The latest Circular on National Technical Regulations (QCVN) on fire safety for houses and buildings has been issued. Besides the problems that have been resolved, this standard, according to experts, is still inadequate. In addition, regulations in the field of fire prevention and fighting also face a similar situation regarding enforcement issues by businesses.
1. Inadequacies in the inspection of fire prevention and fighting equipment, supplies and means
Strict standards, equipment quality, and supplier capabilities make it difficult for businesses to meet requirements. To implement, businesses have to import products from European countries, causing high costs and complicated ordering and import procedures.
According to the process, businesses need to gather enough documents to submit to the inspection agency. After accepting the process, the inspection agency will send a team to carry out the operation. Or businesses have to transport equipment to an inspection agency, especially in cases where specific equipment such as pumps, system motors, etc. are very dangerous to transport. The problem lies in the fact that the current inspection staff is very limited (just over 20 people). Meanwhile, the inspection agency must carry out inspection work nationwide.
The above process wastes time, money and business opportunities for many businesses.
2. Regulations on fire compartment area
According to experts, this is also content that needs to be removed. In practice, for factories with 3 floors or more, concrete columns and concrete floors must be used to ensure fire resistance. This regulation causes construction costs to increase instead of using steel frame structures which have many advantages such as convenience, quick construction, good bearing capacity,…
With the general trend of optimizing space, building multi-storey factories… The above regulations have been an obstacle that makes investors afraid.
3. Smoke protection regulations
Businesses that produce non-flammable materials are now also required to comply with regulations regarding ventilation and smoke protection systems. This regulation causes businesses to not only incur investment, operation and maintenance costs, but also incur inspection procedures during the construction process. Businesses have increased investment capital, spending time and money to get fire prevention and fighting approved.
4. The entanglement between new and old regulations
Many businesses that rent factories in industrial parks should have an appraisal record and have been licensed to build and are currently under construction. But when the new regulation is adjusted, the inspection agency does not agree to accept the test according to the old appraisal.
In order to complete the procedure, the enterprise must adjust and approve the fire prevention and fighting system. After that, the enterprise must adjust the construction structure because it is related to the structure of the fire compartment while the project is under construction. Another difficulty for businesses is that re-licensing is not easy to do.
5. There are many other difficulties that “suffocate” businesses
In fact, the standards are difficult to apply and then repeat. For example, importing equipment that has been inspected by the customs authority, etc. Then must be checked according to Vietnamese standards, then stamped.
Because of the concern when many fires occur, fire prevention regulations are so strict that they “suffocate” businesses. According to experts, if tightening is too tight without foundation and reality, it will affect economic efficiency.
(Refer to the Securities Investment Newspaper dated 15/5/2023)
Harley Miller Law Firm “HMLF”
Head office: 14th floor, HM Town building, 412 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 05, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Phone number: +84 937215585
Website: hmlf.vn Email: miller@hmlf.vn
