The period of time the building or structure is expected to be used, ensuring safety and functional requirements without the need for major structural repairs.
The activity of replacing, reinforcing, restoring structural parts or components or strengthening the foundation to bring them back to a normal working state.
NOTE: The repair and replacement of enclosure, decoration, finishing, and protective layers of the structure during maintenance are not considered major repairs.
The rated group characteristic of a building or structure, determined by the intended use and specific usage characteristics of the building or structure, including the characteristics of the technological processes of production in that building or structure.
The combination of parts and components of a building or structure that withstand all loads and effects on the building or structure, and ensure the strength, rigidity and stability of the building or structure.
The ability of a building or structure to preserve the strength, physical and other properties specified in the design and to ensure normal use of the building or structure throughout its design service life.
The rated characteristic of a building or structure, determined by the degree to which the building structure contributes to the development of a fire and the formation of hazardous fire factors.
The rated characteristic of a building or structure, depending on the intended use of the building or structure, as well as the extent of harm to people, social, environmental and economic consequences when the structure is damaged or destroyed.
The rated characteristic of a building or structure, determined by the fire resistance limits of the structures and components used to construct that building or structure.
QCVN 03:2022/BXD CLASSIFICASIONS OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES FOR DESIGN
Foreword
QCVN 03:2022/BXD is implemented in accordance with the provisions of point b, clause 2, Article 5 of the Construction Law No. 50/2014/QH13, which has been amended and supplemented in clause 3, Article 1 of Law No. 62/2020/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Construction Law.
QCVN 03:2022/BXD was compiled by the Institute of Construction Science and Technology, submitted by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and promulgated by the Ministry of Construction in conjunction with Circular No. 05/TT-BXD dated November 30, 2022 by the Minister of Construction.
QCVN 03:2022/BXD replaces QCVN 03:2012/BXD promulgated in conjunction with Circular No. 12/2012/TT-BXD dated December 28, 2012 by the Minister of Construction.
1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1 Scope
1.1.1 This regulation stipulates the classification of buildings and structures according to the following criteria:
a) Consequences due to damage or destruction of the building or structure (hereinafter referred to as consequence class);
b) Design service life of the building or structure;
c) Technical classifications for fire safety of the building or structure (or parts thereof, hereinafter collectively referred to as the building or structure), including: fire resistance rating, fire hazard class of structure, and occupancy fire hazard group.
1.1.2 This regulation is applied to determine the technical and economic solutions in the design of civil, industrial, technical infrastructure and other building-type structures.
1.1.3 This regulation is applied in the design of new construction of buildings and structures specified in 1.1.2 of this regulation, and is recommended for application in the design of renovation of existing buildings and structures.
1.2 Applicable Entities
This regulation applies to organizations and individuals involved in construction investment activities in Vietnam.
1.3 Definitions
In this regulation, the following terms and definitions shall be understood as follows:
1.3.1Fire Resistance Rating
The rated characteristic of a building or structure, determined by the fire resistance limits of the structures and components used to construct that building or structure.
1.3.2Consequence Class
The rated characteristic of a building or structure, depending on the intended use of the building or structure, as well as the extent of harm to people, social, environmental and economic consequences when the structure is damaged or destroyed.
1.3.3Fire Hazard Class of Building or Structure
The rated characteristic of a building or structure, determined by the degree to which the building structure contributes to the development of a fire and the formation of hazardous fire factors.
1.3.4Durability
The ability of a building or structure to preserve the strength, physical and other properties specified in the design and to ensure normal use of the building or structure throughout its design service life.
1.3.5Building or Structure
The combination of parts and components of a building or structure that withstand all loads and effects on the building or structure, and ensure the strength, rigidity and stability of the building or structure.
1.3.6Occupancy Fire Hazard Group of Building or Structure
The rated group characteristic of a building or structure, determined by the intended use and specific usage characteristics of the building or structure, including the characteristics of the technological processes of production in that building or structure.
1.3.7Major Repair (for building or structure)
The activity of replacing, reinforcing, restoring structural parts or components or strengthening the foundation to bring them back to a normal working state.
NOTE: The repair and replacement of enclosure, decoration, finishing, and protective layers of the structure during maintenance are not considered major repairs.
1.3.8Design Service Life of Building or Structure
The period of time the building or structure is expected to be used, ensuring safety and functional requirements without the need for major structural repairs.
2 TECHNICAL PROVISIONS
2.1 Consequence Class of Building or Structure
2.1.1 The consequence class of a building or structure is divided into three levels: C1 (low), C2 (medium), and C3 (high), as specified in Appendix A of this regulation and determined in the construction design task of the building or structure.
2.1.2 The structure and foundation of a building or structure shall be designed in accordance with the consequence class of the building or structure specified in this regulation and the selected design standards.
2.1.3 Depending on the type of structure and specific design situations, the consequence class of certain structural parts or components may differ from the consequence class of the building or structure as a whole.
2.2 Design Service Life of Building or Structure
2.2.1 Depending on the function of the building or structure in the construction investment project, the operational environment, and the project’s operation period (if any), the design service life of the building or structure must be determined in the construction design task.
2.2.2 The design service life of a building or structure is divided into four levels as shown in Table 1. The investment decision-maker or project owner may use these levels to determine the design service life of the building or structure in the construction design task.
Table 1 – Design Service Life of Building or Structure
Level
Design Service Life of Building or Structure 1)
Building or Structure
1
Less than 25 years
Buildings and structures specified in A.2, Appendix A of this regulation.
2
Not less than 25 years
Buildings and structures directly exposed to strong corrosive environments 2) (chemicals, marine environments), excluding temporary structures.
3
Not less than 50 years
Civil, industrial, technical infrastructure and other building-type structures not belonging to levels 1, 2 and 4 in this table.
4
Not less than 100 years
Unique buildings and structures of architectural value or important symbolic significance (National Museums, National Artifact Repositories, National or International Competition Stadiums, National Theaters, landmark structures with unique architecture in localities, and similar structures).
1) The design service life of certain separate structural parts and enclosure components may differ from the design service life of the building or structure. 2) Determined according to the environmental corrosivity classification scale in relevant standards.
2.2.3 The structure of a building or structure must be designed according to the selected standards to ensure durability corresponding to the design service life of the building or structure, taking into account the following factors:
– Operational conditions according to intended use;
– Influence of the surrounding environment;
– Properties of the materials used, measures to protect them from adverse environmental impacts, and potential degradation of material properties.
2.3 Technical Classification for Fire Safety of Building or Structure
2.3.1 The technical classification for fire safety of a building or structure aims to establish fire safety requirements when designing fire protection systems for the building or structure, depending on its intended use and fire hazard characteristics.
NOTE: The fire safety concepts in 2.3 are defined in QCVN 06:2022/BXD.
2.3.2 The technical classification for fire safety of a building or structure is based on the following criteria:
a) Fire resistance rating;
b) Fire hazard class of structure;
c) Occupancy fire hazard group.
2.3.3 The fire resistance rating of a building or structure is divided into 5 levels: I, II, III, IV, and V; depending on the number of stories (or the firefighting height of the building or structure), the occupancy fire hazard group, the area of the fire compartment, and the fire hazard of the technological processes occurring in the building or structure.
NOTE: For apartment buildings over 75 m in height and public buildings over 50 m in height, QCVN 06:2022/BXD specifies separate requirements for the fire resistance limits of structures and components.
2.3.4 The fire hazard class of a building or structure is divided into 4 levels: S0, S1, S2, and S3; based on the fire hazard of the components.
2.3.5 Buildings or structures are divided into 5 occupancy fire hazard groups: F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5; depending on their usage characteristics and the level of threat to human safety in the event of a fire, considering: age, physical condition, possibility of sleeping occupants, main occupancy group, and number of people in that group.
2.3.6 The fire resistance rating, fire hazard class of structure, and occupancy fire hazard group of a building or structure are determined according to QCVN 06:2022/BXD.
3 IMPLEMENTATION
3.1 Transitional Provisions
3.1.1 Construction investment projects approved before the effective date of this regulation shall continue to be implemented in accordance with the provisions at the time of approval.
3.1.2 Construction investment projects approved from the effective date of this regulation shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
3.1.3 Specifically for fire safety, construction investment projects shall be transitioned in accordance with the provisions of QCVN 06:2022/BXD.
3.2 State management agencies for construction in localities are responsible for organizing the inspection of compliance with this regulation in the formulation, appraisal, approval, and management of construction design.
3.3 The Ministry of Construction is responsible for disseminating and guiding the application of this regulation to relevant entities. During the implementation of this regulation, if there are any difficulties, all comments should be sent to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment of the Ministry of Construction for guidance and resolution.
APPENDIX ACONSEQUENCE CLASS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS
A.1 Structures of Class C3
A.1.1 Structures with high occupant density
A.1.1.1 Airport terminals (main terminals).
A.1.1.2 Conference centers, theaters, cultural houses, clubs, cinemas, circuses, dance halls, and similar cultural structures with high occupant density and a total capacity of over 1,200 seats.
A.1.1.3 Shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, and similar multi-story service buildings with high occupant density and a total business floor area exceeding 30,000 m2.
A.1.1.4 Stadium stands or outdoor sports arena stands (and stand roofs, if any) with a capacity of over 5,000 seats.
A.1.1.5 Sports competition buildings with stands having a capacity of over 5,000 seats.
A.1.1.6 Hospital buildings with a total of 500 or more hospital beds in that building.
A.1.2 Structures with potential to cause environmental pollution or economic damage in case of incidents
A.1.2.1 Main structures in facilities for production, processing, use, storage, preservation, treatment, or disposal of radioactive substances or explosives with the risk of leakage or explosion.
A.1.2.2 Main structures in facilities for production, processing, use, storage, preservation, treatment, or disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals with the risk of leakage or fire and explosion.
A.1.2.3 Main structures in facilities: oil refineries, petrochemical plants, gas processing plants, gas supply stations (LPG, CNG, LNG), biofuel production plants, crude oil storage, gasoline and oil storage, liquefied gas storage, liquefied gas filling stations, gas distribution; gas and oil pipelines with the risk of incidents causing harm to people or high economic or environmental consequences.
A.1.2.4 Main structures of thermal power plants with a capacity of 150 MW or more.
A.1.3 Structures of political and social significance
A.1.3.1 National Assembly Building, Presidential Palace, Government Headquarters, Party Central Committee Headquarters.
A.1.3.2 National museums, libraries, exhibition halls, and display buildings.
A.1.4 Structures of large scale
A.1.4.1 Building-type structures with a height exceeding 75 m.
NOTE: The height of a building-type structure is measured from the ground level where the structure is located to the highest point of the structure (including the stairwell, sloped roof if any; excluding technical equipment such as antenna masts, lightning rods, solar energy equipment, metal water tanks, etc., if any). For structures located on ground with different elevations, the height is measured from the lowest ground level.
A.1.4.2 Columns, piers, or towers with a height exceeding 75 m.
NOTE: The height of a column, pier, or tower structure is measured from the ground level where the structure is located or from the foundation level of the structure, whichever is higher, to the top of the column, pier, or tower structure (excluding technical equipment on top of the column, pier, or tower, if any). For structures located on ground with different elevations, the height is measured from the lowest ground level.
A.1.4.3 Tank-type structures or silos with a height exceeding 75 m or a storage capacity greater than 15,000 m3.
A.1.4.4 Structures with spans of 100 m or more.
A.1.4.5 Underground structures of civil and technical infrastructure works in urban areas with a depth of 18 m or more.
NOTE: The underground depth of a structure is measured from the ground level where the structure is located to the bottom floor level.
A.1.5 Other structures as decided by the investment decision-maker or the construction project owner
NOTE: Dikes, dams, retaining walls, embankments, and similar pressure-resistant structures are classified according to other specialized technical regulations and standards.
A.2 Structures of Class C1
A.2.1 Single-story private residential houses using low-durability materials (slag bricks, slag lime, porous stone, soil, bamboo, leaves, and similar materials).
A.2.2 Single-story buildings used for: temporary living quarters, temporary event organization, small to medium-scale outdoor cultural and service activities; temporary processing and production; temporary storage.
A.2.3 Mobile container-type or prefabricated buildings used for temporary purposes.
