A Study on the Impact of the National Technical Regulation on Fire Safety for Buildings and Structures on Airport Construction Projects in Vietnam

In the context of Vietnam’s accelerated development of aviation infrastructure, airport construction projects-particularly airport terminal buildings-are increasingly characterized by large-scale facilities, open architectural layouts, extensive multi-level atrium spaces and highly integrated technical systems. The promulgation of the National Technical Regulation on Fire Safety for Buildings and Structures (QCVN 06:2022/BXD) and its Amendment No. 1:2023 has contributed to raising the overall level of fire safety for buildings and structures. However, it has also created a number of “bottlenecks” when applied to highly specialized facilities such as airports. This paper employs a policy and regulatory analysis approach, typical case studies across the project life cycle, and comparative analysis with international standards, including International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc 9137 Part 1 and relevant National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards applicable to airport facilities. The findings indicate that the impacts of QCVN 06:2022/BXD are most significant in four major areas: (i) master planning and fire service access; (ii) architectural design of terminal buildings (access routes, roof access, and open spaces); (iii) fire compartmentation, egress, and smoke control in large spaces; and (iv) approval procedures, acceptance processes, and management of design and functional changes. Based on these findings, the paper proposes a set of solutions, including the development of an “airport annex” guidance document for QCVN 06, the establishment of a Performance-Based Design (PBD) framework with transparent criteria, the resolution of inter-agency conflicts through coordination mechanisms, and the harmonization of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) capability requirements in line with ICAO standards.