CIRCULAR

ON PROVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND FIGHTING AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES, INTERNAL FIREFIGHTING FORCES AND SPECIALIZED FIREFIGHTING FORCES

Pursuant to the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting dated June 29, 2001 and  Law on Amendments to Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting dated November 22, 2013;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 83/2017/ND-CP dated July 18, 2017 on rescue operations by fire departments;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 01/2018/ND-CP dated August 06, 2018 on functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;  

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP dated November 24, 2020 providing guidelines for a number of Articles of Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and Law on Amendments to Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting;

At the request of the Director General of Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue;

The Minister of Public Security hereby promulgates a Circular on provision of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces.

...

...

...

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope

This Circular provides for lists and quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces, and funding and responsibility of relevant regulatory bodies, organizations and individuals for such provision.

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Circular is applicable to:

1. Neighborhood watches;

2. Internal firefighting forces;

3. Specialized firefighting forces;

4. Police authorities;

...

...

...

Article 3. Rules for provision of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces

1. Comply with the regulations herein and other relevant regulations of law.

2. Ensure quality and efficiency of fire prevention and fighting and rescue operations of neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces.

3. Ensure that the equipment meet applicable standards, is used for the intended purpose and is provided for the intended users.

4. Provide the equipment as appropriate to local budget capacity and funding capacity of facilities.

Chapter II

PROVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND FIGHTING AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES, INTERNAL FIREFIGHTING FORCES AND SPECIALIZED FIREFIGHTING FORCES

Article 4. List and quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for neighborhood watches

1. List and quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for 01 neighborhood watch are included in Appendix 1 enclosed therewith.

...

...

...

3. Based on list and quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for 01 neighborhood watch in Appendix I enclosed therewith and actual requirements for fire prevention and fighting and rescue operations of each commune-level administrative unit under their management, police authorities shall advise the People's Committee at the same level to propose quantity of required fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment and other necessary equipment provided for neighborhood watches to the People's Council at the same level for consideration and decision.

Article 5. List and quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces

1. List and quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces are included in Appendix II and Appendix III enclosed therewith. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth equipment mentioned in Appendix II and Appendix III shall be provided based on the number of members of each force but no lower than the required quantity and as suitable for the fire and explosion hazards faced by each facility.

2. For facilities equipped with specialized motor vehicles for fire prevention and fighting and rescue operations, type and quantity of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for these motor vehicles shall conform to applicable standards and regulations.

3. Based on characteristics of business operations and requirements for fire prevention and fighting and rescue operations of facilities under their management, heads of supervisory bodies of facilities shall consider and decide quantities of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces according to regulations in Appendix II and Appendix III enclosed therewith, and consider and decide to provide specific equipment for titles of neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces while they are on duty.

4. Besides the lists of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment provided for internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces included in Appendix II and Appendix III enclosed with this Circular, based on characteristics and levels of fire and explosion hazards faced by facilities under their management and funding capacity, heads of supervisory bodies of facilities may decide to provide other necessary fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment mentioned in Appendix VI enclosed with Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP for internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces under their management.

Article 6. Funding for provision of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces

1. Provision of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to neighborhood watches shall be funded according to regulations in Points b and c Clause 4 Article 48 of Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP and Point c Clause 1 Article 29 and Clause 2 Article 42 of Decree No. 83/2017/ND-CP.

2. Heads of supervisory bodies of facilities shall ensure funding for provision of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces according to regulations in Clause 2 Article 31 of Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP and Point b Clause 1 Article 29 and Clause 2 Article 42 of Decree No. 83/2017/ND-CP.

...

...

...

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 7. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect from February 20, 2021 and supersedes Circular No. 56/2014/TT-BCA.

2. Neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces provided with fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment in quantity equal to or higher than the required quantity stated in this Circular before the entry into force of this Circular may continue to use this amount of equipment until replacement is needed; otherwise, they shall be provided with fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment according to regulations of this Circular. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to invest in fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to promote privatization of fire prevention and fighting operations.

Article 8. Implementation responsibilities

1. Director General of Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue shall direct, inspect and expedite implementation of this Circular.

2. Provincial police authorities shall:

a) Provide guidelines for compliance with regulations on provision of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment to neighborhood watches, internal firefighting forces and specialized firefighting forces, inspect such compliance and submit an annual report to the Ministry of Public Security (via Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue) at the end of November every year.

...

...

...

c) Advise the People's Committee at the same level on promulgation of regulations on management and use of fire prevention and fighting and rescue equipment for neighborhood watches of localities under their management, including regulations on equipment management and use; responsibilities of commune-level People’s Committees and neighborhood watches provided with and using the equipment; requirements for and responsibilities of equipment users; requirements for and responsibilities of equipment storage managers; titles of neighborhood watches permitted to use the equipment and types of equipment provided and used; and other relevant matters.

3. Heads of entities affiliated to the Ministry of Public Security, heads of provincial police authorities and relevant organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.

Any difficulty arising during the implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Ministry of Public Security (via Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue) for timely guidance./.

THE MINISTER




General To Lam

APPENDIX I

LIST AND QUANTITIES OF FIRE PREVENTION AND FIGHTING AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR 01 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

...

...

...

NO.

LIST

QUANTITY

UNIT

SERVICE LIFE

1

Portable dry powder fire extinguisher with extinguishant weight of at least 04 kg

05

Piece

...

...

...

2

Portable gaseous agent fire extinguisher with extinguishant weight of at least 03 kg or portable water fire extinguisher with extinguishant volume of at least 06 liters

05

Piece

Provided by manufacturer

3

Flashlight (200 lm brightness, IPX4 water resistance)

02

Piece

...

...

...

4

Fire axe (2 kg in weight, 90 cm handle, high-carbon steel) 

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

5

Crowbar (one sharp end, one flattened end; 100 cm in length)

01

Piece

...

...

...

6

Sledgehammer (high-carbon steel, 5 kg in weight, 50 cm handle)

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

7

Bolt cutter (60 cm in length, cutting load of 60 kg)

01

Piece

...

...

...

8

Type A first aid kit (According to Circular No. 19/2016/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2016 by Minister of Health)

01

Kit

Replaced when damaged

9

Stretcher (186 cm x 51 cm x 17 cm; load capacity of 160 kg).

01

Piece

...

...

...

APPENDIX II

LIST AND QUANTITIES OF FIRE PREVENTION AND FIGHTING AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR 01 INTERNAL FIREFIGHTING FORCE

(Enclosed with Circular No. 150/2020/TT-BCA dated 31/12/2020 by Minister of Public Security)

NO.

LIST

QUANTITY

UNIT

SERVICE LIFE

...

...

...

For facilities mentioned in Appendix II of Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP

1

Portable dry powder fire extinguishers with extinguishant weight of at least 04 kg

03

05

Piece

Provided by manufacturer

2

...

...

...

03

05

Piece

Provided by manufacturer

3

Firefighting/Rescue hat

03

05

Piece

...

...

...

4

Firefighting/Rescue clothing

03

05

Set

Replaced when damaged

5

Firefighting/Rescue gloves

03

...

...

...

Pair

Replaced when damaged

6

Firefighting/Rescue shoes/boots

03

05

Pair

Replaced when damaged

7

...

...

...

03

05

Piece

Replaced when damaged

8

Flashlight (200lm brightness, IPX4 water resistance)

01

02

Piece

...

...

...

9

Fire axe (2 kg in weight, 90 cm handle, high-carbon steel) 

01

02

Piece

Replaced when damaged

10

Crowbar (one sharp end, one flattened end; 100 cm in length)

01

...

...

...

Piece

Replaced when damaged

11

Sledgehammer (high-carbon steel, 5 kg in weight, 50 cm handle)

01

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

12

...

...

...

01

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

13

Type A first aid kit (According to Circular No. 19/2016/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2016 by Minister of Health)

01

02

Kit

...

...

...

14

Stretcher (186 cm x 51 cm x 17 cm; load capacity of 160 kg).

-

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

15

Handheld transceiver (meeting IP54 standard)

-

...

...

...

Piece

Replaced when damaged

APPENDIX III

LIST AND QUANTITIES OF FIRE PREVENTION AND FIGHTING AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR 01 SPECIALIZED FIREFIGHTING FORCE

(Enclosed with Circular No. 150/2020/TT-BCA dated 31/12/2020 by Minister of Public Security)

NO.

LIST

QUANTITY

...

...

...

SERVICE LIFE

1

Portable dry powder fire extinguisher with extinguishant weight of at least 04 kg

10

Piece

Provided by manufacturer

2

Portable gaseous agent fire extinguisher with extinguishant weight of at least 03 kg or portable water fire extinguisher with extinguishant volume of at least 06 liters

10

...

...

...

Provided by manufacturer

3

Firefighting/Rescue hat

10

Piece

Replaced when damaged

4

Firefighting/Rescue clothing

10

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

5

Firefighting/Rescue gloves

10

Pair

Replaced when damaged

6

Firefighting/Rescue shoes/boots

10

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

7

Respirator (meeting national technical regulations 10:2012/BLDTBXH)

10

Piece

Replaced when damaged

8

Self-contained breathing apparatus

03

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

9

Flashlight (300 lm brightness, IPX5 water resistance)

03

Piece

Replaced when damaged

10

Fire axe (2 kg in weight, 90 cm handle, high-carbon steel) 

02

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

11

Crowbar (one sharp end, one flattened end; 100 cm in length)

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

12

Sledgehammer (high-carbon steel, 5kg in weight, 50 cm handle)

01

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

13

Bolt cutter (60 cm in length, cutting load of 60 kg)

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

14

Rescue rope (30 m in length, polyester, water resistant, fire resistant, heat resistant; load capacity of 500 kg; maximum pulling force of 100 KN)

02

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

15

Firefighting ladder (3,5m in length; bearing metal)

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

16

Type B first aid kit (According to Circular No. 19/2016/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2016 by Minister of Health)

01

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged

17

Stretcher (186 cm x 51 cm x 17 cm; load capacity of 160 kg)

01

Piece

Replaced when damaged

18

Handheld transceiver (meeting IP55 standard)

02

...

...

...

Replaced when damaged