PM asks for stricter fire prevention at multi-story apartment buildings

A fire at a mini apartment building in Hanoi (Photo: VGP)

In an official dispatch signed on October 22, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked for further review of regulations, norms, and standards on multi-story buildings, thus promptly addressing shortcomings and ensuring absolute safety for people and assets during the process of use.

The PM also requested regular inspection and supervision in order to evaluate the responsibility of relevant units, organisations, and individuals; and strictly handle violations (if any).

The Ministry of Construction was tasked with inspecting and promptly evaluating, and issuing, within its jurisdiction, or proposing for the issuance of legal documents amending, supplementing, and finalising regulations, standards, and norms on planning and design related to fire prevention and firefighting for mini apartment buildings.

The ministry was demanded to closely work with the Ministry of Public Security to urgently study and propose solutions to address the existing fire prevention and firefighting issues related to mini apartment buildings, and issue instruction documents to ensure fire safety for other existing facilities.

It is also responsible for inspecting and strictly handling relevant violations in accordance with legal provisions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade was requested to focus on inspecting to detect works, facilities, and households that do not ensure fire safety in the use of electricity; and strengthening inspection and handling of relevant violations.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was demanded to promote communication activities to raise awareness of organisations and individuals in complying with laws on planning, construction licencing, construction order, and management of fire and explosion safety for high-rise apartment blocks, thus taking measures to prevent and minimise damages in case of incidents.

The PM underlined the importance for Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to conduct a thorough assessment of all multi-apartment blocks, thus detecting violations related to construction regulations, especially those involving changes in the purpose of use and violations of fire prevention and firefighting regulations and taking strict actions against any violations.

He also asked for feasible measures to immediately address limitations, especially in fire prevention and fighting.

For new construction projects, local agencies must strictly control compliance with legal regulations on planning, construction, fire prevention and fighting, and manage the issuance of construction permits, and quality of construction works in line with regulations, towards putting an end to unauthorised construction.

Ministries, sectors, and localities were requested to complete the above-mentioned works and propose immediate and long-term tasks and solutions to the Government and the PM in the fourth quarter of 2023./.

VNA