Vietnam Fire Safety 2026: Existing Buildings Need Upgrades

Vietnam Fire Safety 2026: Existing Buildings Need Upgrades

The year 2026 marks an important shift in fire safety management in Vietnam, especially for existing buildings that were put into operation before current fire safety requirements were fully aligned.

According to Decision 1074/QĐ-BXD, the Ministry of Construction issued technical solutions to improve fire safety for facilities and buildings that do not meet fire safety requirements and cannot be fully corrected according to the technical standards and regulations applicable at the time they were put into operation.

This is not only a regulatory update. It also reflects a broader direction in the construction market: existing buildings need to be reviewed, assessed and upgraded through practical technical solutions.

For building owners, operators, consultants and contractors, fire safety should be understood as a comprehensive system. It includes structural fire resistance, evacuation, fire spread prevention, smoke control, firefighting equipment and suitable fire-rated materials for each building area.

Why Existing Buildings Need Fire Safety Upgrades

Many buildings currently in use were designed and constructed years ago. At the time of construction, they may have followed earlier standards, technical regulations or approval requirements. As fire safety regulations evolve, some existing buildings may have fire safety deficiencies.

These deficiencies may relate to:

• Fire resistance class of the building.
• Fire resistance limits of structural components.
• Number and configuration of escape routes.
• Evacuation corridors.
• Fire compartmentation.
• Smoke control systems.
• Firefighting equipment and facilities.

The technical document attached to Decision 1074/QĐ-BXD classifies typical fire safety deficiencies into several groups, including fire resistance of structures and components, evacuation, fire spread prevention, firefighting access, smoke control and firefighting equipment.

This shows that improving fire safety in existing buildings cannot be solved by a single measure. It requires a coordinated approach involving technical assessment, building conditions, suitable renovation methods, material selection and long-term operational control.

Fire Safety Is More Than Adding Equipment

When discussing fire safety, many people immediately think of fire alarm systems, automatic extinguishing systems, portable fire extinguishers, exit signs or evacuation plans. These are important, but they are not sufficient to define a truly safe building.

The technical document issued by the Ministry of Construction outlines three groups of technical solutions: applying current fire safety standards and regulations, using performance-based design with fire safety engineering, and applying specific technical solutions for typical fire safety deficiencies.

Therefore, fire safety should be approached as a complete system. A building should be assessed not only by whether it has firefighting equipment, but also by its ability to:

• Maintain structural stability for a certain period during a fire.
• Allow occupants to evacuate safely.
• Limit fire spread to other areas or neighboring buildings.
• Control smoke, heat and other hazardous fire factors.
• Maintain applied fire safety solutions throughout its operation.

This is why passive fire protection, fire-stopping materials and insulation materials are becoming increasingly important in modern buildings.

Common Fire Safety Deficiencies in Existing Buildings

Depending on each building, fire safety deficiencies may vary. However, they can generally be grouped into several typical categories.

Fire Resistance of Structures and Components

Some buildings may have structural components that do not meet the required fire resistance limit. This is a critical issue because it directly affects the building’s ability to maintain stability during a fire.

Technical solutions may include improving the fire resistance of load-bearing components, maintaining separation from fire loads, using non-combustible or low-combustible roofing materials, or adding fire alarm and firefighting systems depending on the specific case.

Evacuation

Evacuation is one of the most important aspects of fire safety. In existing buildings, deficiencies may relate to the number of staircases, separation distance between stairs, corridor width, door configuration, headroom or travel distance.

Technical solutions may include adding external escape stairs, improving staircase conditions, providing automatic fire alarm systems, controlling occupant load and protecting evacuation corridors.

Fire Spread Prevention

Fire spread prevention is particularly important in buildings with multiple functions, multiple floors or interconnected spaces.

Elements such as fire-rated partitions, fire doors, fire curtains, evacuation corridors, high fire-risk areas and interfaces between spaces should be carefully reviewed. In some cases, hazardous areas may need to be separated from escape routes using suitable fire-rated construction elements.

Smoke Control

Smoke is one of the most dangerous factors during a fire, especially in multi-storey buildings, long corridors and enclosed spaces.

Where mechanical smoke extraction systems cannot be installed or do not meet required capacity, technical solutions may include protecting evacuation corridors, separating relevant rooms from adjacent spaces and combining these measures with automatic fire alarm systems.

Fire-Rated Materials in Fire Safety Upgrade Strategies

In technical solutions for improving fire safety, materials play an important role. Suitable materials can support fire separation, insulation, fire resistance and fire spread limitation.

For existing buildings, material selection should consider:

• Area of application.
• Technical requirements of each scope.
• Required fire resistance rating.
• Fire-stopping and insulation performance.
• Renovation and installation conditions.
• Compatibility with existing systems.
• Testing documents and technical records.

Building areas that may require fire-rated material solutions include:

• Fire-rated partitions.
• Evacuation corridors.
• Escape routes.
• Fire-rated doors.
• Ceilings and wall finishes.
• Fire-rated ductwork.
• Technical rooms and electrical rooms.
• Penetration sealing and fire-stopping areas.

The key is not simply to add materials, but to select the right material solution for the right technical requirement and construction condition.

KH Shield Supports Fire-Rated Material Solutions

KH Shield develops fire-rated, fire-stopping, insulation and safe finishing material solutions for various project types, including office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings, factories, shopping centers, public buildings and mixed-use developments.

As fire safety regulations continue to evolve, fire-rated materials are no longer limited to hidden technical areas. They can also be applied in finishing areas where both safety and functionality are required.

KH Shield can support investors, contractors, consultants and construction teams with material solutions such as:

• Fire-rated boards.
• Fire-stopping boards.
• Insulation boards.
• Materials for fire-rated ductwork.
• Safe decorative finishing panels.
• Solutions for corridors, lobbies, escape routes and public areas.

Each building should be assessed individually. KH Shield does not provide a one-size-fits-all solution, but aims to help select suitable materials based on actual building conditions, technical requirements and long-term operation.

From Regulation to Building Operation Responsibility

Vietnam’s 2026 fire safety updates show a clear direction: existing buildings need to be reviewed, upgraded and maintained safely throughout their operation.

According to Decision 1074/QĐ-BXD, local authorities are responsible for guiding, inspecting and directing the implementation of technical solutions for applicable facilities and buildings, with completion required no later than July 1, 2028.

This timeline shows that improving fire safety should not be treated as a reactive process. Building owners and operators need to proactively review current conditions, prepare technical plans and select appropriate solutions.

Fire safety is not only a legal compliance matter. It is also a responsibility to protect people, property, business continuity and investor reputation.

KH Shield – Green from materials, safe from within.

Contact KH Shield for consultation on fire-rated, fire-stopping, insulation and safe finishing material solutions for office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings, factories, shopping centers and modern projects.

LEGO Binh Duong: FDI Green Factory and KH Shield Materials