Fire safety (3): fire safety acceptance from 1 July 2026, self-acceptance and online declaration
Resolution 66.18/2026/NQ-CP and Decree 347/2026/ND-CP removed the police inspection of fire safety acceptance. Milestones, investor duties and what may change next.
In this article
Fire safety acceptance is the step that changed most in 2026. The model has moved from "the police inspect and approve the acceptance result" to the investor accepts the works, takes responsibility and declares online. The third article in our fire safety series summarises the milestones and what investors must do, under the documents in force on 25 October 2026.
Three milestones
| Date | Document | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2025 | Fire Law No. 55/2024/QH15; Decree 105/2025/ND-CP | The investor organises fire safety acceptance (Article 18 of the Law); the managing authority inspects the acceptance and approves the result before use (Article 18(4)–(5)); police inspection procedure in Article 10 of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP |
| 1 July 2026 | Resolution 66.18/2026/NQ-CP of 18 May 2026 (in force 1 July 2026 to 28 February 2027) | The police procedure for inspecting fire safety acceptance is not carried out (Article 18(5) of Law 55/2024/QH15, Article 10 of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP); the acceptance procedure for works that hold a design approval certificate but no accepted result (Article 46(3) of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP) is also not carried out |
| 15 September 2026 | Decree 347/2026/ND-CP of 8 September 2026 | Article 10 repealed, together with Forms PC15, PC16, PC17, PC19, PC20 and PC21 of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP; the investor organises acceptance, is responsible for the result and must declare it on the fire safety database before operation (amended Article 12(1)(đ)) |
What must the investor do?
- Build to the appraised design and keep the site fire-safe throughout construction (Articles 18(1) and 19 of the Fire Law).
- Accept by part, stage, item and system, then at completion; concealed parts must be accepted before the next step (Article 18(2)).
- Decide on partial acceptance of a part or item that can operate independently and safely (Article 18(2)(c)).
- Issue the fire safety acceptance document on Form PC18 and the acceptance dossier under Article 8(3) of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP (see the checklist).
- Declare on the fire safety database before putting the works into operation.
- Take legal responsibility for the acceptance result (Article 18(3) of the Fire Law).
Who still inspects?
- Fire police: there is no longer a pre-use inspection of the acceptance. The police still carry out periodic and ad hoc fire safety inspections of operating facilities under Article 13 of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP (as amended); check the relevant appendix for each facility group.
- State construction authority: Article 18(5)(a) of the Fire Law still provides for inspection of fire safety acceptance for works whose fire design it appraised and which are subject to construction acceptance inspection; this runs with the inspection under Articles 25–27 of Decree 207/2026/ND-CP.
- Fire safety in construction acceptance: the completion acceptance minutes must assess compliance with fire safety requirements (Article 24, Decree 207/2026/ND-CP).
What about pending applications?
Under Article 40(2) of Decree 347/2026/ND-CP, applications for abolished procedures received before 15 September 2026 are closed and the documents returned on request. Documents issued before that date remain valid until they expire (Article 40(3)).
What may change next?
Resolution 66.18/2026/NQ-CP applies only until 28 February 2027, while the Fire Law itself still contains the acceptance inspection. Article 41(2) of Decree 347/2026/ND-CP refers to a forthcoming law amending the Fire Law. Content and effective date of that amending law: [...] (no official text on the update date). Investors should check for new rules before planning acceptance for projects completing after February 2027.
The risk of self-acceptance
Removing the inspection does not lower the technical bar. Legal responsibility shifts to the investor, the contractor and the supervision consultant. Investors should:
- choose fire contractors and supervision consultants with real factory experience;
- require tests and integrated commissioning with full records;
- compare as-built drawings with the appraised design before signing the PC18 acceptance document;
- keep the dossier ready for periodic and ad hoc inspections after start-up.
Legal basis
- Law on Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue No. 55/2024/QH15, in force 1 July 2025, amended by Laws 118/2025/QH15 and 135/2025/QH15 (consolidated text 58/VBHN-VPQH of 23 March 2026)
- Decree 105/2025/ND-CP of 15 May 2025 detailing the Law on Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue, in force 1 July 2025
- Resolution 66.18/2026/NQ-CP of 18 May 2026 on decentralising, cutting and simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions (in force 1 July 2026 to 28 February 2027)
- Decree 347/2026/ND-CP of 8 September 2026 amending Decree 105/2025/ND-CP and related decrees, in force 15 September 2026
- Decree 207/2026/ND-CP of 13 June 2026 detailing the Construction Law on quality management, construction and maintenance, in force 1 July 2026
Get advice on the legal path for your project
World Steel supports investors from permit preparation, design and fire safety appraisal through to construction and acceptance of factory buildings. Share your project details (location, site area, floor area, target schedule) and our team will contact you to review the legal path for your project.
Note: This article is for general information, based on legislation in force on 25 October 2026, and is not legal advice for any specific project. Items marked [...] could not be verified against the official text and should be confirmed with the competent authority. Vietnamese legal texts are the authoritative versions.
