Karaoke Fire Prevention License and Conditions You Need to Know

Karaoke fire prevention and fighting license is a document approving the results of fire prevention and fighting acceptance as prescribed in Decree 136/2020/ND-CP, acting as a legal certificate confirming that the facility has absolutely complied with safety standards before coming into operation.

The consequences of ignoring this regulation are extremely dire, not only facing the risk of fire and explosion but also having to pay an administrative fine of up to VND 100.000.000 for organizations according to Decree 144/2021/ND-CP. 

In fact, the general inspections by the authorities have shown an alarming picture when thousands of karaoke businesses nationwide have been temporarily suspended or suspended from operation due to failure to ensure fire safety. 

Therefore, understanding and strictly complying with fire safety license regulations is no longer an option, but a condition for business survival. 

In this article, Phuc Truong Audio will help you decipher all those requirements, from the latest regulations, detailed procedures, actual costs and times, to license durations and updated penalties.

Latest regulations on karaoke fire prevention license

Current regulations on fire prevention and fighting for karaoke are primarily stipulated in Decree 136/2020/ND-CP and are detailed in technical standards and regulations, especially QCVN 06:2022/BXD - National technical regulations on fire safety for houses and buildings. 

This change marks a turning point, moving from “coping” to “proactive prevention”, putting the investor’s responsibility first throughout the entire project life cycle.

One of the most revolutionary changes, which directly impacts investment costs, is the requirement for construction materials and interior decoration. In the past, materials such as foam, plastic panels, imitation leather, and carpets were widely used because they were cheap and aesthetically pleasing, but now they are considered "gunpowder" in closed spaces. 

The new regulation requires all soundproofing and decorative materials inside the karaoke room to be non-flammable or fire-resistant. Specifically, they must have an inspection certificate and meet the following 3 technical indicators:

1. Flammability: Must meet Ch1 level (difficult to burn) according to QCVN 06:2022/BXD, equivalent to level B according to European standard EN 13501-1.
2. Smoke generation ability: Must reach level SK1 (low smoke), equivalent to level s1 (low smoke generation). This is a vital factor, because in fires, up to 80% of victims die from smoke inhalation before being affected by the fire.
3. Ability to create burning droplets: Must reach level DT1 (no burning drops), equivalent to level d0 (no burning drops falling), to prevent fire from spreading to objects below.

In addition, the requirements for escape routes and routes have been tightened to an unprecedented level. Each karaoke business, regardless of size, must have at least two separate and protected escape routes. In particular, for high-rise buildings, the escape staircase must be placed in a closed elevator shaft with positive pressure. 

This is a high-tech solution, using an industrial fan system to pump clean air into the elevator shaft, creating a higher pressure than outside the smoke-contaminated corridor. Thanks to that, toxic smoke cannot penetrate the escape route, creating an absolutely safe "lifeline" for customers and employees in case of an incident.

Conditions for granting fire safety license for karaoke bars

To be granted a fire safety license, a karaoke bar must meet a series of strict conditions on facilities, equipment and legal documents according to national technical regulations QCVN 06:2022/BXD. 

These conditions are established to ensure the ability to prevent fire initiation, limit fire spread and facilitate safe escape and fire fighting.

Here are the core conditions that you need to adhere to:

• About structure and architecture:
  • Fire resistance level: The building must have a fire resistance level appropriate to its size and height, usually at least level II or level III for high-rise buildings. Main structural components such as walls, columns, and floors must be made of non-combustible or fire-resistant materials.
  • Escape route: There must be at least two separate, unobstructed exits. Doors on exits must open from the inside out. The exit stairs must be enclosed and have positive pressure (pressurization system) to prevent smoke from entering.
  • Prevent fire spread: Must have the fire prevention solutions between karaoke rooms, between floors and different functional areas. Walls and partitions between karaoke rooms must be built of non-combustible materials such as bricks and concrete with a minimum fire resistance limit of EI 45 (45 minutes).
  • Interior materials: All soundproofing materials, decorations, carpets, curtains, etc. must be non-flammable or fire-resistant (meeting B1, s1, d0 standards according to European standards or equivalent).

• About fire protection system:
  • Automatic fire alarm system: It is mandatory to install an automatic fire alarm system, including smoke detectors and heat detectors located in all rooms and public areas for the earliest possible detection.
  • Fire fighting system:
    • Automatic fire extinguishing system: Required for large or high-rise facilities. This system will automatically spray water to extinguish the fire when the temperature reaches a certain threshold.
    • Wall fire hydrant system: Must be installed in corridors, allowing local and professional fire departments to connect hoses to extinguish fires.
  • Initial fire fighting equipment: Each karaoke room and public area must be equipped with suitable portable fire extinguishers (powder, CO2 gas) and staff must be trained to use them proficiently.
• About electrical and sound systems:
  • Electrical system: Must be designed into separate circuits for emergency lighting, sound, air conditioning, advertising, etc.
  • Conductors: All conductors must be copper core, have a cross-section large enough to withstand the load of high-power devices, and must be threaded in fire-resistant conduit.
  • Protective equipment: Circuit breakers (CB) and leakage circuit breakers (RCBO) are required for each karaoke room and each area.

Based on a survey of Phuc Truong Audio, a professional karaoke sound system can consume peak power up to 8.000W. Designing a separate electrical cabinet for the sound system, using wires from reputable brands such as Cadivi, and accurately calculating the load are vital factors to ensure fire safety.

• About legal documents:
  • Must have Certificate of design approval on fire prevention and fighting issued by the Fire Police Department.
  • There must be a fire safety acceptance document confirming that the construction is in accordance with the approved design.

Procedures for applying for karaoke fire prevention and fighting license

The procedure for applying for a karaoke fire prevention license is a strict legal process, including many sequential steps, from the design stage to acceptance and putting into operation. Investors need to understand this process clearly to avoid mistakes and save time and costs.

The standard procedure includes the following five steps:

Step 1: Prepare and prepare fire protection design documents

• The investor hired a fire protection design consultancy unit with full legal capacity to prepare the design documents.
• This file includes fire protection system design drawings, detailed technical explanations of fire protection solutions (structure, escape routes, fire alarm system, fire fighting system, lightning protection system, electrical system...).
• Estimated total investment for fire protection items.

Step 2: Submit application and approve fire protection design

• The investor submits 02 sets of prepared fire prevention and fighting design documents to the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department of the province/city where the business establishment is located.
• The Fire Prevention and Fighting Authority will review and check the documents and may request corrections or additions if they do not meet the requirements.
• After the application is valid, the Fire Department will issue a license. Certificate of design approval on fire prevention and fighting.

Step 3: Construction and installation of fire protection system

• The investor must organize the construction and installation of the fire protection system according to the approved design.
• Note: Absolutely do not arbitrarily change the design or use equipment or materials that are not of the approved type or quality.

Step 4: Prepare documents for requesting fire safety acceptance

After completing construction, the investor prepares a request for acceptance, including:

• Copy of Design Approval Certificate.
• Documents and certificates of inspection of installed fire protection equipment and means.
• Internal acceptance minutes of the investor.
• Investor's report on construction results, inspection and system testing.

Step 5: Acceptance and issuance of document approving acceptance results

• The investor submits the acceptance request to the Fire Police Department.
• The Fire Prevention and Fighting Authority will organize an actual inspection and acceptance session at the construction site to compare with the design and test the operation of the systems.
• If the acceptance test results meet the requirements, the Fire Prevention and Fighting Authority will issue a certificate. Document approving the results of fire prevention and fighting acceptance testThis is the final “fire safety license” for the facility to be allowed to operate.

How much does it cost to get a karaoke fire prevention license?

The cost of issuing a karaoke fire safety license is a fluctuating investment, there is no fixed number and it depends on many factors such as area size, number of floors, complexity of the project and quality of equipment. 

Investors need to budget a significant amount for this item, as it is an investment in safety and legal compliance.

Below is a breakdown of the major cost categories you need to budget for:

Category	Estimated cost (VND)	Note
Fire protection design approval fee	500.000 – 1.500.000 / project	This is the state fee collected according to the regulations of the Ministry of Finance, calculated on the total investment in fire prevention and fighting items.
Fire protection design consulting costs	20.000.000 - 80.000.000+	Depends on the reputation of the consulting unit and the complexity of the project.
Cost of purchasing fire protection materials and equipment	300.000.000 – over 2.000.000.000	This is the largest expense, including: fire alarm system, sprinkler system, wall hydrants, pumps, fire extinguishers, emergency lights, signs, fireproof materials...
Construction and installation costs	Usually accounts for 20% – 30% of equipment costs	Includes labor and material costs to complete system installation.
Cost of fire protection equipment inspection	5.000.000 - 20.000.000+	Each device (pump, central cabinet, detector, nozzle...) must be inspected and labeled by the fire department.
Acceptance costs and other costs	Subject to change	Including acceptance fee, cost of organizing acceptance session, cost of correction (if any).
Real life example: For a 5-storey karaoke bar with a floor area of ​​about 1.000m², the total cost for fire prevention and fighting items can range from 800 million to 1.5 billion VNDThis figure shows that investing in fire protection is a significant expense, requiring careful financial preparation from the investor.

From Phuc Truong Audio's perspective, trying to save costs by using unprofessional construction units, especially in the electrical and audio category, often leads to repair costs after being rejected for acceptance being many times higher than investing correctly from the beginning.

How long does it take to complete a karaoke fire safety license?

The total time to complete the issuance of a fire safety license for a karaoke bar usually lasts from 3 to 6 month, or even longer, depending on the scale of the project, the coordination between the parties and the careful preparation of the investor. Understanding the legal and practical timelines will help you plan your business more effectively.

Below is the time allocation for each stage:

• Phase 1: Design (1 – 3 weeks): Time for the consulting unit to survey, plan and complete the technical design documents.
• Phase 2: Design review (Maximum 10 working days): According to Decree 136/2020/ND-CP, from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Fire Police Department must have a written response on the review results. However, this time may be extended if the dossier needs to be edited many times.
• Phase 3: Construction (2 – 5 months): This is the most time-consuming stage, depending on the progress of material supply, the capacity of the construction team and the complexity of the system.
• Phase 4: Acceptance (Maximum 7 working days): From the date of receiving complete and valid documents, the Fire Police Department must organize acceptance and issue a document approving the acceptance results.

So, an ideal roadmap would take about 3 months, but in reality, you should allow about 5-6 months to deal with any issues that arise.

How long is a karaoke fire prevention license valid for?

Karaoke fire prevention license, specifically Document approving the results of fire prevention and fighting acceptance test, does not have a specific validity period but is linked to the current status and life cycle of the project. This means that as long as your facility does not have any changes or renovations in structure, functionality, or installation of additional technical systems that affect the approved fire prevention and fighting solutions, the acceptance document is still valid.

However, you need to clearly distinguish this from other obligations. Although the acceptance document does not expire, the facility owner is still responsible for:

1. Organize periodic fire safety inspections: According to regulations, the head of the facility must organize periodic fire safety inspections once a quarter.
2. Maintenance of fire protection system: The entire fire protection system must be periodically maintained (usually once a year) by a competent unit to ensure that they are always ready for operation.
3. Please review when renovating: If you repair, renovate, or change the nature of use in a way that affects one of the previously approved contents (for example: building an additional room, changing the location of the partition wall, changing the capacity of the electrical system, etc.), you are required to redo the fire safety approval and acceptance procedures for that change.

How much is the fine for doing business without a karaoke fire prevention license?

As prescribed at Clause 6, Article 38 of Decree 144/2021/ND-CPThe fine for the act of "putting a construction project or construction item into operation or use without a written approval of the results of fire prevention and fighting acceptance" is from 30.000.000 VND to 50.000.000 VND.

This is the penalty applied to individuals, for organizations (most karaoke bars are registered as companies), the penalty will be double, that is, from 60.000.000 VND to 100.000.000 VND.

In addition to being fined, violating establishments are also subject to severe remedial measures:

• Compulsory acceptance of fire prevention and fighting: The facility must immediately cease operations to complete the necessary legal procedures.
• Suspension of operations: The competent authority will decide to temporarily suspend or stop the operation of the facility until there is a valid acceptance document. In fact, after major fires, hundreds of karaoke establishments nationwide have been suspended for violating fire prevention regulations.
• Criminal prosecution: In case of fire or explosion causing serious damage to people and property, the head of the facility may be prosecuted for "Crime of violating regulations on fire prevention and fighting" according to Article 313 of the 2015 Penal Code, with a possible prison sentence of up to 12 years.

Frequently asked questions about karaoke fire prevention license

1. Does a small karaoke bar with only 1-2 rooms need a fire safety permit? 

Yes. According to Decree 136/2020/ND-CP, restaurants, bars, karaoke bars, and dance clubs are all on the list of establishments managed by the police regarding fire prevention and fighting (Appendix III), regardless of scale. Therefore, all karaoke bars must have their designs approved and fire prevention and fighting inspected before operating.

2. I only repair and redecorate the inside of the karaoke room, do I need to ask for permission again?

Yes, if the repair changes the decorative and soundproofing materials compared to the approved design. Changing materials from non-combustible to flammable is a serious violation. If you only repaint the wall or make minor changes that do not affect the structure and fireproof materials, there is no need, but you should consult your local fire department to be sure.

3. Who is primarily responsible for fire prevention and fighting at karaoke bars?

The head of the facility (business owner, individual business owner) is the person fully responsible for fire prevention and fighting work at his facility, from investing in and maintaining the operation of the fire prevention and fighting system to organizing training for employees.

4. What types of materials are absolutely prohibited in karaoke rooms?

Materials that are highly flammable and produce a lot of toxic smoke such as regular foam, PVC plastic panels, imitation leather, fabric, wallpaper, etc. that have not been treated as fireproofing are prohibited from being used for decoration and soundproofing in karaoke rooms.

5. Which agency has the authority to issue karaoke fire prevention and fighting licenses?

The authority belongs to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the provincial and municipal police. You need to submit your application and work directly here.

6. Is a fire safety training certificate required for employees?

It is mandatory. The Fire Prevention and Fighting Team (including the staff working at the restaurant) must attend training courses on fire prevention and fighting and rescue organized by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department and receive a certificate. This certificate is valid for 5 years.

7. If I sublease an existing premises, who is responsible for fire prevention and fighting?

The responsibility for fire prevention and fighting belongs to both the lessor and the lessee. However, the person directly doing the business (the lessee) must take primary responsibility for ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety conditions throughout the operation and must be the person whose name appears on the legal documents regarding fire prevention and fighting.

8. Does the fire protection system need maintenance? How often?

Yes. The entire fire protection system must be inspected and maintained periodically at least once a year by a competent unit. This is to ensure that the system always operates properly in case of an incident. Maintenance records must be kept at the facility.

9. When there is a fire safety inspection team, what documents do I need to present?

You need to prepare: Fire safety design documents and approval documents, Fire safety acceptance documents, Fire safety monitoring book, Decision to establish a facility fire safety team, Team member's professional training certificate, Minutes of the most recent fire safety system maintenance, and the approved fire safety plan of the facility.

10. Can I buy the equipment and install it myself to save costs?

No. Construction and installation of fire protection systems require high technical expertise and must strictly comply with approved designs. Furthermore, the construction unit must have legal status and capacity according to regulations. Self-installation can lead to technical errors, not be accepted and cause danger during operation.

11. Does installing a karaoke system affect the fire protection system?

Yes, the installation of the sound system has a great and direct impact on the fire prevention and fighting safety (PCCC) of the karaoke bar. The sound system is a combination of high-power electronic equipment, with a high potential risk of causing electrical short circuits and overloads if not installed according to standards. This is one of the leading causes of fires in karaoke bars.

12. Which address specializes in installing professional karaoke systems that ensure fire safety in HCM?

In Ho Chi Minh City, Phuc Truong Audio is a professional unit in the field. consulting and installing karaoke sound systems for business, at the same time pay great attention to fire safety factors during construction.

4 outstanding advantages of Phuc Truong Audio include:

1. Deep expertise in electro-acoustic engineering: The team of technicians has in-depth knowledge of high-power audio equipment, is able to calculate the load accurately, install electrical wiring scientifically, use circuit breakers and appropriate protective devices to completely prevent the risk of overload and electrical short circuit - the leading cause of fire and explosion.
2. Safe and aesthetic construction: Phuc Truong Audio complies with electrical safety standards during installation, uses quality materials, and runs wires in fireproof conduits, ensuring the system operates stably, safely and neatly, minimizing the risk of heat and sparks.
3. Consulting on synchronous solutions: The unit has experience in advising investors on how to arrange the sound system so as not to affect other fire protection equipment such as smoke detectors, sprinklers, and emergency lights. We can also coordinate with professional fire protection construction units to ensure that the entire project meets acceptance standards.
4. Practical experienceWith many years of experience installing for a series of karaoke business bars, Phuc Truong Audio clearly understands the regulations and practical requirements on fire safety, thereby providing the most optimal solutions for customers.

Contact Phuc Truong for the best advice!