15 m away from the nearest signs.

6.2.9 Surfaces of driveways and parking lots for fire engines must be able to withstand vehicular weight of the fire engines according to design requirements and satisfactory to vehicle types of Police Departments of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue where the constructions are built.

6.3 Elevated entrances for fire fighting and rescue must satisfy following requirements:

6.3.1 Elevated entrances must be clear and unobstructed at any given time when the buildings are being occupied. Elevated entrances can be openings on outer walls, windows, balcony doors, glass walls and doors that can be opened from inside and outside. Do not situate any objects or obstacles on the floors inside the buildings within 1 m from the elevated entrances.

6.3.2 Elevated entrances must be positioned opposite from usable spaces. Evaluated entrances must not be situated in warehouses, mechanical rooms, evacuation stairwells, smoke proof enclosures, lobbies of fire service elevators or spaces that lead to dead ends.

6.3.3 Outer surface of doors of elevated entrances must be marked with red or yellow equilateral triangles whose sides are not smaller than 150 mm and vertexes can be directed upwards or downwards. On the inside, place the following phrase “LỐI VÀO TỪ TRÊN CAO – KHÔNG DƯỢC GÂY CẢN TRỞ” (Elevated entrances – Do not obstruct) with letter height no less than 25 mm.

6.3.4 Elevated entrances must not be narrower than 850 mm, not shorter than 1 000 mm, lower edges of the entrances must not be more than 1 100 mm away from floor surfaces and upper edges of the entrances must not be less than 1 800 mm away from the floor surfaces.

6.3.5 Number and position of elevated entrances for each fire compartment of buildings or building sections not included in category F1.3 must satisfy following requirements:

6.3.5.1 In case of F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3, F4 and F5 buildings, number of elevated entrances must be calculated based on length of parking lots for fire engines. Situate 1 elevated entrance for every section of parking lots for fire engines of or less than 20 m in length.

6.3.5.2 Elevated entrances must be positioned distant remote from each other along the sides of buildings. The furthest distance along outer walls between 2 consecutive elevated entrances served by 1 parking lot for fire engines must not exceed 20 m. At least 1 elevated entrance must be guaranteed for every 20 m in length of parking lot for fire engines, except for sections of single storey buildings not included in category F5.

6.3.5.3 With respect to F1.1, F1.2, F2, F3 and F4 buildings with height ranging from 10 m to 50 m, situate elevated entrances on all storeys other than the 1^st storey and opposite from parking lots for fire engines.

6.3.5.4 With respect to F5 buildings, situate elevated entrances above parking lots for fire engines with height of up to 50 m.

6.3.5.5 Requirements for elevated entrances do not apply to F1.3 buildings, including auxiliary areas (e.g. gyms, clubs, etc. areas serving the buildings’ inhabitants) in F1.3 buildings.

6.4 U-turn spaces must be designed as:

- Equilateral triangles whose sides are not less than 7 m, one vertex is situated at the dead end road and 2 other vertexes are situated symmetrically on both sides of the roads; or

- Squares whose sides are not less than 12 m; or

- Circles whose diameter is no less than 10 m; or

- Rectangles perpendicular to the dead end roads, symmetrical on both sides of the roads and no smaller than 5 m x 20 m.

NOTE: Requirements mentioned above are minimum values, fire prevention and fighting and rescue managing agencies may issue specific regulations based on technical requirements of local fire-fighting facilities.

6.5 With respect to narrow roads only sufficient for 1 lane, design expanded sections that are at least 7 m in width and 8 m in length every 100 m to enable fire engines and other vehicles to avoid each other with ease.

6.6 With respect to buildings that are 10 m in height or taller calculated up to valances or upper points of outer walls, install exits leading to the roofs directly from stairwells, through garrets, through type 3 stairwells or along external fire fighting transport methods.

Number of exits leading to the roofs and positioning thereof must be based on fire hazard categories and dimensions of the buildings but no less than 1 exit for:

- Every section that equals or is less than 100 m in length of buildings with garrets.

- Every area that equals or is less than 1 000 m² of roofs of F1, F2, F3 and F4 buildings having no garrets.

- Every 200 m of circumference of F5 buildings along fire fighting transport methods. May not situate:

- Fire fighting transport methods on the main sides of buildings if the buildings are not wider than 150 m and installed with supply water pipes for firefighting at the front.

- Exits leading to the roofs of single-storey buildings with roof area no larger than 100 m².

6.7 In garrets of buildings other than F1.4 buildings, exits leading to the roofs via fixed staircases and doors, trapdoors or windows no smaller than 0.6 m x 0.8 m must be installed.

Exits leading to the roofs or garrets from stairwells must be allocated along treads with landings in front of the exits, through type 2 fire-rated doors no smaller than 0.75 m x 1.5 m. The treads and landings mentioned above may be made from steel but must have slope no higher than 2 : 1 (63.5^o) and no narrower than 0.7 m.

In F1, F2, F3 and F4 buildings that are up to 15 m in height, may situate exits leading to garrets or to the roofs from stairwells via type 2 fire-rated trapdoors with dimensions of 0.6 m x 0.8 m following fixed steel ladders.

6.8 In mechanical floors including mechanical floors in basements and garrets, clearance width of passages must not be less than 1.8 m; in mechanical floors in garrets along the entire buildings, no less than 1.6 m. Width of said passages must not be less than 1.2 m. In separate sections no more than 2 m in length, may reduce height of the passages down to 1.2 m and width to a minimum of 0.9 m.

6.9 Buildings with garrets must have trapdoors in structures sheltering corners of the garrets.

6.10 At areas where height differences of the roofs exceed 1.0 m (which includes elevated areas for skylights – ventilation openings), firefighting transport methods must be installed.

At areas where height differences of the roofs exceed 10 m, if each roof section larger than 100 m² has separate exits leading to the roofs satisfactory to 6.6, or height of the lower sections of the roofs identified according to 6.6 does not exceed 10 m, may not install fire fighting transport methods.

6.11 Must use P1 fire fighting transport methods to reach areas at a height of 20 m and areas of the roofs where height differences range from 1.0 m to 20 m. P2 fire service elevators must be used to reach height above 20 m and areas with height difference of more than 20 m.

Fire fighting transport methods must be made of non-flammable materials, positioned in a visible locations and at least 1.0 m away from any window, 0.7 m wide. With respect to P1 fire fighting transport methods situated at a height of 10 m or higher, install circular guardrails with radius of 0.35 m, center of the circular guardrails must be 0.45 m away from the transport methods. Circular guardrails must be 0.7 m away from one another and landings with 0.6 m high guardrails must be positioned at places leading to the roofs. With respect to P2 fire fighting transport methods, install handrails and intermediate landings no more than 8 m from one another.

6.12 Ensure a space between treads and handrails of treads with clearance width no less than 100 m when projected on a flat surface.

6.13 At least 1 fire service elevator must be installed in each fire compartment of buildings taller than 28 m (50 m for F1.3 buildings) or buildings with the lowest basements situated at a depth greater than 9 m (calculate down to elevation of evacuation exits leading outside).

NOTE: Other technical requirements namely power supply, control, signal transmission, communication and equipment serving fire protection systems, etc. must conform to technical standards applied solely to fire service elevators.

Location and installation of fire service elevators must satisfy following basic requirements:

- Do not use elevators for cargo transportation as fire service elevators.

- In normal conditions, fire service elevators can be used for passenger transportation. Fire service elevators may be situated with separate elevator lobbies or in lobbies shared with passenger elevators and integrated by a single automatic group control system.

- Fire service elevators must be installed in adequate number to ensure that distance from a fire service elevator to any point on the storey accessible by that elevator does not exceed 60 m.

- In case of a building with a single fire service elevator, that fire service elevator must be able to access all storeys adjacent to the storey that is on fire.

- In case of multiple fire service elevators situated in the same elevator shafts, the elevators may grant access to different building sections provided that sections accessible by a fire service elevator are displayed on that elevator.

- In any case, working schemes of fire service elevators must be consistent and ubiquitous, e.g. elevators granting access to odd numbered storeys, even numbered storeys or every storey.

- In case of refuge floors, each refuge floor must be granted access to by at least 1 fire service elevator.

- In normal operation conditions, doors of fire service elevators shall not be opened in order to grant access to refuge floors and doors leading to elevator shafts from the refuge floors must be locked and shall only be unlocked when fire service mode is turned on.

- In case of fire, fire service elevators must be able to enable fire brigade:

+ to be the only individuals capable of controlling and operating while carrying their equipment to access the fire easily, safely, quickly and in a familiar fashion.

+ to be protected while using the elevators from impact of fire and smoke via appropriate measures, particularly when the fire brigade exits from the elevators.

+ to have clear and safe passages to access the fire service elevators and storeys accessible from said elevators.

+ not to travel more than 2 storeys to access any storey that is on fire within the buildings.

- Fire service elevators shall be protected in separate elevator shafts (separate from other types of elevators) and no more than 3 fire service elevators shall be installed in a single elevator shaft. Structures covering elevator shafts must have fire-resistance ratings no lower than REI 120.

- Lobbies of fire service elevators which are vestibules must satisfy all following requirements:

+ no smaller than 4 m².

+ no smaller than 6 m² when integrated with lobbies of smoke proof enclosures.

+ protected by class 1 fire-rated partitions.

+ installed with D65 landing valves for professional fire brigade.

- Installation of fire service elevators must take into account movement direction of professional fire brigade and ensure that the fire brigade can access any rooms on any storey of the buildings.

- Load capacity of fire service elevators must not be less than 630 kg in case of F1.3 apartment buildings and no less than 1 000 kg in case of manufacturing facilities and other public buildings.

- Travel speed of fire service elevator must not be less than H/60 (m/s). In which H refers to lifted height (m).

- Structures covering fire service elevator cars must be made from non-flammable or mildly flammable materials.

6.14 In case of buildings with pitched roofs having the slope of up to 12 %, height up to valances or upper edges of outer walls exceeding 10 m and buildings with pitched roofs having the slope of more than 12 % and height up to valances exceeding 7 m, guardrails and handrails must be installed on the roofs satisfactory to applicable regulations and law. The guardrails and handrails must be installed in case of flat roofs, balconies, loggias, outdoor corridors, exposed staircases, stair treads and landings independent of height of buildings.

6.15 Water supply system for firefighting must be sufficient to enable fire brigade and fire-fighting facilities to access and use at any time.

6.16 Supply of water for fire fighting, equipment and allocation of other firefighting equipment and tools in buildings and constructions must conform to basic provisions under Section 5 of these Regulations and relevant technical regulations.

6.17 Fire control posts

a) Public residential buildings and constructions taller than 10 storeys; buildings with 2 or 3 basements; crowded public constructions (e.g. theaters, cinemas, bars and buildings with similar purposes with each storey occupied by more than 50 people according to Schedule G.9 under Annex G); garages for automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles, manufacturing facilities and warehouses larger than 18 000 m² must have fire control posts which must be regularly occupied by specialized employee.

b) Fire control posts must:

- Be large enough to install and equip devices according to fire protection requirements of the buildings but no larger than 6 m².

- Have 2 entrances/exits: one leads to empty spaces outside of the buildings and another leads to primary corridors for evacuation.

- Be separated with other building sections by class 1 fire prevention devices.

- Be installed with communication and contact devices of fire alarm systems which connect to every building section.

- Be installed with panels for monitoring and controlling fire suppression devices, smoke control devices and site plans dictating position of firefighting equipment of the buildings.

6.18 All basements in buildings with 2 to 3 basements must be equipped with two-way emergency communication devices between the fire control posts to:

- Equipment rooms related to fire suppression systems, particularly rooms where pumps of sprinkler systems are situated, rooms where pumps supplying vertical pipe systems are situated, circuit switch rooms, generator rooms and elevator machine rooms.

- All rooms installed with devices that control smoke control systems.

- All fire service elevators.

- All areas of refuge.

- Ventilation system control rooms.

7. REGULATIONS ON MANAGEMENT

7.1 These Regulations prescribe technical requirements and management requirements that must be complied in constructing new, renovating, repairing or changing building functions and serve as assistance for regulatory agencies specialized in fire fighting and construction investment.

7.2 Transitional conditions

- With respect to dossiers on construction design approved in terms of fire fighting by regulatory agencies before the effective date hereof, continue to comply with the approved dossiers on construction design.

- With respect to dossiers on construction design approved after the effective date hereof, comply with these Regulations;

8. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

8.1 All organizations and individuals that participate in affairs related to new construction, renovation, repair or change of building and construction functions including by not limited to preparing, appraising, approving, organizing implementation, managing and developing national standards and local standards related to apartment buildings must comply with these Regulations.

8.2 Central and local regulatory agencies specialized in fire fighting and constructions are responsible for inspecting compliance with these Regulations in preparing, appraising, approving and managing constructions of buildings and structures within their management as per the law.

8.3 Local regulatory agencies specialized in fire fighting and constructions are responsible for cooperating in developing regulations related to specifications to design and implement driveways and parking lots for fire engines satisfactory to properties of local fire-fighting facilities.

8.4 Difficulties that arise during the implementation of these Regulations should be submitted to Department of Science Technology and Environment (Ministry of Construction).

9. IMPLEMENTATION

9.1 Ministry of Construction is responsible for publicizing and guiding application of these Regulations for relevant entities.

9.2 If legislative documents, reference documents or guidelines mentioned under these Regulations are amended, supplemented or replaced, the new legislative documents, reference documents and guidelines will prevail./.