Circular No. 03/2021/TT-BXD promulgates QCVN 04:2021/BXD National Technical Regulations on Apartment Buildings

1.1.2 For apartment buildings over 150 meters high or having four or more basement floors, in addition to complying with this standard, additional technical requirements and solutions regarding organization and engineering must be implemented based on approved reference materials in accordance with the law, taking into account the specific fire prevention characteristics of such buildings. These requirements and solutions must be reviewed by competent authorities.

1.2 Applicability

This standard applies to organizations and individuals involved in investment construction, management, and use of apartment buildings.

1.3 References

The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of this standard. In case these referenced documents are amended, supplemented, or replaced, the latest version shall apply.

QCVN 01:2021/BXD, National technical regulation on urban planning.

QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT, National technical regulation on quality of potable water for domestic use.

QCVN 02:2009/BXD, National technical regulation on natural data used in construction.

QCVN 02:2019/BLĐTBXH, National technical regulation on occupational safety for elevators.

QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD, National technical regulation on housing and public buildings - Life safety and health.

QCVN 06:2021/BXD, National technical regulation on fire safety for buildings and structures.

QCVN 09:2017/BXD, National technical regulation on energy-efficient construction projects.

QCVN 10:2014/BXD, National technical regulation on construction ensuring access for persons with disabilities.

QCVN 12:2014/BXD, National technical regulation on electrical systems for housing and public buildings.

QCVN 13:2018/BXD, National technical regulation on automobile garages.

QCVN 26:2010/BTNMT, National technical regulation on noise.

QCVN QTĐ 8:2010/BCT, National technical regulation on electrical engineering. Volume 8: Low-voltage electrical standards.

QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT, National technical regulation on domestic wastewater.

Internal water supply and drainage system standard for houses and public buildings issued by the Ministry of Construction pursuant to Decision No. 47/1999/QĐ-BXD dated December 21, 1999.

Electrical equipment standard issued by the Ministry of Industry pursuant to Decision No. 19/2006/QĐ-BCN dated July 11, 2006.

TCVN 6396-72:2010, Safety requirements for construction and installation of elevators. Specifically for passenger elevators and combined passenger and freight elevators. Part 72: Firefighting elevators.

TCVN 6396-73:2010, Safety requirements for construction and installation of elevators. Specifically for passenger elevators and combined passenger and freight elevators. Part 73: Condition of elevators during fire.

1.4 Definitions

In this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

1.4.1

Apartment Building

A building with two or more floors, containing multiple apartments, with common corridors and staircases, having both private and shared ownership, and a shared infrastructure system serving households, individuals, and organizations, including apartment buildings constructed for residential purposes and those constructed for mixed-use purposes.

NOTE: Mixed-use apartment buildings are referred to as mixed-use apartment buildings.

1.4.2

Apartment Building Complex

A group of two or more apartment buildings constructed according to approved planning and project documents by authorized agencies.

1.4.3

Mixed-Use Apartment Building

An apartment building designed and constructed for mixed-use purposes, including residential and other uses such as offices, services, commerce, etc.

1.4.4

Part of apartment in mixed-use residential building

The part of construction project arranging apartments within a mixed-use residential building, constructed according to the planning and project dossier approved by the competent authority.

1.4.5

Apartment

A closed living space meeting the needs for daily life of a family, individual, or group. An apartment may have one or more different functional spaces such as: living room - common area; workspace, study area; ancestral worship place; bedrooms; dining room; kitchen; bathroom; laundry and drying area; balcony or loggia; storage area.

1.4.6

Residential apartment

An apartment located within a residential building or a mixed-use residential building, serving the purpose of residence for a family, individual, or group.

1.4.7

Other functional parts

The part of construction within a mixed-use residential building used for other functions, including: office, restaurant, supermarket, hotel, short-term rental apartment (condotel), office combined with accommodation (officetel), and other services.

1.4.8

Short-term rental apartment

An apartment located within a mixed-use residential building (condotel), serving the purpose of short-term rental, equipped with necessary facilities and services for tenants to self-service during their stay.

1.4.9

Office combined with accommodation

Office combined with accommodation (officetel) located within a mixed-use residential building, equipped with necessary facilities and services for one or more individuals to work and reside.

1.4.10

Building height

Height measured from the ground level of the construction site according to the approved planning to the highest point of the building (including roof or sloping roof). For projects with different ground levels, the height is measured from the lowest ground level according to the approved planning.

NOTE: Technical equipment on the roof such as antenna columns, lightning rods, solar energy devices, metal water tanks, chimneys, ventilation ducts, architectural decorative details are not included in the building height.

1.4.11

Clear height

Height from the finished floor to the underside of the beam, slab, or ceiling that has been completed or the technical system of the floor.

1.4.12

Fire protection height (PCCC height)

The fire protection height (PCCC height) of a building is determined by the distance from the lowest road surface accessible to firefighting vehicles to the bottom edge of the window opening on the outer wall of the topmost floor, excluding the technical floor. If there is no window opening, the PCCC height is determined by half the total distance from the road surface accessible to firefighting vehicles to the floor and ceiling of the topmost floor. In cases where the roof is utilized, the PCCC height of the building is determined by the maximum distance from the road surface accessible to firefighting vehicles to the top edge of the roof parapet.

1.4.13

Usable area of apartment

Floor area calculated based on the clear dimensions of the apartment: including the floor area counting interior walls/partitions of rooms within the apartment, balcony, and loggia areas; excluding the floor area with load-bearing columns/walls, technical boxes inside the apartment, and exterior walls/partitions of the building/apartment, and partitions between apartments.

NOTE: Clear dimensions are measured to the inner edge of the finishing layer of the wall/partition/glass rail/balcony guard adjacent to the floor (excluding interior decoration details such as baseboard/cornice/molding...). For balconies and loggias, calculate the entire floor area, if there is a shared wall, measure from the inner edge of the shared wall.

1.4.14

Number of floors of the building

The number of floors of the building includes all floors above ground (including technical floors, top floor) and semi-basement floors, excluding the attic floor.

NOTE 1: The top floor is not counted in the number of floors of the building when it only serves to cover the stairwell/elevator shaft and shield technical equipment of the building (if any), and its roof area does not exceed 30% of the floor area of the roof.

NOTE 2: A single mezzanine floor with a floor area not exceeding 10% of the floor area of the immediately lower floor and a total floor area not exceeding 300 m2, which only serves as a technical area (bottom floor of swimming pool, floor for generator placement, or other technical equipment of the building), is not counted in the number of floors.

NOTE 3: For buildings with different ground levels, the number of floors is calculated based on the lowest ground level according to the approved planning.

1.4.15

Attic floor

A floor located within the space of a sloping roof where the entire or part of its vertical face is formed by a sloping or folded roof surface, in which the enclosing wall (if any) does not exceed 1.5 meters above the floor level.

1.4.16

Above-ground floor

A floor whose floor level is higher than or equal to the ground level of the construction site according to the approved planning.

1.4.17

Basement floor

A floor where more than half of its height lies below the ground level of the construction site according to the approved planning.

1.4.18

Semi-basement floor

A floor where half of its height lies above or at the ground level of the construction site according to the approved planning.

1.4.19

Technical floor

A floor or part of a floor arranged with technical rooms or equipment of the building. Technical floors can be basement, semi-basement, attic, top floor, or part of the middle section of the building.

1.4.20

Technical room

A room arranged with technical equipment of the building or floor. Technical rooms can be arranged throughout or part of the technical floor.

1.4.21

Living room

Rooms in an apartment used for one or multiple functions. A living room includes bedrooms and other living rooms.

1.4.22

Balcony

A space protected by a railing projecting beyond the facade of the residential building.

1.4.23

Loggia

A space protected by a railing set back from the facade of the residential building.

1.4.24

Community living space

Space arranged for organizing communal activities of residents living in residential buildings or clusters of residential buildings, such as: resident meetings, cultural activities, entertainment, and other community events.

1.4.25

Elevator lobby

Open space before the entrance door of the elevator.

1.4.26

Buffer zone

Transition space between two doors used to protect against smoke and other gases when entering the building, stairwell, or other rooms in the building.

1.4.27

Fire compartment

A portion of the building separated from other parts of the building by fire-resistant walls and floors type 1.

1.4.28

Design lifespan

The expected service life of the project according to the design for calculating the building structure (including the foundation) ensures safety under load and normal usage conditions throughout the operation period without requiring major repairs or reinforcement of the load-bearing structure.

1.4.29

Selection criteria for standards

National technical standards or international standards, regional standards, foreign standards selected for application in the project in accordance with current laws.

1.4.30

Standard documents

Documents that establish rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results.

NOTE 1: The term "standard document" is a general term including documents such as standards, technical regulations, practice norms, and technical specifications.

NOTE 2: "Document" must be understood as a means of conveying information.

NOTE 3: Terms referring to different types of standard documents are determined based on the examination of the document as a whole entity.

Chapter 2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

2.1 General Requirements

2.1.1 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must ensure requirements for structural safety, stability, and design lifespan. Construction shall not take place in areas with geological hazards (landslides, landslips, soil slides...) or flood-prone areas without technical measures to ensure the safety of construction works.

2.1.2 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must meet fire safety requirements according to QCVN 06:2021/BXD and related regulations. The installation, arrangement, inspection, and maintenance of firefighting equipment and rescue facilities must comply with current regulations.

2.1.3 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must ensure accessibility for elderly people and persons with disabilities according to QCVN 10:2014/BXD.

2.1.4 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be designed and constructed to meet energy efficiency requirements according to QCVN 09:2017/BXD.

2.1.5 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must comply with regulations concerning life safety and health according to QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD. Termite prevention requirements for apartment buildings must follow selected technical standards.

2.1.6 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be maintained according to the prescribed procedures.

2.1.7 The residential units within mixed-use apartment buildings must have independent access points (excluding emergency stairwells).

2.1.8 Other functional areas such as offices, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, short-term rental apartments (condotel), office-living combined units (officetel), and other services in mixed-use apartment buildings must be arranged separately according to approved projects and managed in operation according to regulations.

2.1.9 Public spaces and shared-use spaces in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be equipped with security monitoring devices or other solutions to detect and prevent potential risks to children, people, and structures.

2.2 Planning and Architectural Requirements

2.2.1 The land use of apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must ensure compliance with the intended purpose and efficient land use.

2.2.2 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be designed and constructed in accordance with approved urban planning and construction plans.

2.2.3 Population figures for apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be calculated consistently throughout all stages of design documentation preparation as required, and must be consistent with population indicators approved by competent authorities for investment construction projects.

2.2.4 Residential units

2.2.4.1 Must have at least one bedroom and one bathroom. The minimum usable area of a residential unit must not be less than 25 square meters.

2.2.4.2 For commercial housing projects, the proportion of residential units with an area of less than 45 square meters must not exceed 25% of the total number of residential units in the project.

2.2.4.3 Residential units must be naturally lit. Units with two or more bedrooms may have one bedroom without natural lighting.

2.2.4.4 Bedrooms must be well-ventilated and naturally lit. The minimum usable area of a bedroom in a residential unit must not be less than 9 square meters.

2.2.5 Short-term rental units

2.2.5.1 The minimum usable area of a short-term rental unit must not be less than 25 square meters.

2.2.5.2 Other requirements are specified according to selected standards for short-term rental units.

2.2.6 Office-living combined units

2.2.6.1 The minimum usable area of an office-living combined unit must not be less than 25 square meters, with a minimum working area of 9 square meters. Kitchens must not be arranged in office-living combined units.

2.2.6.2 Other requirements are specified according to selected standards for designing office-living combined units.

2.2.7 Community living space

a) Apartment buildings and residential units within mixed-use apartment buildings must arrange community living space ensuring a minimum average usable area of 0.8 square meters per unit, including suitable space for organizing residents' meetings.

b) For clusters of apartment buildings within a construction project where community living space cannot be arranged in each building, it is allowed to combine at a single location or separate area with a maximum reduction of 30% in total community living space area; the distance from the entrance hall of each building to the community living space must not exceed 300 meters, and convenience for residents' needs must be considered and explained.

2.2.8 Other functional areas such as offices, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, short-term rental apartments (condotel), office-living combined units (officetel), and other services in mixed-use apartment buildings must be designed in compliance with current regulations and selected standards.

2.2.9 Apartment buildings and residential units within mixed-use apartment buildings must provide clothes-drying areas that maintain the aesthetics of the building and city.

2.2.10 In apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings:

- For bedrooms, the clear height must not be less than 2.6 meters;

- For kitchens and bathrooms, the clear height must not be less than 2.3 meters;

- For basements, semi-basements, and technical floors, the clear height must not be less than 2.0 meters;

- For the interior space of sloping roofs used as bedrooms or living rooms, half of the room's area must have a clear height of at least 2.1 meters.

The clear height of rooms and other areas shall be based on the design requirements or selected standards.

2.2.11 Windows of apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings:

- Windows may only be sliding or tilting doors with safety clearance when opened. The positions of door control mechanisms must comply with the provisions of QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD.

- For apartments without balconies or terraces, at least one window must be arranged on the outer wall of the building with a clear opening size not less than (600x600) mm to serve rescue and evacuation purposes.

2.2.12 Railings, guardrails, balconies, and terraces, in addition to meeting the safety requirements specified in QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD, the clear height from floor to the bottom of the window frame/window sill in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must not be less than 1.4 meters. Other locations must comply with QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD.

2.2.13 Staircases in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be designed and arranged to meet usage and safe evacuation requirements in accordance with the provisions of QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD, QCVN 10:2014/BXD, and QCVN 06:2021/BXD.

2.2.14 Slopes in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings:

- Slopes in garages for automobiles must satisfy the requirements of QCVN 13:2018/BXD;

- Slopes for pedestrians must ensure that elderly people and persons with disabilities can access according to the requirements set out in QCVN 10:2014/BXD.

2.2.15 Escape routes, evacuation routes, and emergency exits in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must comply with the regulations of QCVN 06:2021/BXD and QCVN 10:2014/BXD.

2.2.16 Fire vehicle access roads and open spaces of apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be consistent with QCVN 06:2021/BXD.

2.2.17 Parking spaces (including cars, motorcycles (including electric motorcycles), bicycles).

2.2.17.1 Parking spaces of apartment buildings, residential units within mixed-use apartment buildings must comply with the requirements of QCVN 13:2018/BXD and must be calculated to meet the following requirements:

a) Must be within the approved project area; separate parking areas for cars and motorcycles, bicycles must be provided.

b) The parking space area (including internal roads within the garage/parking lot) must be a minimum of 25 square meters for four apartment units, but not less than 20 square meters for every 100 square meters of usable apartment unit area, ensuring a minimum of 6 square meters of parking space for motorcycles and bicycles per apartment unit.

c) Social housing, resettlement housing, and low-income housing: the parking space area may be calculated at 60% of the standard prescribed in Clause b) of this Article while ensuring a minimum of 6 square meters of parking space for motorcycles and bicycles per apartment unit.

d) If parking spaces use mechanical or automatic garages (referred to collectively as mechanical garages), then for every 100 square meters of usable apartment unit area, there must be a minimum of 12 square meters of parking space in the mechanical garage (for multi-level mechanical garages, the parking space area is multiplied by the number of levels of the mechanical garage). The traffic route leading to the mechanical garage must be compatible with the technology of the mechanical garage and must comply with current regulations.

2.2.17.2 The parking space area (including internal roads within the garage/parking lot) of residential units and combined office-residential units within mixed-use apartment buildings must be calculated to ensure a minimum of 20 square meters for every 160 square meters of usable residential and combined office-residential unit area; it must be within the approved project area.

2.2.17.3 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must provide parking spaces for persons with disabilities. The location and number of parking spaces for persons with disabilities must comply with QCVN 10:2014/BXD.

2.2.18 Apartment buildings and residential units within mixed-use apartment buildings must allocate space for property management staff, parking attendants, security personnel, and technical services, ensuring a minimum of 5 square meters per person.

2.3 Structural Requirements

2.3.1 The structure of apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings during construction and operation must meet the following requirements:

a) Load-bearing safety: must be designed and constructed to ensure load-bearing capacity, stability, and resistance to the most adverse combinations of loads, including time-dependent loads, where loads related to Vietnam's natural conditions (typhoons, earthquakes, lightning, flooding) are taken from QCVN 02:2009/BXD.

b) Normal usability: must maintain normal usage conditions without excessive deformation or deterioration beyond permissible limits as defined by the selected standard.

c) Fire resistance: structures and structural materials of the building must meet fire resistance and fire hazard requirements as per QCVN 06:2021/BXD.

d) Design life:

+ Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be designed to ensure a minimum design life of 50 years (except in cases determined by the investor or developer as appropriate for the operational lifespan of the project).

+ The structure of the building must ensure durability corresponding to its design life.

+ The design life of the project must be clearly stated in the design documents and other project documents as required by law. Upon reaching the design service life of the project, the developer/investor must issue a notice and conduct inspections and quality assessments to implement measures to extend the service life or take other actions as required by law.

2.3.2 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must meet the following requirements:

a) Horizontal displacement at the top of the building and relative horizontal displacement between floors must not exceed values specified by the selected standard.

b) The maximum acceleration of movement at the top of the building due to wind loads must not exceed the value specified in the selected design standard.

2.3.3 Foundations, foundation structures, basement structures, and underground technical systems of the building must be calculated and designed based on the characteristics of the ground, geological and hydrological conditions at the construction site, as well as the degree of ground and groundwater erosion, and must meet the following requirements:

- Ensure load-bearing safety and stability;

- Ensure settlement and differential settlement within allowable limits as stipulated in the design task and selected standards;

- Ensure safety for the building itself and adjacent structures during foundation and basement construction.

2.3.4 During construction and operation, apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must not cause damage to the technical infrastructure system and adjacent works.

2.3.5 When renovating apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings, the structural layout and actual condition of the building must be taken into account.

2.4 Elevator Requirements

2.4.1 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings with five floors or more must have at least one elevator, and those with ten floors or more must have at least two elevators, ensuring the flow rate of users according to the selected standard.

NOTE: In apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings equipped with elevators, there must be at least one dedicated elevator with a clear cabin size sufficient for transporting stretchers.

2.4.2 At least one elevator must be provided for every 200 residents in the building, excluding those on the ground floor, or if calculated based on the number of units, at least one elevator must be provided for every 70 units. The load capacity of each elevator must not be less than 450 kg. In cases where the building has only one elevator, the minimum load capacity of the elevator must not be less than 630 kg.

2.4.3 For apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings with a fire protection height greater than 50 meters or with a basement floor depth greater than 9 meters measured from the evacuation exit level, each fire compartment of the building must have at least one elevator capable of meeting the requirements for transporting firefighting forces and equipment according to TCVN 6396-72:2010 and TCVN 6396-73:2010.

2.4.4 The width of the elevator lobby must be arranged in accordance with the selected standard.

2.4.5 Elevators must be equipped with door anti-trap devices, automatic rescue systems, and internal telephone systems from the cabin to the outside. Elevators can only operate when all doors are closed.

2.4.6 The load capacity and speed of the elevator must meet the requirements according to the selected standard.

2.4.7 Elevators must ensure safety according to QCVN 02:2019/BLĐTBXH and undergo safety inspection before being put into use under the following circumstances:

- After installation;

- After major repairs;

- After a serious accident or incident has been resolved;

- Upon expiration of the inspection period or upon request of the state management agency for labor safety.

2.4.8 The machine room and elevator equipment placement area must have convenient and safe access routes and cannot be directly located above residential units. The elevator shaft must meet soundproofing requirements according to QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD and noise reduction requirements according to QCVN 26:2010/BTNMT.

2.4.9 Water tanks must not be directly placed above the elevator shaft, and water supply, heating, and gas pipes must not pass through the elevator shaft.

2.4.10 Elevators must ensure accessibility and usability for elderly people and persons with disabilities according to QCVN 10:2014/BXD.

2.5 Water Supply and Drainage System Requirements

2.5.1 The potable water supply and drainage system must meet the requirements for water supply and drainage needs specified in QCVN 01:2021/BXD, technical requirements stipulated in "Technical Standards for Potable Water Supply and Drainage Systems," and the selected standards.

2.5.2 The potable water supply system must meet hygiene quality standards according to QCVN 1-1:2018/BYT and satisfy usage requirements according to the selected standards.

2.5.3 The indoor and outdoor fire-fighting water supply systems must comply with the regulations of QCVN 06:2021/BXD and meet the following requirements:

- If there is no outdoor fire-fighting water supply system or it does not guarantee the required water flow and pressure, a reserve water source must be provided to ensure the fire-fighting water flow of the indoor fire hydrants for at least three hours;

- Buildings with a fire protection height greater than 50 meters must have fire hydrants for firefighting forces located on each floor, with the farthest apartment door on each floor within 45 meters from the fire hydrant (taking into account travel distance). Fire hydrant waiting points must be installed in fire-resistant compartments (fire-resistant compartments of smoke-free stairwells or fire-resistant compartments of fire-fighting elevators). The fire hydrant waiting point system for firefighting forces must have external fire hydrant waiting points connected to fire trucks or fire pumps and linked to the indoor fire-fighting water supply system. Fire hydrant waiting points must comply with current regulations;

- Indoor fire hydrants must be located in easily accessible areas. The necessary water flow rate of the indoor fire hydrant system must be determined according to the selected technical standards, except for buildings over 50 meters in fire protection height and with each floor area exceeding 1500 square meters, which must ensure a fire-fighting water flow rate for no fewer than four fire streams, each with a flow rate of 2.5 liters per second during the calculated firefighting time but not less than one hour. Each point on the floor must ensure that two fire hydrants can reach simultaneously;

- Firefighting water supply for fire suppression systems must be carried out according to current fire prevention and firefighting standards.

2.5.4 The drainage system must comply with the provisions of the selected standards.

2.5.5 The roof rainwater drainage system must ensure drainage of rainwater throughout the year. Vertical rainwater discharge pipes must not leak and must be connected to the building's drainage system and then connected to the common drainage system of the area.

2.5.6 The entire building's wastewater drainage system must be connected to the area's centralized wastewater treatment system or treated to meet the requirements of QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT before being discharged into the common drainage system of the area.

2.5.7 Wastewater treatment tanks of the building must be located in convenient positions, with adequate conditions for suction and drainage, ensuring structural safety, without cracking, leakage, and not affecting the environment during operation.

2.6 Requirements for Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems

2.6.1 Apartments and spaces outside apartments in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must have natural or forced ventilation systems. Local ventilation must be provided for kitchen, bathroom, and toilet areas.

2.6.2 The fresh air supply rate for each apartment must not be less than 30 cubic meters per hour per person or not less than the total exhaust air volume from the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet of the apartment.

2.6.3 The kitchen must have a ventilation system to exhaust air outside the building and ensure air circulation.

2.6.4 Evacuation routes and central halls must ensure an air exchange rate not less than 4 times per hour based on the volume of the hall.

NOTE: For evacuation routes and central halls that cannot be naturally ventilated (sealed, without windows), when air conditioning is not installed, the air exchange rate must not be less than 4 times per hour based on the volume of the hall; when air conditioning is installed, it must not be less than 1 cubic meter per hour per square meter.

2.6.5 Garages must ensure an air exchange rate not less than 6 times per hour for normal ventilation and 9 times per hour for smoke extraction ventilation.

2.6.6 When using forced ventilation systems and air conditioning, the following requirements must be met:

- Outdoor climate parameters used for designing ventilation and air conditioning systems must comply with QCVN 02:2009/BXD and applicable standards;

- Only refrigerants that ensure environmental safety according to current regulations may be used;

- Exhaust gases must not cause discomfort or harm to people or property nearby;

- Operation must not generate noise exceeding permissible limits;

- Rooms containing toxic substances must have independent exhaust, treatment, and supply air systems; fresh air must be directly supplied into the room with a flow rate not less than 90% of the exhaust air flow rate.

2.6.7 Sewage systems in apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must ensure no leakage of gases or odors affecting the health of residents and occupants.

2.6.8 Ventilation and smoke extraction systems, smoke protection systems for evacuation routes, fire resistance limits of ventilation ducts and air shafts must comply with the requirements set forth in QCVN 06:2021/BXD.

2.7 Waste Collection System Requirements

2.7.1 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must have waste collection systems complying with fire safety and environmental hygiene regulations.

2.7.2 Waste collection systems inside apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings can be arranged through waste chutes or waste collection rooms on each floor. These systems must collect all waste generated within the building with a retention time not exceeding one day.

2.7.3 Waste collection systems through chutes must meet the following requirements:

- Waste chute doors must be located in waste collection rooms on each floor. The waste collection room must be a closed space, naturally or mechanically ventilated, preventing odor spread to surrounding areas;

- Access to the waste collection room on each floor must pass through a fire-resistant buffer zone. The waste collection room and the fire-resistant buffer zone must be equipped with automatic fire detection or extinguishing systems;

- The combination of waste chute pipes, pipe doors, shields, valves, and room doors must be made from corrosion-resistant, non-combustible materials (as defined in QCVN 06:2021/BXD). This combination must be soundproofed when placed near bedrooms;

- Waste chute doors must be Class 1 fire doors, tightly sealed, preventing odors and automatically closing to prevent smoke;

- The top of the waste chute must extend at least 0.7 meters above the roof with a cross-sectional area not less than 0.05 square meters, and must have a rain cover and insect screen to prevent intrusion by pests;

- The waste storage room must be located directly below the waste chute on the ground floor or semi-basement floor or first basement floor (if there is no semi-basement); the waste storage room must have a clear height of at least 2.5 meters and have an external door; it must be isolated from the entrance to the building by solid walls and separated from other parts of the building by fire-resistant partitions (with a fire resistance rating not lower than REI 60); it must have a ventilation system; and automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems;

- The waste storage room must have a drainage pit and a sewage pipe connected to the building's common wastewater system, as well as a separate access route for waste transportation;

2.7.4 Waste collection systems on each floor of the building must meet the following requirements:

- Waste collection bins must be placed in a separate room on each floor, not obstructing evacuation or rescue operations;

- Each waste collection room must simultaneously house organic waste bins and non-biodegradable waste bins;

- The waste bin storage room must be separated from other areas by fire-resistant partitions, have a ventilation system, and automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems;

- Waste bins must be sealed, not emit odors, not leak, and not spill waste during transport. Transporting waste bins out of each floor must be done daily;

- Hazardous waste causing fire or explosion risks or spreading diseases must not be disposed of in waste bins.

2.8 Requirements for electrical systems, lightning protection, lighting, noise reduction, and communication systems

2.8.1 Apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must comply with design, installation, and operation requirements for electrical equipment, lightning protection, and communication systems as specified in QCVN 12:2014/BXD, QCVN QTĐ 08:2010/BCT, QCVN 09:2017/BXD, Electrical Equipment Regulations, and current regulations.

2.8.2 Transformers installed indoors must meet the following requirements:

a) Comply with the provisions of Part III - Electrical Equipment Regulations.

b) Transformer rooms must not be located directly below, directly above, or adjacent to rooms housing more than 50 people. Transformer rooms must be separated from other parts of the building by fire-resistant partitions with a fire resistance rating not lower than REI 120 and by fire-resistant floors with a fire resistance rating not lower than REI 90.

c) Transformer rooms must be equipped with automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems.

2.8.3 Electrical technical rooms must be located in dry areas, have locks, and open to the exterior, ensuring easy inspection and power switching. Gas pipes; flammable substance pipelines; technical water pipes; covers, valves, flanges, inspection doors, taps, and technical boxes of pipelines must not be allowed to pass through electrical technical rooms.

2.8.4 Buildings with a fire protection height of 28 meters or more must be equipped with a backup generator with a minimum capacity to ensure the operation of priority electrical networks including: water supply pumps, firefighting water pumps, automatic fire alarm systems, smoke protection systems, firefighting elevators, public lighting, fire alarm equipment, surveillance cameras, fire notification and evacuation control systems, and other loads as specified by current design standards.

NOTE: For buildings with a fire protection height lower than 28 meters, when there is a requirement to install an automatic fire suppression system and a smoke protection system, a backup power source must be provided to ensure the operation of these systems according to QCVN 06:2021/BXD.

2.8.5 It is permitted to arrange diesel generator rooms and fuel storage areas on the first floor, half basement, or the first basement level when the following requirements are met:

a) The diesel generator room and fuel storage area shall not be located directly below or adjacent to living quarters and must be separated from other parts of the building by fire-resistant walls with a fire resistance rating of at least REI 120 and fire-resistant floors with a fire resistance rating of at least REI 90.

b) A fuel storage area for three hours of operation may be arranged next to the generator room and must be separated from the generator room by type 1 fire-resistant walls and type 1 self-closing fire doors according to QCVN 06:2021/BXD. Fuel tanks for operation exceeding three hours of the generator must be placed outside the building.

c) The diesel generator room and fuel storage area must have oil spill containment and storage facilities; must have an automatic fire detection and suppression system; must have a separate ventilation system and the exhaust outlet location must not pose a danger to people on upper floors.

2.8.6 Residential buildings, residential portions of mixed-use residential buildings, must be designed for lighting and noise reduction in accordance with the provisions in QCXDVN 05:2008/BXD, QCVN 26:2010/BTNMT, and selected applicable standards.

2.9 Fire Safety Requirements

Residential buildings, mixed-use residential buildings must comply with fire safety regulations according to QCVN 06:2021/BXD.

3. MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS

3.1 This standard must be compulsorily applied when constructing new or reconstructing objects of construction as defined in Article 1.1 of this standard.

3.2 It is encouraged to apply this standard when renovating old residential buildings.

3.3 Transitional provisions:

- Design documents for residential buildings and mixed-use residential buildings that were reviewed by competent construction authorities before this standard took effect shall continue to be implemented according to the reviewed design documents.

- Design documents for residential buildings and mixed-use residential buildings reviewed after this standard takes effect must comply with the provisions of this standard.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

4.1 All organizations and individuals participating in activities related to the construction of new residential buildings and mixed-use residential buildings, including planning, reviewing, approving, organizing implementation, managing, and national and local technical standards and regulations related to residential buildings, must comply with the provisions of this standard.

4.2 Provincial/Municipal People's Committees shall establish methods for determining population in residential buildings and mixed-use residential buildings that are appropriate to actual population size and technical infrastructure conditions to apply and manage within their respective provinces/cities.

4.3 During the implementation of this standard, if there are any difficulties, all opinions should be sent to the Science, Technology, and Environment Department (Ministry of Construction) for guidance and resolution.

Chapter 5. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 The Ministry of Construction is responsible for disseminating and guiding the application of this standard to relevant entities.

5.2 Local state management agencies for construction shall be responsible for organizing inspections to ensure compliance with this standard in planning, reviewing, approving, and managing the construction of residential buildings and mixed-use residential buildings within their jurisdictions.