Houses in alleys in 5 centrally-run cities must be equipped with fire extinguishers.

On November 29, the National Assembly voted to pass the Law on Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue with 93.53% of National Assembly deputies in favor.

Before the National Assembly voted to pass the Law, Mr. Le Tan Toi, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security, presented a report explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue.

Accordingly, on November 1, 2024, the National Assembly discussed in the Hall the draft Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue (PCCC and CNCH). Based on the opinions of the National Assembly deputies, the National Assembly Standing Committee directed the study, reception, and revision of the draft Law and the preparation of a Report on explanation, reception, and revision. The opinions of the National Assembly deputies were all carefully studied for explanation, reception, and were fully and comprehensively expressed in the draft Law and the Report on explanation, reception, and revision.

Mr. Toi said that in the process of receiving and revising, the National Assembly Standing Committee directed the implementation of Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW, the direction of General Secretary To Lam and the direction of the National Assembly Chairman on implementing innovative solutions in the process of receiving and revising the draft law, ensuring that the provisions are clear, substantive, concise, easy to understand, easy to implement, not overlapping with the content stipulated in other laws, not general, stipulating the contents within the authority of the National Assembly, closely following reality, ensuring feasibility; strengthening decentralization and delegation of power associated with clearly defining the tasks and powers of agencies, organizations and individuals in the state apparatus, improving implementation capacity.

At the same time, thoroughly cut and simplify administrative procedures and business conditions for fire prevention and fighting services (27 administrative procedures have been cut, from 37 current administrative procedures to 10 administrative procedures), reduce compliance costs, create the highest convenience for people and businesses; do not stipulate in the law the contents of administrative procedures, procedures, and records, but assign the Government and Ministries to regulate according to their authority to flexibly and promptly amend and supplement when necessary, creating favorable conditions for decentralization in accordance with reality and meeting the requirements of administrative reform.

Delegates vote to pass the Law (Photo: Quang Vinh)

Regarding the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, households and individuals in fire prevention, fire fighting, rescue and relief activities (Article 8), there are opinions suggesting that facilities only need to assign people to perform fire prevention and fighting and search and rescue tasks, and facilities must establish a facility fire prevention and fighting and search and rescue team and a specialized fire prevention and fighting and search and rescue team.

Regarding this issue, according to Mr. Toi, in Clause 4, Article 37 of the draft Law, it is assigned that "The Government stipulates that establishments must establish a Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Team for establishments, and establishments must establish a specialized Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Team". As for establishments that are not included in the above two lists, they are not required to establish a Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting and Rescue Team for establishments or a specialized Fire Prevention and Rescue Team; in case a Fire Prevention and Rescue Team is not established, it is required to assign people to perform Fire Prevention and Rescue tasks at that establishment.

Regarding fire prevention for houses (Article 20), the Standing Committee of the National Assembly stated that: For houses in urban areas with very high population density, crowded, in alleys, deep lanes, not ensuring traffic infrastructure or water source for fire fighting according to the provisions of law and technical standards in fire fighting activities, mainly in large cities (cities directly under the Central Government) and due to previous planning and construction history. To protect people's lives and property, ensure feasibility and suitability with current socio-economic conditions of localities, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly proposed that the National Assembly allow regulations requiring the equipment of fire extinguishers, fire alarm transmission equipment according to the roadmap prescribed by the Government for houses in areas that do not ensure traffic infrastructure or water source for fire fighting in 5 centrally-run cities. As for houses in other areas, it is recommended to equip fire alarm transmission equipment, connect to the database system on fire prevention and fighting, search and rescue and fire alarm transmission.

There is a proposal to add a provision on fire prevention for houses after their functions are converted to business purposes such as karaoke, bars, and dance halls. For houses that want to convert their functions such as karaoke, bars, and dance halls, they must follow the procedure for converting functions and renovating houses according to the provisions of the law on construction. In case the house is converted into a facility (subject to fire prevention and fighting management), it must ensure fire prevention and fighting safety conditions for the facility as prescribed in Article 23 of the draft Law. On the other hand, Clause 8, Article 14 of the draft Law stipulates the prohibition of converting or adding functions to the use of works and construction items that do not ensure fire prevention and fighting safety. Therefore, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly proposes that the National Assembly not add this provision to Article 20 of the draft Law.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/nha-o-trong-ngo-tai-5-thanh-pho-truc-thuoc-trung-uong-phai-trang-bi-binh-chua-chay-10295493.html