Fire-Rated Materials in Vietnam: A Practical Guide for Architects & Contractors

Fire safety compliance is non-negotiable in Vietnamese construction — yet it remains one of the most frequently misunderstood and poorly specified areas of building practice. Many projects pass initial design review with generic fire ratings listed on drawings, only to fail site inspection because the actual products installed do not carry the required tested certification.

This guide demystifies fire rating systems, outlines Vietnam's current regulatory requirements under QCVN 06:2022/BXD, and provides actionable specification guidance for walls, doors, floors, and facades.

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1. Understanding Fire Rating Classifications

European Classification (EN 13501) — Now Referenced in Vietnam

Vietnam's latest fire regulations (QCVN 06:2022) increasingly reference European EN 13501 classifications. Understanding these is essential:

For construction products (EN 13501-1):

Class	Description	Typical Materials
A1	Non-combustible — no contribution to fire	Concrete, brick, steel, mineral wool, FCB
A2	Non-combustible — negligible contribution	Mineral-core ACP, calcium silicate board
B	Limited combustibility	FR-core ACP, some HPL products
C	Acceptable combustibility	Solid timber (when treated)
D–F	Combustible	PE-core ACP, untreated wood

Smoke production (s1–s3): s1 = minimal smoke (preferred); s3 = high smoke production

Flaming droplets (d0–d2): d0 = no flaming droplets (preferred); d2 = flaming droplets

For building elements (EN 13501-2): This covers structural fire resistance — how long a wall, floor, or door can resist fire:

• R — Load-bearing capacity
• E — Integrity (no flames pass through)
• I — Insulation (temperature on unexposed face stays ≤ 140°C average)
• EI 30/60/90/120 — Combined integrity + insulation for 30/60/90/120 minutes

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2. Vietnam Regulatory Requirements (QCVN 06:2022/BXD)

Key Requirements by Building Type

Building Category	Height	Required Fire Resistance (Walls/Floors)	Facade Material
High-rise residential (Group A)	> 75m	REI 120–180	A1/A2 only
High-rise commercial (Group B)	> 28m	REI 90–120	A1/A2 mandatory
Mid-rise mixed use	15–28m	REI 60–90	B class permitted
Low-rise commercial	< 15m	REI 30–60	C class permitted
Industrial warehouse	Any	REI 30–90 (varies)	Per fire load

Critical Change in QCVN 06:2022

The 2022 update explicitly prohibits PE-core ACP on external facades of buildings exceeding 28m in height. This was a direct regulatory response to multiple high-rise fire incidents in Southeast Asia. Projects designed before 2022 should be reviewed against the new standard before construction.

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3. Fire-Rated Wall Assemblies

A fire-rated wall is not a single product — it is a tested assembly of multiple products installed in a specific sequence. Changing any component without verification may invalidate the fire rating.

Typical EI 60 Non-Load-Bearing Partition Assembly

Layer	Material	Specification
Outer skin	Fire-rated gypsum board (Type F)	12.5mm, double layer
Cavity fill	Stone wool / mineral wool	50–100mm, density ≥ 45 kg/m³
Framing	Steel C-studs	0.6mm min thickness, 600mm centers
Inner skin	Fire-rated gypsum board (Type F)	12.5mm, double layer
Perimeter seal	Intumescent acoustic sealant	At all edges, pipes, and cable penetrations

Important: All penetrations through fire-rated walls (pipes, cables, ducts) must be sealed with tested intumescent firestop products. Unsealed penetrations are the most common cause of fire rating failure in building inspections.

Products That Achieve EI 60 (in tested assemblies)

• Knauf Fireboard / Rigidur H (Europe)
• USG Durock / Securock (USA brands available in Vietnam)
• Local Vietnamese fire-rated gypsum board (verify test certificate)

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4. Fire-Rated Doors

Rating Requirements by Location

Location	Minimum Required Rating	Notes
Stairwell enclosures	EI 30–EI 60	Must be self-closing
Lift lobby	EI 30	Smoke control also required
Plant rooms / electrical	EI 60
Cross-corridor (high-rise)	EI 30
Between fire compartments	EI 60–EI 90	Project-specific

Specifying Fire-Rated Doors Correctly

• The fire rating is for the complete assembly: door leaf + frame + hardware + seals
• All hardware (hinges, closers, locks) must carry the same or higher fire rating as the door
• Intumescent strips must be factory-fitted or specified separately — they expand in heat to seal the door gap
• Smoke seals must be specified separately if smoke containment (Sa/S200/S500) is also required
• Do not paint over intumescent strips — this reduces their effectiveness

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5. Common Non-Compliance Issues Found in Vietnam Projects

Issue	Consequence	Solution
PE-core ACP on high-rise facade	Fails QCVN 06:2022; fire risk	Replace with A2-core ACP or FCB
Generic "60-minute" gypsum specified without tested assembly	Fails inspection; rework required	Specify complete system by one manufacturer
Fire door hardware not fire-rated	Door's certification voided	Specify CE-marked hardware with matching rating
Unsealed cable/pipe penetrations	Major inspection failure	Install tested intumescent firestop collars/wraps
No documentation on site	Cannot verify compliance during audit	Maintain binder with all product certificates on site

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6. How to Verify Fire Certifications

When reviewing supplier documentation, check for:

1. Test certificate issued by an accredited laboratory (CSIRO, Efectis, Kiwa, etc.) — not just a CE mark
2. The exact assembly tested — not just the individual product
3. Date of test — certificates older than 10 years should be re-verified
4. Classification report — shows the exact EN 13501 classification achieved
5. Declaration of Performance (DoP) — required for CE-marked products

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Source Fire-Rated Materials Through HIASHI

HIASHI works with certified suppliers of fire-rated building materials across all categories — gypsum systems, mineral wool, fire-rated doors, intumescent products, and A2-class facade cladding. All products listed on the platform include verified technical documentation.

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