ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES RELATED TO FIRE PREVENTION AND FIGHTING (PCCC) EFFECTIVE IN 2025

1. Legal Basis

- Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue No. 55/2024/QH15 dated November 29, 2024;

- Law No. 118/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 10 laws related to security and public order;

- Law on Construction No. 135/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025;

- Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP dated November 24, 2020 detailing a number of articles and measures for the implementation of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and its amendments;

- Decree No. 50/2024/NĐ-CP dated May 10, 2024 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP on rescue operations of fire prevention and fighting forces;

- Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2025 detailing a number of articles and measures for the implementation of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue.

2. Administrative Procedures on PCCC Effective in 2025

Some key administrative procedures on PCCC include:

a) Appraisal of fire prevention and fighting design;

b) Acceptance testing and inspection of fire prevention and fighting works;

c) Issuance of circulation permits for fire prevention and fighting equipment, rescue equipment, and fire-resistant materials and components;

d) Issuance of certificates of inspection for fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment;

e) Appraisal (approval) of fire prevention and fighting design for construction investment projects, works, and transport vehicles approved before July 1, 2025;

f) Acceptance testing of fire prevention and fighting for construction investment projects, works, and transport vehicles approved before July 1, 2025;

g) Settlement of policies and benefits for persons mobilized or participating in fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue who are not covered by health insurance or social insurance and suffer accidents or injuries;

h) Settlement of policies and benefits for persons mobilized or participating in fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue who are not covered by social insurance and die.

i) Restoration of operations of establishments, motor vehicles, households, and individuals.

3. Appraisal of Fire Prevention and Fighting (PCCC) Design

Pursuant to Clause 17, Article 2 of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue 2024, appraisal of PCCC design means the review and assessment of compliance with legal regulations, standards, and applicable technical regulations for fire prevention and fighting design in construction investment projects, works, and means of transport.

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 17 of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue 2024, the appraisal of PCCC design for construction investment projects, works, and means of transport (except for temporary works as prescribed by construction law) is carried out as follows:

a) The investment decision-maker shall organize the appraisal of the following contents:

- For techno-economic reports (economic–technical investment reports): Fire safety distances; roads, parking areas, and open spaces serving fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue activities; escape solutions; proposed fire resistance rating, fire compartmentation, and fire spread prevention solutions; smoke control solutions.;

- For feasibility study reports not subject to appraisal by specialized construction authorities under construction law but subject to PCCC design appraisal: Fire safety distances; roads, parking areas, and open spaces serving fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue activities; escape solutions; proposed fire resistance rating, fire compartmentation and fire spread prevention solutions; smoke control solutions; electrical systems serving PCCC; PCCC equipment and systems.

b) Specialized construction authorities shall organize the appraisal of the following contents:

- For projects subject to PCCC design appraisal when conducting appraisal of feasibility study reports under construction law: Fire safety distances; roads, parking areas, and open spaces serving fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue activities; escape solutions; proposed fire resistance rating, fire compartmentation and fire spread prevention solutions; smoke control solutions.

c) Registration authorities shall organize the appraisal of the following contents:

- When appraising designs under regulations on vehicle registration for means of transport subject to PCCC design appraisal: Fire compartmentation and fire spread prevention solutions; solutions ensuring fire safety for energy supply systems, fuel systems, and engines; systems and equipment for detecting leakage of flammable or explosive gases and liquids;

d) Police authorities shall organize the appraisal of the following contents:

- For techno-economic reports and post-approval construction designs of works subject to PCCC design appraisal: Electrical systems serving PCCC; PCCC equipment and systems;

- For means of transport subject to PCCC design appraisal: PCCC equipment and systems.

đ) Investors and owners of works shall organize the appraisal of the following contents:

- For post-approval construction designs of works not subject to appraisal by specialized construction authorities but subject to PCCC design appraisal by Police authorities: Fire safety distances; roads, parking areas, and open spaces serving fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue activities; escape solutions; proposed fire resistance rating, fire compartmentation and fire spread prevention solutions; smoke control solutions;

- For post-approval construction designs of works not subject to PCCC design appraisal by Police authorities: Electrical systems serving PCCC; PCCC equipment and systems.

4. Acceptance Testing and Inspection of Acceptance for Fire Prevention and Fighting (PCCC)

Pursuant to Clauses 18 and 19, Article 2 of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue 2024:

Acceptance testing of PCCC means the inspection and comparison of the actual construction/installation of construction investment projects, works, and means of transport against the approved (appraised) design dossiers.

Inspection of PCCC acceptance means the competent specialized authority’s review of the results of PCCC acceptance for construction investment projects, works, and means of transport.

4.1. PCCC Acceptance Testing

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 18 of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue 2024, investors, owners of works, and owners of means of transport shall organize PCCC acceptance testing in accordance with the following provisions:

a) Conduct acceptance testing for PCCC by parts, stages, items, systems, and upon completion of construction;

b) For concealed parts of works or means of transport, PCCC acceptance must be conducted before proceeding to subsequent construction steps;

c) Decide on partial acceptance of works or items where such parts or items are capable of independent operation and ensure compliance with PCCC safety conditions.

4.2. Inspection of PCCC Acceptance

Pursuant to Clause 5, Article 18 of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue 2024, inspection of PCCC acceptance is conducted as follows:

a) Specialized construction authorities shall conduct inspection of PCCC acceptance prior to putting works, parts of works, or construction items into operation, for those already appraised for PCCC design by such authorities under Point b, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law and subject to construction quality acceptance inspection under construction law;

b) Registration authorities shall conduct inspection of PCCC acceptance for means of transport that have previously undergone PCCC design appraisal by such authorities under Point c, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law, during the inspection and issuance of the Certificate of Technical Safety and Environmental Protection;

c) Police authorities shall conduct inspection of PCCC acceptance for works, parts of works, construction items, and means of transport that have previously undergone PCCC design appraisal by the Police under Point d, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law.

5. Issuance of Circulation Permits for PCCC and Rescue Equipment, and Fire-Resistant Materials and Components

Pursuant to Article 23 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP:

Fire prevention and fighting equipment, rescue equipment, and fire-resistant materials and components listed in Appendix V of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP must obtain a circulation permit from a competent authority before being marketed.

For PCCC and rescue equipment not included in the Appendix, they must comply with regulations on product quality management and labeling in accordance with the law on product and goods quality and other relevant legal provisions.

6. Issuance of Certificates of Inspection for Fire Prevention and Fighting (PCCC) and Rescue Equipment

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 46 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP, the issuance of certificates of inspection for PCCC equipment, as well as the management and use of inspection stamps for such equipment, shall continue to be implemented until June 30, 2026.

Inspection of PCCC equipment means a procedure carried out by competent authorities or organizations to examine, evaluate, and certify the conformity of PCCC equipment with requirements specified in applicable technical regulations, standards, or fire safety requirements as guided by the Ministry of Public Security.

PCCC equipment listed in Appendix VII issued together with Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP, if newly manufactured, assembled, modified domestically, or imported, must undergo inspection and be granted a Certificate of Inspection before being circulated on the market.

•  Inspection contents:

(i) Inspection of types and models of PCCC equipment;

(ii) Inspection of technical parameters related to product quality.

•  Inspection methods:

(i) Examination of quantity, origin, manufacturing time, serial number, and technical specifications of the equipment;

(ii)  Examination of types and models of equipment;

(iii) Inspection, testing, experimentation, and quality assessment of PCCC equipment samples.

Samples for inspection shall be selected randomly in accordance with sampling methods prescribed in relevant technical regulations and standards. In the absence of such regulations or standards, foreign or international standards permitted for application in Vietnam may be applied. Results of inspections conducted by foreign authorities or organizations licensed by competent authorities in their respective countries may be accepted as a basis for granting inspection certificates;

(iv) Evaluation of results and preparation of inspection records (Form No. PC25).

7. Appraisal (Approval) of PCCC Design for Projects Approved Before July 1, 2025

Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 46 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP, for construction investment projects, works, and means of transport that have been granted a PCCC design appraisal certificate by the Police authority, if design adjustments are made during construction, the appraisal of such adjustments shall continue to be carried out in accordance with Article 13 and Article 14 of Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP and Clause 5, Article 1 of Decree No. 50/2024/NĐ-CP.

Construction planning; design for new construction, renovation, or change of use of projects and works; and the design of motor vehicles with special requirements for ensuring fire safety in cases of new manufacture or modification, regardless of investment capital sources, must comply with regulations, technical codes, and standards on PCCC. Design dossiers for construction projects, works, and motor vehicles specified in Appendix V issued together with Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP must be prepared by qualified entities in accordance with the law and must be subject to PCCC design appraisal.

PCCC design appraisal means the competent authority’s review and comparison of design solutions and contents of projects, works, and motor vehicles with special fire safety requirements against applicable technical regulations, standards, relevant Vietnamese laws on PCCC, or permitted foreign/international PCCC standards, in accordance with prescribed legal procedures.

The result of PCCC design appraisal serves as one of the bases for consideration and approval of planning, project approval, construction design appraisal, and issuance of construction permits.

8. PCCC Acceptance for Projects Approved Before July 1, 2025

Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 46 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP, for construction investment projects, works, and means of transport that have been granted a PCCC design appraisal certificate by the Police authority but have not yet obtained approval of PCCC acceptance results, the acceptance and inspection of PCCC acceptance results shall continue to be carried out in accordance with Article 15 of Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP and Clause 7, Article 1 of Decree No. 50/2024/NĐ-CP.

Projects, works, and motor vehicles with special requirements for fire safety that have undergone PCCC design appraisal must be subject to PCCC acceptance organized by the investor or vehicle owner. The investor or vehicle owner must request the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police authority that previously conducted the appraisal to inspect the acceptance results and issue a written approval before the works or vehicles are put into operation.

PCCC acceptance includes acceptance by parts, stages, items, systems, and final handover acceptance. For concealed parts of works or motor vehicles with special fire safety requirements, acceptance must be conducted before proceeding to subsequent construction steps. The investor may decide on partial acceptance of a work where the accepted portion is capable of independent operation and ensures PCCC safety conditions; however, such portion must be inspected and approved in writing by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police authority before being put into operation.

9. Policies and Benefits for Persons Mobilized or Participating in PCCC and Rescue (Not Covered by Health or Social Insurance) Who Are Injured

Policies and benefits are specified in detail in Article 33 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP.

(i) Medical examination and treatment support:

Persons mobilized or participating in fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue who suffer accidents or injuries during their participation are entitled to reimbursement of medical examination and treatment expenses and daily meal allowances during inpatient treatment until recovery and discharge. The support level is equivalent to that applicable to members of local security and order protection teams as decided by the provincial People’s Council.

(ii) Allowances based on working capacity reduction:

Persons whose working capacity is reduced due to accidents or injuries are entitled to either a lump-sum allowance or monthly allowance, and caregiving allowance, depending on the degree of working capacity reduction as concluded by a Medical Assessment Council.

The allowance level is equivalent to that provided to employees suffering occupational accidents not entirely caused by their own fault, in accordance with laws on occupational safety and hygiene.

10. Policies and Benefits for Persons Participating in PCCC and Rescue (Not Covered by Social Insurance) Who Die

Policies and benefits are specified in Article 34 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP, persons who are not covered by social insurance, or who have received a one-time social insurance payment, and die due to participation in PCCC and rescue or during initial treatment for related accidents, shall have their relatives supported as follows:

(i) Relatives are entitled to either a lump-sum survivor allowance equivalent to the lump-sum benefit applicable in cases of death due to occupational accidents under the law on occupational safety and hygiene, or a monthly survivor allowance equivalent to that provided to persons currently participating in social insurance in accordance with social insurance law. Eligibility conditions for either the lump-sum or monthly survivor allowance must comply with the requirements applicable to relatives under social insurance law for insured persons;

(ii) Relatives organizing the funeral are entitled to funeral expense support. The level of payment shall be equivalent to the funeral allowance applicable to persons participating in social insurance in accordance with social insurance law;

(iii) In cases where the person dies during the initial course of treatment due to an accident occurring while participating in fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue activities, the relatives are entitled to reimbursement of medical examination and treatment expenses in accordance with Clauses 1 and 3, Article 33 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP.

11. Restoration of Operations of Establishments, Motor Vehicles, Households, and Individuals

Pursuant to Point b, Clause 5, Article 46 of Decree No. 105/2025/NĐ-CP; Article 18 of Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP; and Clause 10, Article 1 of Decree No. 50/2024/NĐ-CP:

Heads of Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Divisions, Heads of district-level Police, and Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees, depending on their authority, shall issue decisions on the restoration of operations for cases previously subject to suspension or temporary suspension.

During or upon the expiration of a temporary suspension period, if the risk of fire or explosion has been eliminated or violations have been remedied, the head of the establishment, vehicle owner, household, or individual must submit a written request for restoration of operations (Form No. PC15) to the authority that issued the suspension decision for consideration.

For establishments, motor vehicles, households, or individuals that were subject to full suspension, once all PCCC safety conditions are satisfied and operations are intended to resume, a written request (Form No. PC15) must be submitted to the competent authority that issued the suspension decision for review and approval.

In general, administrative procedures related to fire prevention and fighting are not merely rigid legal requirements but also essential tools for enhancing compliance awareness, ensuring safety, and minimizing fire and explosion risks across all sectors of life. Understanding and properly implementing these procedures is a crucial step—not only to protect the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals but also to contribute to building a safe and sustainable society. For every enterprise, authority, and citizen, proactively complying with PCCC procedures reflects responsibility and a strong legal culture in modern society.