New Safety and Fire Regulations for Mini Apartments in Ho Chi Minh City

Regarding safety and fire protection measures, Ho Chi Minh City has issued new regulations to ensure the safety of increasingly popular mini apartment projects. According to the new regulations issued on November 4, access roads to mini apartments must be at least 3.5 meters wide to allow fire trucks to reach required locations smoothly and safely. These regulations aim to enhance fire safety standards for multi-story residential projects, particularly mini apartments, which are becoming a popular trend in Ho Chi Minh City. The specific stipulations regarding access road dimensions help ensure that rescue vehicles can access the premises in case of emergencies, thereby protecting the lives and property of residents.

According to the new regulations, for residential buildings with more than two floors, fewer than 20 units, and available for rent, the road for fire trucks must be at least 3.5 meters wide, with a clear height of at least 4.5 meters, ensuring unobstructed access at all times. These requirements ensure that rescue vehicles and firefighting equipment can easily enter and effectively perform their tasks in case of incidents. Additionally, the turning radius at intersections must be at least 10 meters, and the curb radius must be a minimum of 3 meters to facilitate operations by firefighting vehicles in confined spaces.

Besides requirements for access roads, the space between fire truck parking areas and entrances must not be obstructed by trees or other fixed objects. This is to eliminate any obstacles that could interrupt the deployment of rescue equipment, optimizing emergency response times. Fire service roads must also be capable of supporting the load of rescue vehicles and other firefighting equipment, as these vehicles are typically heavy and require high stability when moving.

These new regulations were introduced in the context of mini apartments becoming a popular housing model in major cities, but also carrying significant fire safety risks. Constructing mini apartments without adhering to safety regulations can increase fire hazards, particularly when infrastructure does not meet firefighting requirements. Previously, the 2014 Housing Law did not provide a specific definition for mini apartments, leading to numerous inadequacies in construction permits and fire safety management, making regulation and safety assurance challenging. However, the 2023 Housing Law (effective from August 1) offers more detailed regulations, specifying that mini apartments can obtain property titles, access roads must be at least 3 meters wide, and apartment sizes must not be smaller than 25 square meters. These regulations help standardize the construction and management of mini apartments, reducing fire safety risks.

In the first nine months of this year, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 367 fires, resulting in estimated property damage of over 900 million VND, with many of the fires occurring in residential areas combined with production and business activities. This underscores the severity of insufficient safety in firefighting work, particularly in areas combined with production activities, where there is often a high presence of electrical equipment and flammable materials. To enhance safety for residents, the new regulations concerning mini apartments are necessary, aiming to reduce fire risks and ensure the safety of urban infrastructure.

In addition to issuing regulations on safety conditions and access roads, Ho Chi Minh City is also striving to strengthen public awareness regarding fire safety. Organizing fire safety training for apartment residents, particularly those in mini apartments, is an effective measure to reduce the risk of fire. Relevant authorities will also increase regular inspections of construction projects, especially high-rise buildings and mini apartments, to promptly identify and address any fire safety violations.

The Ho Chi Minh City Fire and Rescue Police Department (PC07) plays a crucial role in implementing these new regulations. The department will continue inspecting and supervising construction projects and work closely with local authorities to ensure strict compliance with fire safety regulations. According to statistics, the city currently has nearly 60,500 high-fire-risk establishments, including apartments, rental houses, partitioned rental rooms, and residential buildings combined with production and business activities. Of these, 55,446 belong to the type of rental and partitioned rental properties, highlighting the large scale of these high-fire-risk areas and the necessity of stringent preventive measures.

Management agencies also emphasize that most fires occur in detached houses, residential buildings combined with production activities, and businesses. The primary causes of fires are typically equipment failures when using electrical devices, violations of fire safety regulations, and negligence in daily activities. Therefore, in addition to adhering to construction and fire safety regulations, raising community awareness of fire safety is critical. Community outreach and education activities will continue to help residents understand fire prevention measures, thereby mitigating risks and protecting their lives and property.

These new regulations not only aim to ensure safety but also help standardize the construction and development of mini apartments, encouraging investors to implement safety measures from the design and construction stages. Developing safe urban infrastructure, particularly high-rise buildings like mini apartments, plays a vital role in the sustainable development of the city. These regulations are part of an overall strategy to improve residents' quality of life and ensure that residential areas, regardless of size, meet minimum safety standards.