Foreword

Amendment 1:2023 QCVN 06:2022/BXD only includes the content of amending and supplementing some provisions of QCVN 06:2022/BXD. The contents not mentioned in this Amendment 1 shall continue to apply QCVN 06:2022/BXD issued together with Circular No. 06/2022/TT-BXD dated November 30, 2022 of the Minister of Construction.

Amendment 1:2023 QCVN 06.2022/BXD was chaired by the Institute of Construction Science and Technology (Ministry of Construction), in coordination with the Department of Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police (Ministry of Public Security), the Department of Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police (Hanoi Police), the Department of Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police (Ho Chi Minh City Police) to draft, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Construction) to submit for approval, the Ministry of Science and Technology to appraise, and the Ministry of Construction to issue together with Circular No. 09/2023/TT-BXD dated October 10, 2023 of the Minister of Construction.

1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Amend and supplement Point 1.1.2 as follows:

– Amend the first paragraph, paragraph a) and NOTE of paragraph a) as follows:

“1.1.2 This Regulation applies to the following buildings:

a) Residential buildings:

1) Apartment buildings and collective housing with a fire protection height not exceeding 150 m and not exceeding 3 basement floors;

2) Separate houses, separate houses combined with other purposes, and separate houses converted to other purposes with the following scale:

– 7 stories or higher (or with a fire protection height of 25 m or higher);

– or having a volume of 5,000 m3 or more;

– or having more than 1 basement floor up to 3 basement floors.

NOTE: For separate houses, separate houses combined with other purposes, separate houses converted to other purposes with a scale different from the scale mentioned in paragraph 2) point 1.1.2, the fire safety requirements stated in the standards for separate houses and other standard documents can be applied for fire safety design and compliance with relevant legal regulations.”.

– Add the following paragraphs at the end of Point 1.1.2:

“This Regulation can also be considered for application to buildings not within the scope of this Regulation if the requirements in this Regulation are suitable for that building.

For stand-alone buildings (except buildings in group F5 and buildings mentioned in the NOTE of paragraph 2) point 1.1.2) with a height of less than 7 stories, a fire protection height of less than 25 m and a volume of less than 5,000 m3, if it is not possible to comply with the provisions of this Regulation, based on the specific function of the building, standard documents can also be applied for fire safety design and compliance with relevant legal regulations.”.

Amend Point 1.1.4 as follows:

“1.1.4 This Regulation applies when newly constructing buildings within the scope of this Regulation; or only applies to parts or areas directly renovated or repaired, in the following cases:

a) Renovation or repair that changes the function of a building story, fire compartment or building leading to an increase in fire safety requirements for the building story, fire compartment and building;

b) Renovation or repair that changes the evacuation solutions of a building story, fire compartment or building in the direction of reducing the number of exits or evacuation staircases;

c) Renovation or repair that increases the fire and explosion hazard level of a building story, fire compartment or building;

d) Renovation or repair that increases the scale leading to an increase in fire safety requirements for the building story, fire compartment and building.

In case a building, fire compartment or building story is renovated or repaired and cannot meet the requirements of this Regulation, apply 1.1.10.”.

Amend Point 1.1.5 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “Parts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6” with the phrase “This Regulation”.

– Add the phrase “traffic tunnels; lighthouses;” after the phrase “air navigation;”.

Amend Point 1.1.7 as follows:

“1.1.7 It is allowed to use foreign standards on the basis of ensuring the principles specified in 1.5 of this Regulation and the legal regulations of Vietnam on fire prevention and firefighting along with the regulations on application of foreign standards in construction activities in Vietnam.”.

Amend Point 1.1.10 as follows:

“1.1.10 In some specific cases, it is possible to consider supplementing or replacing some requirements of this Regulation for specific projects with other appropriate fire safety requirements according to standard documents or with appropriate technical justifications.”.

Add Point 1.1.11 as follows:

“1.1.11 Localities may issue local technical regulations to replace, amend or supplement some provisions in Parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and Appendices of this Regulation to suit the specific conditions of the locality, on the basis of complying with the law on standards, technical regulations and the law on fire prevention and firefighting.”.

Annul Point 1.3.

Amend and supplement some terms in Point 1.4 as follows:

– Add the phrase “; or other parts with fire separation functions” after the phrase “fire separation floors” in Point 1.4.5.

– Add at the end of Point 1.4.9 as follows:

“NOTE 4: In case the access road surfaces to the building have different elevations, the building may have different fire protection heights depending on the specific fire safety design solution.”.

– Amend Point 1.4.11 as follows:

“1.4.11

Smoke vent (skylight or damper)

A component (openable in case of fire) automatically and remotely controlled or always open, covering openings on the external enclosures of the building space (or room) that is protected by a natural ventilation system for smoke exhaust.”.

– Add Point 1.4.21a as follows:

“1.4.21a

Common room

A room used for organizing events (e.g. meetings, conferences, performances, sports and similar), with the simultaneous gathering of a group of people, within a specific designated period of time. This group of people has the common characteristic of being unfamiliar with the gathering place (not regularly or periodically present). Offices, production rooms, and other rooms that are mainly used by people inside the building are not considered common rooms (e.g. internal meeting rooms, internal dining rooms, internal common living rooms and similar).”.

– Amend the term name “Room with people working regularly” in Point 1.4.22 to “Room with people working regularly (or regularly occupied)”.

– Amend Point 1.4.23 as follows:

“1.4.23

Open corridor

A corridor that on one side is ventilated to the outside through openings connected to outside air in case of fire, with a clear height from the top of the barrier at the edge of the corridor upward not less than 1.2 m.

NOTE: The size of the openings on the external wall of the open corridor ensures one of the following requirements:

– When the open corridor is separated from adjacent rooms by fire separating elements as prescribed in this Regulation, the total area of the openings shall not be less than 15% of the floor area of the open corridor and the distance from any point on the open corridor to the nearest edge of any opening shall not exceed 9 m, measured horizontally.

– When the open corridor is not separated from adjacent rooms by fire separating elements, the total area of the openings shall not be less than 50% of the floor area of the open corridor and the distance from any point on the open corridor to the nearest edge of any opening shall not exceed 9 m.”.

– Amend Point 1.4.26 as follows:

“1.4.26

Smoke extraction system

A system that is automatically and remotely controlled, or always ready to operate when a fire occurs, with the function of exhausting smoke and combustion products through smoke inlets to the outside.”.

– Add Points 1.4.32a, 1.4.33a, 1.4.49a as follows:

“1.4.32a

Podium

The lower part of a building (may include some of the lowest floors of the building), usually designed to protrude from the load-bearing structure of the tower above and often used for commercial and service purposes.”.

“1.4.33a

Direct exit

A door or passage through safe areas inside the building (on the same floor as the direct exit) leading to the outside of the building (outside the enclosing walls of the building) to an open area where people can evacuate safely.

NOTE: Some cases can be considered as passages through safe areas inside the building leading to the outside of the building as follows:

a) Passing through an area with no fire load or low fire risk (for example, this area may have a reception desk, wood or metal furniture, floor lamps, or similar objects in limited quantities), this area is separated from adjacent corridors and rooms (if any) by type 1 fire partitions with doors having self-closing mechanisms and door gaps sealed, or separated by other equivalent solutions (for example: solution mentioned in paragraph b) of 4.35, or using fire curtains);

b) Passing through an open passage, ventilated to the outside (for example, open corridors, ramps), separated from adjacent rooms and areas by fire separating elements made of non-combustible materials with a fire resistance rating of at least El 30 for buildings of fire resistance level I, and must be made of non-combustible or low combustibility materials (Ch1) with a fire resistance rating of at least El 15 for buildings of fire resistance levels II, III, IV;

c) Passing through other areas considered safe for people.”.

“1.4.49a

Atrium

An empty space connecting two or more floors in a civilian building and enclosed at the top of this space (usually a large space, used for architectural purposes or creating commercial, service, business, exhibition spaces and similar. Openings on floors that are connected only for the purpose of staircases, escalators, elevator shafts, or utility shafts and ducts are not considered atriums). This space may be connected to building parts on each connected floor (corridors, rooms and similar).”.

– Add at the end of the NOTE of Point 1.4.50 as follows: “For buildings of groups F1 to F4, a mezzanine is not counted as a building story when it is used as a utility area and has a floor area not exceeding 10% of the floor area immediately below and not exceeding 300 m2 (only 1 mezzanine not counted as a building story is allowed).”.

– Amend Point 1.4.53 as follows: Add the phrase “and technical guidelines (guidelines, handbook)” after the phrase “technical regulations”.

– Add Point 1.4.68a as follows:

“1.4.68a

Finishing and decorative materials

The finishing layer (may be combined with decorative purposes), covering and fixed on the outer surface of the enclosing structures/components inside the building.

NOTE: Finishing and decorative materials can be layers of lime, mortar, gypsum and similar; finishing or soundproofing panels made of brick, wood, plastic, foam and similar fixed on the outer surface of walls and ceilings. Objects hung on walls and ceilings only for interior decoration purposes (such as paintings, photos, decorative objects and similar) are not finishing and decorative materials.”.

Amend Point 1.5.4 as follows:

“1.5.4 When technical justifications are required (according to 1.1.10), these justifications are considered as one of the contents of the fire safety design documentation. The justifications need to present technical solutions to replace or supplement some fire safety requirements of this Regulation and the basis for those technical solutions, on the principle of: meeting the provisions stated in 1.5, consistent with the purpose of the fire safety requirements to be replaced or supplemented, and consistent with the applied fire safety design standards. The basis for replacement technical solutions can be: calculations, fire simulations based on fire engineering; applied fire safety design standards; or other appropriate technical solutions.

When fire engineering is used in the technical justifications, it is necessary to consider fire scenarios (situations where a fire may occur) based on the correlation between the development and spread of hazardous factors of the fire, the evacuation of people and the organization of firefighting.

Access to the fire and implementation of firefighting and rescue measures by firefighting forces and firefighting equipment must follow the approved firefighting plan in accordance with the fire safety design of the building.

When simulating a fire, the fire is considered to develop freely until it is suppressed by other factors (for example: the time when firefighting forces approach and begin to fight the fire; the ability of fire spread; fire and smoke separating components; indoor firefighting systems; smoke protection; and factors with similar effects). In that case, if the building/facility owner has no need to protect property or limit property damage, the design needs to ensure the following conditions: 1) people in the building can evacuate safely before being threatened in their lives and health due to the effects of hazardous factors of the fire; 2) the building still maintains overall stability (does not collapse) for a period of time corresponding to the fire resistance of the load-bearing structure of the building according to the fire resistance level of the building (see NOTE 7 of Table 4); and 3) preventing the spread of fire to adjacent buildings.”.

Add Point 1.5.5 as follows:

“1.5.5 It is allowed to apply different fire safety solutions and plans (including solutions and plans not mentioned in this Regulation) to implement the fire safety requirements of this Regulation, on the principle of ensuring the purpose of those requirements.

Construction tolerances may be accepted when applying the provisions on dimensions and distances of this Regulation according to the corresponding construction and acceptance standards. For width and height dimensions of evacuation exits, door openings, corridors, stairs, elevators, escape routes and similar, a construction tolerance of ± 5% is applied.”.

Add Point 1.5.6 as follows:

“1.5.6 Fire safety requirements must be determined and complied with based on the actual use function of the room, building part and building. In case a building (building part) has two or more different use functions, it is necessary to further rely on the solution to prevent fire spread between these use functions (specified in Part 4) to determine the corresponding fire safety requirements.”.

2 TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION FOR FIRE

Amend the NOTE in 2.3.2.2 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “ISO 10294” with the phrase “ISO 21925”.

Amend NOTE 2, NOTE 6 and add NOTE 7, NOTE 8 to Table 4 as follows:

“NOTE 2: The fire resistance limit of roofing sheets (including insulated roofing sheets) is not specified if they are made of non-combustible materials, or low combustible (Ch1) and low spread (LT2) materials (except for buildings of group F5, hazard class A, B).

The fire resistance limit of roof purlins (except purlins of buildings, fire compartments, rooms of groups F3.1, F3.2; buildings of groups F5.1, F5.2 hazard class A, B and other buildings, rooms, fire compartments of hazard class A, B) is not specified when simultaneously satisfying the following conditions:

– The underside of the purlins is at a minimum distance of 10 m from the floor immediately below them for hazard class C buildings and 6.1 m for the remaining buildings;

– The purlins are made of non-combustible materials for hazard class C buildings or at least low combustible (Ch1) materials for the remaining buildings.

– Particularly for hazard class C buildings, the following additional conditions must be met: 1) equipped with automatic firefighting; 2) the purlins can only carry additional loads such as fire water pipes, electrical trays, electrical wires or other loads with a total additional load (excluding the self-weight of the purlins and roofing sheets) not exceeding 10 kg/m2, calculated on the roof area supported by the purlin under consideration.”.

“NOTE 6: The fire resistance limit of non-load-bearing external walls in Table 4 only applies to wall sections used as vertical or horizontal fire belts or strips specified in 4.32 and 4.33.”.

“NOTE 7: In case of applying fire simulation based on specific conditions of fire load in a room, building part or entire building, it is allowed to determine the fire resistance limit of the components and structures specified in Table 4 based on the temperature from the fire simulation. The parameters of the fire load (mass, distribution, low calorific value, fire spread rate, fire spread model and similar parameters) are determined based on the design documentation and applied standards.”.

“NOTE 8: The fire resistance limit of stair treads and landings in a stairwell protected by internal walls with a fire resistance limit meeting the requirements of Table 4 corresponding to the fire resistance level of the building is not specified. In this case, the stair treads and landings, as well as the finishing materials inside the stairwell (if any) must be non-combustible materials or ensure Ch1, BC1.”.

Amend Point 2.5.3.3 as follows:

– Add the following sentence after the phrase “the spatial stability of the building in case of fire.”: “In case the truss, beam, purlin structures of the roof structure of a building without an attic floor do not participate in ensuring the overall stability and spatial stability of the building in case of fire, the required fire resistance limit of these structures is determined according to column 6 of Table 4.”.

3 ENSURING SAFETY FOR PEOPLE

Amend Point 3.1.7 as follows:

“3.1.7 In buildings with 2 to 3 basement floors, it is allowed to arrange smoking rooms, supermarkets and shopping centers, restaurants, cafes and other public rooms deeper than basement floor 1 when designed according to permitted applicable standards, or having technical justifications as per 1.1.10.

For hospitals and general schools, it is only allowed to arrange non-inpatient examination functions (in which case 3.1.6 is not applied to hospitals), office functions, and other auxiliary functions from the semi-basement floor or basement floor 1 (in case there is no semi-basement floor) and above.

On all basement floors, there must be at least one entrance to an evacuation stairwell through a smoke-proof lobby separated from the surrounding space by type 1 fire partitions or other equivalent solutions. The doors must be of the self-closing type.”.

Add at the end of paragraph a) of Point 3.2.2 as follows:

“For buildings of groups F1.2, F1.3, F2, F3, F4 with a fire protection height of less than 28 m, in case it is not possible to arrange a separate exit to the outside and it is necessary to go through a common lobby, the entrance to the common stairwell from the basement floors must go through an vestibule with an enclosure solution similar to a type 1 fire vestibule, and there must be a type 1 fire partition separating it from the rest of the stairwell;”.

Amend Point 3.2.3 as follows:

“3.2.3 Exits are not considered evacuation exits if roller shutters or revolving doors are installed on these exits.

Sliding doors or folding doors may be used on evacuation exits (except in cases: these doors have fire resistance requirements, or have requirements for the door to automatically close after opening, or in buildings of group F1.3, preschool facilities, primary schools and equivalent), in which case the provisions on door opening direction in 3.2.10 are not applied, and there must be signs/notes on the door type and opening direction of the door.”.

Amend paragraph b) of Point 3.2.5 as follows:

“b) Rooms in basements and semi-basements with more than 15 people simultaneously present;”.

Amend paragraph a) and paragraph d) of Point 3.2.6.2 as follows:

“a) From each floor (or from a part of a floor separated from other parts of the floor by fire separating elements) with fire hazard groups by function F1.2, F2, F3, F4.2, F4.3 and F4.4, when simultaneously satisfying the following conditions:

1) For buildings with a fire protection height not exceeding 15 m:

– The area of each considered floor shall not exceed 300 m2;

– The maximum number of people on each floor shall not exceed 20 people;

– Motor vehicles are not allowed to be parked, hazard class A, B, C warehouses are not allowed to be arranged on the floor with evacuation exits to the outside of the building, unless these areas are separated according to the provisions of this Regulation;

– For buildings over 3 floors or with a fire protection height greater than 9 m: evacuation exits from rooms and from each floor must comply with the requirements of this Regulation;

– For buildings up to 3 floors or with a fire protection height up to 9 m: type 2 stairs may be used for evacuation when ensuring the condition that people in the building can escape to an emergency exit (to an open balcony, loggia, through a window or similar emergency exit) or reach an open roof when a fire occurs, and the type 2 stairs must be separated from the basement area (if any) by type 2 fire partitions;

NOTE: An open balcony or open roof means open to the outside and the enclosure (if any) must ensure easy evacuation and rescue when firefighting forces approach.

2) For buildings with a fire protection height from over 15 m to 21 m:

– The area of each considered floor shall not exceed 200 m2;

– The maximum number of people on each floor shall not exceed 20 people;

– Motor vehicles are not allowed to be parked, hazard class A, B, C warehouses are not allowed to be arranged on the floor with evacuation exits to the outside of the building, unless these areas are separated according to the provisions of this Regulation;

– The areas with the considered function are protected by automatic firefighting. In case it is not possible to equip automatic firefighting, replace it with an automatic fire alarm system for the entire building (prioritizing the use of smoke detectors);

– People in the building can escape to the outside of the building through an emergency exit (to an open balcony, loggia, through a window or similar emergency exit) with evacuation assistance devices (for example, P1, P2 ladders, outdoor ladders, rope ladders, chutes and other evacuation assistance devices); or reach an open roof when a fire occurs;

– Evacuation exits from rooms and from each floor must comply with the requirements of this Regulation;

3) For buildings with a fire protection height from over 21 m to 25 m:

– The area of each considered floor shall not exceed 150 m2;

– The maximum number of people on each floor shall not exceed 15 people;

– Motor vehicles are not allowed to be parked, hazard class A, B, C warehouses are not allowed to be arranged on the floor with evacuation exits to the outside of the building, unless these areas are separated according to the provisions of this Regulation;

– The building is protected by an automatic fire alarm and firefighting system;

– People in the building can escape to the outside of the building through an emergency exit (to an open balcony, loggia, through a window and similar emergency exits) with evacuation assistance devices (for example, P1, P2 ladders, outdoor ladders, rope ladders, chutes and other evacuation assistance devices); or reach an open roof when a fire occurs;

– Evacuation exits from rooms and from each floor must comply with the requirements of this Regulation.”.

“d) From floors (or a part of a floor separated from other parts of the floor by fire separating elements) belonging to fire hazard group by function F4.1, when satisfying the conditions in paragraph a) of Point 3.2.6.2, or simultaneously satisfying the following conditions:

– For primary schools and equivalent: The building has a fire protection height not exceeding 9 m, the area of the considered floor does not exceed 300 m2; For the remaining buildings of group F4.1: The building has a fire protection height not exceeding 15 m, the area of the considered floor does not exceed 500 m2;

– Motor vehicles are not allowed to be parked, hazard class A, B, C warehouses are not allowed to be arranged on the floor with evacuation exits to the outside of the building, unless these areas are separated according to the provisions of this Regulation.”.

Amend Point 3.2.8 as follows:

– Amend the last sentence of the second paragraph as follows: “The distance between two evacuation exits is measured along a straight line connecting their farthest edges and must be greater than or equal to 7 m. In case this distance is less than 7 m, the distance between the two evacuation exits is measured along a straight line connecting their nearest edges (see Figure I.4 a), b), c)).”.

– In the third paragraph, add the phrase “, building part or building story” after the phrase “room”.

– In the fourth paragraph, add the phrase “or open corridor” after the phrase “by an internal corridor”.

Amend the second sentence of the fourth paragraph of Point 3.2.9 as follows:

“Double-leaf doors, if required to have a fire resistance limit, must be equipped with a self-closing mechanism so that the leaves close sequentially.”.

Amend the last paragraph of Point 3.2.9 as follows:

“Doors on escape routes, if required to have a fire resistance limit, must be equipped with a self-closing mechanism.”.

Annul the second sentence of the first paragraph of Point 3.2.11.

Amend and supplement Point 3.3.1 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “TCVN 3890” with the phrase “standard documents”.

Amend the first paragraph of Point 3.3.2 as follows:

“The maximum permissible escape distance (Appendix G) on each floor is measured along the centerline of the escape route, starting from the center of the doors of the rooms or from the farthest point where people can be present in the room (depending on whether there is fire separation between the room and the escape route or not) to the center of the nearest evacuation exit on each floor (for example: door to the outside of the building, door to the stairwell or door to type 3 stairs, the edge of the first step of type 2 stairs on that floor if type 2 stairs are evacuation stairs, door to the adjacent fire compartment, or to another evacuation exit). This distance must be limited depending on:”.

Amend and supplement Point 3.3.5 as follows:

– Annul the third sentence of the second paragraph.

– Add after the second paragraph as follows:

“Particularly for buildings of fire and explosion hazard classes D, E, the corridor can be enclosed by glass walls or enclosures made of non-combustible materials. There is no requirement for the fire resistance limit of the partition walls and doorways between the rooms and the open corridor (except for rooms of group F5 hazard classes A, B, C or kitchens).

For building floors with corridors and rooms not enclosed by fire separating elements as specified in Point 3.3.5 or not complying with the requirements in 3.3.4, the maximum permissible distance of the escape route (Appendix G) must be calculated from the farthest point where people can be present in the room on that building floor. Particularly for karaoke and nightclub service buildings, the separation of corridors and rooms on the escape route by fire separating elements as specified above must be ensured. Buildings of group F1.3 must comply with the provisions in 4.5.”.

– Add the following phrase after the phrase “type 2 fire partition” in the third paragraph: “(or by smoke partitions, smoke curtains, with the bottom edge no more than 2.5 m from the corridor floor)”.

Amend and supplement Point 3.4.1 as follows:

– Amend the first bullet point as follows: “- 1.2 m – for buildings of group F1.1 with a total number of people evacuating via this staircase greater than 15 people from each floor; 1 m – for buildings of group F1.1 with a total number of people evacuating via this staircase of 15 people or less from each floor; “.

– Amend the third bullet point as follows: “0.7 m – for buildings with a fire protection height not exceeding 15 m and a total number of people evacuating via this staircase from each floor not exceeding 15 people (in this case, it is accepted that the stair tread may be smaller than the width of the evacuation door of the staircase);”.

– Add the following paragraph at the end of Point 3.4.1: “In case the above dimensions cannot be ensured, standard documents can be used to calculate the evacuation for people and determine the necessary dimensions of stair treads, evacuation exits, and escape routes based on the specific conditions of the project.”.

Amend and supplement Point 3.4.4 as follows:

– Add the following paragraph before the first paragraph: “Curved stairs wholly or partially, stairs with diagonal steps may be used when meeting one of the two following conditions: 1) each step has a part of the tread that satisfies the conditions stated in 3.4.1 and 3.4.2; or 2) satisfies the conditions stated below for the specific building group. For buildings of group F1.4, the provisions in 3.3.7 are not applied.”.

– Replace the phrase “F4” in the first paragraph with the phrase: “F1.2, F1.3, F2, F3, F4, F5”.

– Add the following paragraph at the end of Point 3.4.4: “In buildings of groups F1.2, F1.3, F2, F3, F4, F5 with a fire protection height not exceeding 15 m and a maximum number of people on each floor not exceeding 15 people, at each landing or turning angle of the stair tread not exceeding 90°, a maximum of 3 diagonal (fanlike) steps are allowed to be arranged.”.

Amend Point 3.4.5 as follows:

– Add at the end of Point 3.4.5, before the phrase “any functional room”: “, except for toilet rooms and water utility rooms”.

Amend paragraphs a) and b) of Point 3.4.8 as follows:

– Add the following phrase to paragraph a) of Point 3.4.8, after the first “L2”: “and the stair section in basements and semi-basements”.

– Amend and supplement paragraph b) of Point 3.4.8 as follows: Annul the phrase “is a smoke-free stairwell and”; and add the following paragraph at the end of paragraph b) of Point 3.4.8: “If it is a regular stairwell, smoke vents must be arranged on the stairwell top with a total minimum area equal to 10% of the surface area (including enclosing walls) of the stairwell floor (smoke vents are not required if the building has at least two evacuation staircases or one evacuation staircase but has other emergency exits as specified in 3.2.6.2).”.

Add at the end of Point 3.4.11 as follows:

“Type 3 stairs may be used as evacuation stairs in buildings with a fire protection height from over 28 m to 50 m provided that the type 3 stair section from over 28 m must be protected against falling on the entire height of the open stair surfaces.”.

Amend Point 3.4.13 as follows:

– Annul the second paragraph of Point 3.4.13.

– Replace the phrase “in 2.5.1 c)” in the NOTE with the phrase “in 2.4.3.3”.

– Annul paragraph a).

Amend Point 3.4.14 as follows:

– Add the following phrase at the end of Point 3.4.14: “according to the requirements of Appendix D”.

Amend Point 3.5.10 as follows:

“3.5.10 It is allowed to apply fire safety requirements for finishing materials, decorative materials, cladding materials, flooring materials and corresponding test criteria according to permitted applicable standard documents to replace the requirements from 3.5.1 to 3.5.9 and Appendix B.

In case a common room is equipped with automatic firefighting (except for rooms with an area greater than 20 m2 for inpatient treatment, elderly care facilities, care for people with disabilities), there is no requirement for the fire hazard class of materials. In other cases with automatic firefighting, it is allowed to reduce by one class compared to the provisions in Appendix B.

There is no requirement for the fire hazard class for finishing materials, decorative materials, cladding materials, flooring materials on the outermost surface of walls, ceilings, floors, when these materials have a thickness not exceeding 1 mm and are placed on base materials that are non-combustible materials, or in case the competent fire and rescue police agency determines that the risk of fire spread and smoke generation is low or non-existent.

There is no requirement for the fire hazard class for finishing materials, decorative materials, cladding materials on the outermost surface of walls or ceilings when:

a) the total area of these materials occupies no more than 20% of the area of the wall or ceiling to which they are attached (for rubber, plastic and similar composites – no more than 10%): and

b) these material components are distributed relatively sparsely.

In case common rooms cannot meet the requirements for the fire hazard class of materials, those rooms must meet the following requirements:

a) be equipped with automatic fire alarm; and

b) their enclosing structures must be fire separating elements with a minimum fire resistance limit of:

– El (or ElW) 45 for buildings of fire resistance levels I, II, III and/or with a fire protection height of 28 m or more;

– El (or ElW) 30 for buildings of fire resistance levels I, II, III and with a fire protection height of less than 28 m;

– El (or ElW) 15 for buildings of fire resistance level IV.”.

4 PREVENTING FIRE SPREAD

Amend and supplement the first paragraph of Point 4.5 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “type 1 fire partition walls and (or) type 3 fire separation floors” with the phrase: “fire separating elements with a minimum fire resistance limit of El 45 for buildings of fire resistance levels I to III; minimum El 15 for buildings of fire resistance level IV; or other equivalent fire separation solutions”.

Add the following paragraphs before the NOTE of Point 4.5:

“In buildings of groups F1, F2, F3, F4, fire separation is not required with other functions for the following rooms (except for specific cases specified in this Regulation or specialized standards): rooms of group F5 hazard class C4, E; water utility rooms; wet rooms or rooms with low fire risk; storage rooms with a maximum area of 10 m2 not containing flammable gases and flammable liquids; rooms not required to be equipped with automatic firefighting or automatic fire alarm according to standard documents; areas only serving for dining (without cooking kitchen and food storage); internal meeting rooms; and other similar cases.

For a building floor (or a part of a building floor that has been separated from the rest according to the provisions of this Regulation) with two or more different functions, if the functions are not separated according to the provisions of this Regulation, the fire safety requirements for this building floor (or part of the building floor) must be taken according to the highest requirement among the functions. Areas with fire hazard groups by function A, B, C must be separated from areas with residential or other public functions.”.

Amend and supplement Point 4.23 as follows:

– Add at the end of the first paragraph as follows:

“There is no fire resistance limit requirement for elevator shaft doors opening to an open corridor.”.

– Add after the phrase “type 1 fire partition wall” in the second paragraph: “(or fire curtain with an equivalent fire resistance limit, or drencher water curtain as specified in H.2.12.7)”.

Amend Point 4.27 as follows:

“4.27 The area, in which type 2 stairs are arranged according to the provisions in 3.4.16, must be separated from the corridors communicating with it or from other rooms by type 1 fire partition walls or other equivalent solutions.

There is no fire resistance limit requirement for the partition walls of the area with type 2 stairs or corridors communicating with type 2 stairs (also applied to 4.26) when the building (or fire compartment with type 2 stairs) has a fire protection height not greater than 9 m with a floor area not exceeding 300 m2 or when the building is equipped with automatic firefighting (in which case areas with high fire hazard (e.g. parking area, area for trading flammable and explosive goods and similar) must be separated from type 2 stairs by type 1 fire partition walls or other equivalent solutions).”.

Amend Point 4.31 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “TCVN 3890” with the phrase “standard documents”.

Amend and supplement Point 4.32.2 as follows:

“4.32.2 It is allowed not to apply the provisions in 4.32.1 if the building is equipped with automatic firefighting.”.

Amend and supplement Point 4.33.3 as follows:

– Add the phrase “as specified in paragraph c) of Point 4.33.1” at the end of Point 4.33.3.

Amend Point 4.33.4 as follows:

“4.33.4 It is allowed not to apply the provisions in 4.33 to buildings of three floors or less or with a fire protection height of less than 15 m, open-type elevated parking garages, or buildings equipped with automatic firefighting.”.

Amend Point 4.34 as follows:

– Replace the word “and” after the phrase “(specified in Point E.1 and Point E.2 in Appendix E)” with the word “or”.

Amend paragraph d) of Point 4.35 as follows:

“d) The floor area within the fire compartment with an atrium is determined according to Appendix H.”.

5 WATER SUPPLY FOR FIREFIGHTING

Amend and supplement Point 5.1.1.1 as follows:

“5.1.1.1 The provision of outdoor firefighting water supply must be implemented when investing in the construction of technical infrastructure of residential areas, urban areas, industrial parks, export processing zones, high-tech zones, industrial clusters and areas with similar characteristics.

For buildings when located within the service range of outdoor firefighting water sources (outdoor firefighting water tanks, reservoirs, hydrants, natural and artificial firefighting water ponds and other similar water sources), it is not mandatory to provide outdoor firefighting water supply.

NOTE: The provision of outdoor firefighting water supply can refer to TCVN 3890:2023.”.

Amend Point 5.1.1.3 as follows:

– Annul the phrase “be equipped with means”.

Amend Point 5.1.1.4 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “(located on the ground)” with the phrase “(measured at the elevation equal to the ground level)”.

– Replace the phrase “10 m” in the first and third sentences with the phrase “10 m water column”.

– Replace the phrase “60 m” with the phrase “60 m water column”.

Annul NOTE 3 of Table 7.

Amend and supplement Table 10 as follows:

Table 10 – Outdoor firefighting water flow rate for group F5 buildings without openings on the roof with a width over 60 m

Add the fifth bullet point of Point 5.1.3.3 as follows:

– For buildings with required outdoor firefighting water supply flow rates specified in Tables 8, 9, 10 up to 15 L/s (for buildings of groups F1, F2, F3, F4) and up to 20 L/s (for buildings of group F5), their firefighting duration is taken as 1 hour.

Amend and supplement Point 5.1.3.4 as follows:

“5.1.3.4 The maximum time to replenish firefighting water reserve shall not exceed:

24 hours – for residential areas with over 5,000 people or industrial facilities with buildings of fire and explosion hazard classes A, B, C;

36 hours – for industrial facilities with buildings of fire and explosion hazard classes D and E;

72 hours – for residential areas up to 5,000 people or agricultural facilities.

NOTE 1: For industrial facilities with required outdoor firefighting water flow rates up to 20 L/s, it is allowed to increase the time for replenishing firefighting water up to:

48 hours – for buildings of fire hazard class D and E;

36 hours – for buildings of fire hazard class C.

NOTE 2: When it is not possible to ensure the replenishment of firefighting water reserve according to the specified time, it is necessary to provide additional supplementary firefighting water reserve ΔW, calculated by the formula:

where”

ΔW is the supplementary water reserve, in cubic meters (m3);

W is the firefighting water reserve, in cubic meters (m3);

K is the ratio between the actual time for replenishing firefighting water and the required time for replenishing firefighting water specified in 5.1.3.4.”.

Amend Point 5.1.4.2 as follows:

– Add the phrase “for each building” before the phrase “up to 12” and the word “hydrants” after the phrase “up to 12”.

Amend Point 5.1.4.7 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “200 m” with the phrase “more than 400 m”.

Amend Point 5.1.5.4 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “parking area with dimensions not less than 12 m x 12 m” with the phrase “water intake area”.

Amend Point 5.1.5.6 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “separate” in the first paragraph with the phrase “independent”.

Amend the second bullet point of Point 5.1.5.7 as follows:

– Annul the phrase “outside residential areas”.

Amend Point 5.1.5.9 as follows:

“5.1.5.9 Outdoor firefighting water tanks, reservoirs, hydrants, natural and artificial firefighting water ponds must be located in positions that ensure the service radius:

– When having fire truck pumps – is 400 m;

– When having mobile pumps – up to 300 m within the technical operation range of the pump;

– To increase the service radius, it is allowed to install dead-end pipelines with a length not exceeding 200 m from tanks, reservoirs and artificial ponds to intermediate tanks (water intake tanks) ensured according to the provisions in 5.1.5.8.”.

Amend Point 5.1.5.10 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “from 3 m3 to 5 m3” with the phrase “not less than 3 m3”.

Amend Point 5.2.1 as follows:

– Add to the fourth paragraph, before the phrase “In case of using low flow rate fire hoses”: “Depending on the function of the protected object, fire hose system arrangement options can be selected according to the provisions in 5.2.18.”.

Amend Table 11 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “nursing homes” in the last bullet point of 2) with the phrase “elderly care homes”.

Amend Point 5.2.6 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “0.90 MPa” in the second paragraph with the phrase “0.6 MPa” and the phrase “0.4 MPa” in the fourth paragraph with the phrase “0.45 MPa”.

Add NOTE 3 to Point 5.2.11 as follows:

“NOTE 3: It is allowed to increase the service radius of fire hoses by connecting fire hoses with a total length of up to 40 m. In this case, the hoses must be hung in a folded form on a support frame and pre-connected to the fire hydrant and nozzle.”.

Amend Point 5.3.1 as follows:

– In the first paragraph: Replace the phrase “capacity equivalent to” with the phrase “having flow rate and water supply pressure parameters not less than”.

6 FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE

Add to Point 6.2.2.1 as follows:

– Add the phrase “, or have an appropriate firefighting plan from outside the building” after the phrase “60 m”.

Add to Point 6.2.2.3 as follows:

– Add a NOTE for paragraph b):

“NOTE: If the atrium openings are protected against fire spread, the allowable accessible floor area is calculated as the area of the largest floor among the connected floors plus the area of the atrium openings within the protected range.”.

– Add after the phrase “firefighting equipment” of paragraph c): “(only require access road for fire trucks as per 6.2.2.1 or have another appropriate firefighting plan for buildings of group F5 hazard class A, B with a total floor area up to 300 m2, buildings of group F5 hazard class C, D, E with area and height not exceeding the allowable limits taken according to buildings of fire resistance level V according to Appendix H).”.

– Add after the phrase “over 28 m.” as follows: “This distance is not specified when there is no requirement for high-rise rescue and firefighting forces have another plan to access for firefighting.”.

– Annul NOTE 2.

Add a NOTE at the end of Point 6.3.5 as follows:

“NOTE: There is no provision on the arrangement of access points from above when there is another appropriate plan for firefighting forces to access.”.

Amend Point 6.4 as follows:

“6.4 The design of turning areas must be suitable for local firefighting vehicles.”.

Amend Point 6.12 as follows:

– Replace the number “100” with the number “75”.

– Add at the end of Point 6.12: “In case this requirement cannot be ensured, at least one dry riser must be arranged on each floor to supply firefighting water for that floor. There is no requirement for stair stringer gaps for type 3 stairs.”.

Amend the third bullet point of Point 6.13 as follows:

“- Have a sufficient calculated number so that the distance from the door position of those elevators to any point on the floor plan it serves (service radius) does not exceed 60 m;”.

Amend Point 6.14 as follows:

– Add the phrase “, if designed for firefighting forces to access through the roof then” after the phrase “greater than 7 m”.

Annul the phrase “according to A.4″ in Point 6.17.1.

Amend the second bullet point of Point 6.17.2 as follows:

“- Have at least one direct exit communicating with the main corridor for evacuation or direct exit to the outside of the building, or directly communicating with the evacuation staircase;”.

7 IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

Annul Point 7.4.

APPENDIX A (REGULATIONS) ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SOME SPECIFIC BUILDING GROUPS

Amend Point A.1.2.1 as follows:

“A.1.2.1 When determining the number of stories of a building, each working floor, equipment supporting floor and mezzanine floor at any elevation with an area greater than 40% of the area of one story of that building, must be counted as one story.

The area of one building story within a fire compartment is determined according to the inner perimeter of the enclosing walls of the story, excluding the stairwell area. If within that area there are working floors, equipment supporting floors and mezzanine floors, then for single-story buildings, the total area of all these floors must be added; as for multi-story buildings (or multi-story building parts), the fire compartment area of each story must be added with the area of working floors, equipment supporting floors and mezzanine floors located in that story. The area of external loading docks for road and rail vehicles is not included in the area of the building story within the fire compartment. The area of rooms with a clear height of 2 stories or more, within a multi-story building (room connecting 2 or more stories) where the floor openings are not protected against fire spread is included in the total area of the building within one story.

The construction area is determined according to the outer perimeter of the building at the footing elevation, including projecting parts, passages under the building, and building parts without external enclosures.”.

Annul the second paragraph of Point A.1.3.2.

Amend Point A.1.3.6 as follows:

– Replace the word “class” with the word “grade”.

Amend Point A.1.3.10 as follows:

“A.1.3.10 Warehouses for storing goods of fire and explosion hazard class C on high-rise racks must be arranged in single-story buildings of fire resistance levels I to IV and building structure fire hazard grade S0. In case of arranging in multi-story buildings, the high-rise racks must be protected by an automatic firefighting system according to permitted applicable standards, and it must be ensured that all people in the building can safely evacuate to the outside in all fire situations.”.

Annul Point A.1.3.12.

Add after the phrase “fire compartment” of Point A.2.3 the following phrase: “(or fire sub-compartment)”.

Add the following sentence at the end of Point A.2.4:

“It is allowed to arrange assembly rooms at a fire protection height higher than the above regulations when there is an evacuation calculation for people according to standard documents (for example [5]) ensuring the principle that people can safely evacuate to the outside of the building before being affected by hazardous fire factors.”.

Amend and supplement Point A.2.11 as follows:

“A.2.11 Elevator lobbies must be separated from adjacent corridors and rooms by fire partitions or other fire separation solutions with a fire resistance limit as specified in A.2.24, if these elevators serve basement floors, or the elevator shaft doors do not meet the requirements in A.2.24.”.

Amend and supplement Point A.2.12 as follows:

“A.2.12 Firefighting elevators must be arranged in separate shafts, with independent elevator lobbies. In case of arranging common shafts and lobbies, the protection of these common shafts and lobbies must comply with the requirements in A.2.24 as for firefighting elevators.

The exit to the outside of the building from at least one of the firefighting elevators must not be arranged through the common lobby of the building.

The number of firefighting elevators for each fire compartment must be calculated sufficient so that the distance from the door position of those elevators to any point on the floor plan it serves (service radius) does not exceed 45 m.”.

Amend and supplement Point A.2.14 as follows:

“A.2.14 Corridors must be divided into compartments separated by type 1 fire partition walls and type 2 fire doors with self-closing mechanisms, or by smoke partition walls, smoke curtains made of non-combustible materials with the bottom edge no more than 2.5 m from the corridor floor. The length of each corridor compartment must ensure the following:

– For the apartment block: not exceeding 30 m.

– For non-apartment blocks: not exceeding 60 m.”.

Amend and supplement Point A.2.20 as follows:

“A.2.20 Buildings with a fire protection height over 100 m (over 120 m if equipped with automatic fire alarm and automatic firefighting) must have temporary refuge areas arranged according to A.3.2.”.

Add Point A.2.25.5 as follows:

“A.2.25.5 In case the requirements from A.2.25.1 to A.2.25.4 cannot be complied with, it is possible to follow 3.5.10.”.

Amend Point A.3.1.8 as follows:

– Annul the phrase “with a clear gap between stair treads not less than 100 mm”.

Amend Point A.3.1.13 as follows:

– Add the phrase “, in case it cannot be met then follow 3.5.10” after the phrase “non-combustible materials”.

Annul paragraph e) of Point A.3.1.16.

Amend the first paragraph and paragraph a) of Point A.3.2.1 as follows:

“A.3.2.1 For buildings with a fire protection height from over 100 m (over 120 m if equipped with automatic fire alarm and automatic firefighting) to 150 m, in addition to complying with the provisions in A.3.1, temporary refuge areas must be arranged according to A.3.2.1 or A.3.2.2, or a combination of the two options. The design solution must ensure timely and smooth evacuation for all people to the outside or to temporary refuge areas (including safe areas arranged on floors and/or refuge compartments belonging to refuge floors) suitable for the evacuation organization plan for the building in case of fire.

If choosing temporary refuge areas as refuge floors and refuge compartments, the following requirements must be met:

a) Refuge floors are spaced no more than 20 floors apart, the first refuge floor is arranged no higher than the 21st floor. The area for arranging refuge compartments must be separated from other areas by fire separating elements with a fire resistance limit not less than REI 150. Areas other than the area for arranging refuge compartments can be used for public functions or for arranging apartments, provided that the evacuation requirements for these areas are ensured;

NOTE: A technical floor or a part of a technical floor can be used as a refuge area when meeting the provisions in paragraphs b), c), d), e), f).”.

Add Point A.3.2.2 as follows:

“A.3.2.2 If choosing temporary refuge areas as safe areas, the following provisions must be complied with:

a) Safe areas are divided into the following 4 types:

Type 1 safe area: is a room separated from other areas by enclosing structures with a fire resistance limit equal to the fire resistance limit of the internal walls of the stairwell corresponding to the fire resistance level of the building (not considering the R criterion if these enclosing structures are not load-bearing structures) and opening sealing components with a fire resistance limit of El 60, smoke-tight, protected by an automatic firefighting system, pressurized with positive air pressure when there is a fire in the room or in the fire vestibule at the entrance of this room, or the room entrance goes through an uncontaminated air buffer zone via open transition paths (similar to the entrance to stairwell N1).

The evacuation exit from the type 1 safe area must lead to the evacuation stairwell (directly, or through protected safe areas like the building’s escape route, or through uncontaminated air buffer zones, or a combination of the above options).

Type 2 safe area: is an area located on a utilized roof with the access to the roof must go through a type 1 fire vestibule.

Type 3 safe area: is a fire compartment or fire sub-compartment, with an independent escape route protected by type 1 fire partition walls and type 3 fire separation floors.

Type 4 safe area: is a stairwell.

b) Type 4 safe area is only used for buildings of group F1.3. Buildings of other function groups can choose type 1, 2, or 3, or a combination.

c) Safe areas must be arranged on all floors of the building (except floors with direct exit to the outside) or arranged at a maximum of every 5 floors, with evacuation instructions on each floor, and at the same time must ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility who need to use wheelchairs. At the entrance of safe areas, there must be signs with the content “TEMPORARY REFUGE AREA/FIRE EMERGENCY HOLDING AREA” with specifications as specified in paragraph g) of A.3.2.1.

d) The area of a safe area calculated for one building floor must be determined based on the number of people who need to be temporarily accommodated for refuge (number of people with limited mobility) depending on the function of that building part and the floor area norm per person, considering mobility aids (e.g. wheelchairs, canes, stretchers, similar tools, if any), the number of people who need to be temporarily accommodated for refuge is determined according to the design task, the floor area norm per person is determined based on the horizontal projection area of that person with the ability to move within a limited range. In case the number of people needing temporary refuge or the floor area norm per person cannot be calculated, the safe area can be determined according to the provisions in paragraph b) of A.3.2.1.

NOTE: If the design task cannot determine the number of people with limited mobility, this value can be determined according to the ratio of the total number of people using the building floor, referring to standard documents (for example [5, 7]), the horizontal projection area of a person can refer to [5] or taken according to the provisions in H.2.10.1.

e) If the safe area is a separate room, other functions can be used in the safe area as for the refuge compartment specified in paragraph b) of A.3.2.1, but must ensure sufficient empty area as prescribed.

f) Each safe area must be equipped with emergency lighting, evacuation instruction broadcasting system and similar, have two-way communication equipment with the fire control room, or the 24/7 duty room of the building.”.

Annul A.4 of Appendix A.

APPENDIX C (REGULATIONS) FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD CLASSES OF BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND ROOMS WITH PRODUCTION AND STORAGE FUNCTIONS

Amend and supplement Point C.3.1 as follows:

“C.3.1 The method for determining the criteria to classify buildings, structures and rooms with production and storage functions into classes according to fire and explosion hazards is specified in standards, [8] and related guidelines can be applied for implementation.

The parameters of combustible substances in buildings and rooms can refer to standard documents [3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9] or other standard documents.”.

Amend the first paragraph of Point C.3.2 as follows:

“C.3.2 When there are no specific calculations to classify fire and explosion hazards according to standards, it is possible to refer to the fire and explosion hazard class of some buildings and rooms belonging to workshops, warehouses, production units as follows:”.

Add to the second bullet point of Point C.3.2.2 as follows:

– Add the phrase “generating combustible dusts and capable of forming explosive hazardous mixtures (according to Table C.1) in case of incidents” after the phrase “solid substances”.

APPENDIX D (REGULATIONS) SMOKE PROTECTION

Add at the end of Point D.1.1 as follows:

“If there are no specific provisions on the response time of firefighting forces to the project and the time that firefighting forces will operate in the project for firefighting, and there is no requirement for property protection in case of fire, then the smoke protection design of the building needs to ensure the minimum objective of safety for people evacuating to the outside.”.

Amend Point D.1.2 as follows:

– Add the phrase “(or taken according to the value specified in the applied standard document)” after the phrase “not lower than 2 m”.

Amend the first paragraph of Point D.1.3 as follows:

“D.1.3 The devices of the smoke exhaust and smoke control air supply system, regardless of the operating mechanism (natural or forced), must always ensure correct design operation in case of fire.”.

Amend the first paragraph of Point D.1.5 as follows:

– Add the word “operation” before the word “independent”.

Amend Point D.1.7 as follows:

“D.1.7 It is allowed to change the requirements in this Appendix D on the basis of having a smoke protection design suitable for the permitted applicable standards and satisfying the requirements in D.1.1″.

Amend the NOTE of Point D.1.8 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “ISO 14644” with the phrase “TCVN 8664 (ISO 14644)”.

Amend and supplement Point D.2 as follows:

– In the first paragraph: replace the phrase “smoke exhaust” with the phrase “smoke removal”.

– Add at the end of paragraph c) as follows:

“NOTE: It is not required to design smoke removal for corridors with a length greater than 15 m without natural ventilation in case of fire on floors of group F4 buildings up to 6 floors high, when these floors are equipped with automatic fire alarm with smoke detectors, or automatic firefighting.”.

– Amend paragraph f) as follows: Delete the phrase “D, E”.

– Amend paragraph g) as follows: Add the phrase “with an area greater than 50 m2” after the word “goods” in the second bullet point.

– Add at the end of Point D.2 as follows:

“NOTE 4: For natural ventilation in case of fire for rooms or corridors, it is also possible to arrange (relatively evenly distributed) openable windows on the external enclosing structure of the room or corridor at a height not less than 2.2 m from the floor surface to the lower edge of the window and with a total effective area not less than 2.5% of the floor area of the room or corridor.”.

Amend the first and second paragraphs of Point D.8 as follows:

“D.8 For direct exhaust of rooms and corridors of single-story buildings, a smoke exhaust system based on natural mechanism (natural smoke removal solution), or based on forced mechanism can be applied. In multi-story buildings, a smoke exhaust system based on forced mechanism should be used, or a natural smoke removal solution can be used if the smoke removal calculation allows, but must satisfy the requirements in D.1.1. It is allowed to use a natural smoke removal solution for the top floor of multi-story buildings, through smoke vents, smoke dampers, or open skylights, open flaps and not facing the wind.”.

Amend paragraph b) of Point D.9 as follows:

“b) Pipelines and ducts, if required to have a fire resistance limit, must be made of non-combustible materials (including insulation and fire protection coatings of pipes), with a fire resistance limit not lower than:”.

Add NOTE 3 and NOTE 4 after NOTE 2 of paragraph b) of Point D.9 as follows:

“NOTE 3: The I criterion is not required for smoke and air supply pipelines and ducts within a fire compartment if the following conditions are simultaneously satisfied: 1) the conveyance of smoke and air in these pipes does not cause failure of other technical systems or cause fire in areas through which the pipelines and ducts pass; 2) not increasing the air temperature in the area on the escape route above 65°C.”.

This note applies to all other provisions of this Regulation related to the requirement for the fire resistance limit of other pipelines and ducts (if any).

NOTE 4: The fire resistance limit of smoke and air supply pipelines and ducts is not required if the following conditions are simultaneously satisfied: 1) the pipe is made of galvanized steel with a minimum thickness of 1.2 mm; 2) the entire length of the pipe is protected by a sprinkler system designed according to the applied standard document and the sprinkler heads are arranged above and below the pipe (regardless of the pipe size); 3) the pipe and the hanging and supporting structures are designed and constructed in accordance with the pipe specifications specified in the applied standard.

This note applies to all other provisions of this Regulation related to the requirement for the fire resistance limit of other pipelines and ducts (if any).”.

Amend Point D.14.5 as follows:

– Amend the first paragraph as follows: “D.14.5 To compensate for the volume of smoke exhausted from the area protected by the smoke exhaust system, air supply must be designed based on natural or forced mechanism:”.

– Amend paragraph a) as follows:

“a) Air supply based on natural mechanism: using openable windows, doors, or other gaps that can communicate with outside air (open in case of fire). The windows, doors, gaps must be arranged in the lower part of the protected area. The total ventilation area of the openings (the part of the windows, doors, gaps located below the lower edge of the smoke layer) must be determined in accordance with D.4 and meet the requirement that the air flow velocity through the openings does not exceed 6 m/s (this velocity is not required for air compensation openings through which people do not evacuate);”.

– Amend paragraph b) as follows: Replace the phrase “smoke control” with the word “supply”.

APPENDIX E (REGULATIONS) FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION DISTANCES

Amend and supplement NOTE 6 of Table E.1 as follows:

“NOTE 6: The distance between public buildings and structures is not specified when the total construction land area (including the non-built land area between them) does not exceed the maximum allowable floor area within a fire compartment (see Appendix H). In case the building belongs to groups F1.1, F4.1, storage rooms and kitchens must not be arranged in the adjacent area between the two buildings.

The non-built land area between two buildings is the horizontal projection area bounded by the two opposing enclosing walls of the two buildings and the lines connecting the two opposite corner points of the two buildings.

This note does not apply to facilities trading in fuel gases, flammable liquids and easily flammable liquids, as well as substances and materials capable of exploding and igniting when in contact with water, oxygen in the air or with each other.”.

Amend Point E.2 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “in an industrial facility” with the phrase “production, storage building”.

Amend the title of Point E.3 as follows:

“E.3 Fire prevention and protection distances determined by boundary line”.

Amend and supplement Point E.3.1 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “to determine” with the phrase “are determined corresponding to”.

Amend Point E.3.2 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “measured horizontally perpendicular 90° from the external wall of the building” with the phrase “measured perpendicularly in the horizontal direction from the outer surface of the external wall of the building (or from the outer edge of the nearest combustible component in the building, including interior)”.

Add after the second sentence of Point E.3.3 as follows:

“When the external wall is required to have a fire resistance limit according to Table E.3, the total area of unprotected openings shall not exceed the allowable values in Table E.4a or Table E.4b. When the external wall is not required to have a fire resistance limit according to Table E.3, the area of the openings does not need to comply with Table E.4a or Table E.4b.

It is allowed to double the area of unprotected openings if the considered building is equipped with automatic firefighting. It is allowed to use other fire spread prevention solutions as specified in paragraph b) of point 4.35 for openings from E 60 and below.”.

APPENDIX G (REGULATIONS) DISTANCE TO EVACUATION EXITS AND WIDTH OF EVACUATION EXITS

Annul the NOTE of Point G.1.2.1.

Amend Table G2a as follows:

– Annul the word “compartment” in point 1 of Table G2a.

Amend Point G.3 as follows:

– Add after the word “G.9” in the first paragraph of G.3 the following phrase: “, or determined according to other standard documents (for example [5])”.

APPENDIX H (REGULATIONS) FIRE RESISTANCE LEVEL AND FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES, FIRE COMPARTMENTS

Amend the first paragraph of Point H.2.1 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “and apartment-style hotels as residential buildings” with the phrase “apartment-style”.

Amend Point H.2.4.4 as follows:

“H.2.4.4 On the 3rd floor of nurseries, kindergartens, preschools, it is allowed to arrange rooms for large classes, music and physical education rooms, playrooms, service rooms. In that case, rooms with an area greater than 50 m2 must have one of the evacuation exits leading directly to the evacuation staircase or through the evacuation corridor to the evacuation staircase.”.

Amend the NOTE of Table H.6 as follows:

“NOTE: The number of building stories is determined by the number of above-ground floors, excluding the top technical floor. For junior high schools and high schools or equivalent, the maximum allowable fire protection height of the building is taken up to 25 m (7 floors) if the building has at least two evacuation staircases satisfying the requirements of this Regulation.”.

Amend and supplement Point H.2.9.1 as follows:

“H.2.9.1 Hospitals (group F1.1) should be arranged in stand-alone buildings or in separate fire compartments with a fire protection height not exceeding 28 m (or 9 floors).

In case the main functions of the hospital (group F1.1) are arranged exceeding the fire protection height of 28 m (or exceeding 9 floors, but up to 50 m), the following additional conditions must be simultaneously complied with:

– The fire resistance level of the building is level I;

– The entire building is equipped with automatic fire alarm and automatic firefighting;

– The maximum allowable fire protection height of the building must ensure the ability to rescue and access for firefighting through access points from above;

– The width of the evacuation stair treads is at least 1.35 m;

– Finishing materials on the escape route must ensure no more hazardous than CV1;

– The clear width of the evacuation doors from each floor and on the escape route (if any) is not less than 1.2 m, with the norm of people needing to evacuate through this door not exceeding 72 people, the maximum number of people on one building floor is taken according to the design, if the hospital allows patients to have caregivers, each patient must account for at least 01 caregiver;

– There are at least 2 firefighting elevators (or 1 firefighting elevator, 1 evacuation elevator) that can serve the rescue of patients on hospital beds with the clear dimensions of the elevator car sufficient to accommodate a hospital bed;

– Each building floor must have fire hoses with the number, position, size and installation according to the applied design standards;

– Each building floor with functions belonging to group F1.1 with a fire protection height over 28 m must have safe areas meeting the requirements in A.3.2.2 with a norm of 2.8 m2/patient. The floor can be divided into at least two fire compartments and allow temporary refuge in the remaining fire compartment if one fire compartment has a fire. Each fire compartment must be directly accessible through access points from above, and must have an escape route leading to the stairwell without going through the other fire compartment.”.

Amend and supplement Point H.2.10.1 as follows:

“H.2.10.1 The fire protection height of general outpatient clinics (group F3.4) is up to 28 m (or 9 floors). The fire resistance level of buildings from 2 floors and above must not be lower than level II, the fire hazard class of the structure must not be lower than S0.

In case the general outpatient functions (group F3.4) are arranged exceeding the fire protection height of 28 m (or exceeding 9 floors), the following additional conditions must be simultaneously complied with:

– The fire resistance level of the building is level I;

– The entire building is equipped with automatic fire alarm and automatic firefighting;

– The maximum allowable fire protection height of the building must ensure the ability to rescue and access for firefighting through access points from above;

– The width of the evacuation stair treads is taken according to 3.4.1, but not less than 1 m;

– Finishing materials on the escape route must ensure no more hazardous than CV1;

– There are at least 2 firefighting elevators (or 1 firefighting elevator, 1 evacuation elevator), of which at least 1 elevator can serve the rescue of patients on hospital beds with the clear dimensions of the elevator car sufficient to accommodate a hospital bed;

– Each building floor with general outpatient functions belonging to group F3.4 with a fire protection height over 28 m must have safe areas meeting the requirements in A.3.2.2 with a norm of 2.65 m2/one wheelchair patient with support person, 0.75 m2/one self-moving patient with assistive devices, and 0.5 m2/one self-moving patient without assistive devices (the number of patients mentioned above is taken according to the design documentation, or can refer to [5] corresponding to the type of medical examination), the floor can be divided into at least two fire compartments and allow temporary refuge in the remaining fire compartment if one fire compartment has a fire. Each fire compartment must be directly accessible through access points from above, and must have an escape route leading to the stairwell without going through the other fire compartment.”.

Annul Point H.2.10.3.

Amend Point H.2.11.1 as follows:

– Add the phrase “(or 9 floors). In case of exceeding 28 m (or exceeding 9 floors), the additional requirements as specified in H.2.9.1 must be complied with” after the phrase “28 m”.

Add at the end of Point H.2.12.4 as follows:

“There is no requirement for the fire resistance limit of canopies, roofs of ancillary parts, corridor roofs, outdoor lobbies as specified in H.2.12.1 and H.2.12.4 if the roof is not utilized, or there is no risk of fire spread from the areas under the roof to the main building block.”.

Add Point H.2.12.10 as follows:

“H.2.12.10 The maximum allowable fire protection height of buildings in Tables H.5, H.6 and H.7 can be determined not according to the meter value, but according to the number of above-ground floors excluding the top technical floor (the value in parentheses in column 4 of the tables, if any) when the building is equipped with an automatic fire alarm system or an automatic firefighting system, and the fire protection height of the building does not exceed 28 m.”.

Add at the end of NOTE 2 of Table H.8 as follows:

“In case the building is equipped with an automatic fire alarm system or an automatic firefighting system, or if the building has at least two evacuation staircases satisfying the requirements of this Regulation, the arrangement height of the rooms above complies with Table H.8.”

Amend Point H.4.1 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “according to A.2.1” in the second paragraph with the phrase “according to A.1.2”.

Amend and supplement Table H.9 as follows:

– Amend the symbol “-” in column 7, class C, level IV, grade S0, S1 to “1,400 5)”; in column 7, class C, level IV, grade S2, S3 to “1,100 5)”.

– Amend 4) as follows:

“4) For buildings of class C level V, sawmills with a maximum of 4 building frames, primary wood processing workshops and wood grinding (chopping) stations.”.

– Add 5) as follows:

“5) Maximum 3 floors (building height allowed up to 22 m) and must be equipped with automatic firefighting.”.

– Amend the NOTE as follows:

“NOTE: Where there is the symbol “-“, it is allowed to apply the standard document NFPA 5000 [1] or other equivalent standards to determine the maximum allowable height and area of one building floor within a fire compartment corresponding to the fire resistance limit of the building structures, components and other conditions.”.

Amend and supplement Table H.10 as follows:

– Amend the symbol “-” in column 7, class C, level IV, grade S0, S1 to “1,400 2)”; in column 7, class C, level IV, grade S2, S3 to “1,100 2)”.

– Add 2) as follows:

“2) Maximum 3 floors (building height allowed up to 22 m) and must be equipped with automatic firefighting.”.

– Amend NOTE 1 and NOTE 2 as follows:

“NOTE 1: Where there is the symbol “-“, it is allowed to apply the standard document NFPA 5000 [1] or other equivalent standards to determine the maximum allowable height and area of one building floor within a fire compartment corresponding to the fire resistance limit of the building structures, components and other conditions.

NOTE 2: Buildings of class D level V are taken equivalent to buildings of class E level V.”.

Amend and supplement Table H.11 as follows:

– Amend the symbol in column 6, class C, level IV, grade S0, S1 to “1,600”; in column 7, class C level IV, grade S0, S1 to “1600 3)”.

– Amend “12” in column 2, class E, level IV, grade S0, S1 to “Not specified”.

– Amend the symbol in column 7, class E, level IV, grade S0, S1 to “2200 4)”.

– Add 3) and 4) after 2) as follows:

“3) Maximum 4 floors (building height allowed up to 22 m). In case of 4-story warehouses, automatic firefighting must be provided.

4) Maximum 4 floors (building height allowed up to 22 m).”.

– Amend NOTE 1 as follows:

“NOTE 1: Where there is the symbol “-“, it is allowed to apply the standard document NFPA 5000 [1] or other equivalent standards to determine the maximum allowable height and area of one building floor within a fire compartment corresponding to the fire resistance limit of the building structures, components and other conditions.”.

– Add NOTE 3 as follows:

“NOTE 3: For parking garages of level IV and from 2 floors and above, in case the project/facility owner has no requirement for limiting damage to vehicles in the garage, it is allowed not to protect the floor slabs against fire provided that the evacuation staircases from the upper floors are arranged close to the building edge.”.

Amend Point H.5.2 as follows:

– Replace the phrase “rack frames, mezzanine floors” with the phrase “equipment supporting floors and mezzanine floors”.

– Replace the phrase “Table H.10” with the phrase “Table H.11”.

Amend the last bullet point of the second paragraph of Point H.6.2 as follows:

“- In buildings belonging to fire hazard groups by function F1.1, F1.2, F2 to F4 with atrium spaces for arranging open staircases, escalators, atriums and other functions, the area of one floor within a fire compartment is the total area of the lowest floor of the atrium space and of the corridors, walkways and rooms of all floors above the atrium space within the space separated as specified in paragraph b) of Point 4.35. In case of not being separated as specified in paragraph b) of Point 4.35, the area of one floor within a fire compartment is the total area of the corresponding floors.”.

Add Point H.7 as follows:

“H.7 Additional fire safety requirements in some other cases

H.7.1 In case the building part with a defined function (and ancillary functions for the main function) is separated into a separate fire compartment, the requirements of Appendix H are applied to that building part (fire compartment). Other independent functions are allowed to be arranged in the building parts above this fire compartment, when satisfying the conditions in Appendix H for that function.

H.7.2 In case the building has a number of floors (height) and area not specifically specified or limited in Appendix H, the standard document NFPA 5000 [1] or other standard documents can be applied to determine the maximum allowable height and area of one building floor within a fire compartment corresponding to the fire resistance limit of the building components, structures and other conditions (which must include conditions related to evacuation for people); or according to technical justifications.”.

Add REFERENCES after Appendix I as follows:

“REFERENCES

[1] NFPA 101 Life safety code, 15th edition. National fire protection association, 2021;

[2] NFPA 5000 Building construction and safety code. National fire protection association, 2021;

[3] NFPA Fire protection handbook, 21st edition. National fire protection association;

[4] SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 5th edition. Editor-in-Chief Morgan J. Hurley;

[5] Методика определения расчетных величин пожарного риска в зданиях, сооружениях и строениях различных классов функциональной пожарной опасности. МЧС России, 2022 (Guidelines for determining the calculated values of fire risk for buildings and structures with different classes of functional fire hazard. EMERCOM of Russia, 2022);

[6] Методика определения расчетных величин пожарного риска на производственных объектах. M4C Poccun, 2011 (Guidelines for determining the calculated values of fire risk at industrial facilities. EMERCOM of Russia, 2011);

[7] СП 1.13130.2020 Системы противопожарной защиты. Эвакуационные пути и выходы (SP 1.13330.2020 Fire protection systems. Evacuation routes and exits);

[8] СП 12.13330.2009 (с Изменения N 1). Определение категорий помещений, зданий и наружных установок по взрывопожарной и пожарной опасности (SP 12.13330.2009 (with Amendment 1) Categories of rooms, buildings and outdoor installations according to explosion and fire hazard);

[9] СИТИС-СПН-1 Пожарная нагрузка. Справочник, 2014 (SITIS-SPN-1 Fire load. Handbook, 2014);

[10] TCVN 3890:2023, Fire protection – Fire prevention and firefighting equipment for buildings and structures – Provision and arrangement;

[11] TCVN 8664 (ISO 14644), Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments;

[12] TCVN 9311-1:2012, Fire resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 1: General requirements;

[13] TCVN 9311-8:2012, Fire resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 8: Specific requirements for non-loadbearing vertical separating elements;

[14] TCVN 9383:2012, Fire resistance tests – Doors and shutters;

[15] TCVN 12695:2020 (ISO 1182), Reaction to fire tests for products – Non-combustibility test;

[16] ISO 834-10:2014, Fire resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 10: Specific requirements to determine the contribution of applied fire protection materials to structural steel elements;

[17] ISO 5657, Reaction to fire tests – Ignitability of building products using a radiant heat source;

[18] ISO 5658-2, Reaction to fire tests – Spread of flame – Part 2: Lateral spread on building and transport products in vertical configuration;

[19] ISO 5660-2, Reaction-to-fire tests – Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate – Part 2: Smoke production rate (dynamic measurement);

[20] ISO 6944, Fire containment – Elements of building construction;

[21] ISO 9239, Reaction to fire tests for floorings;

[22] ISO 13344:2015, Estimation of the lethal toxic potency of fire effluents;

[23] ISO 21925, Fire resistance tests – Fire dampers for air distribution systems.