Nghe An conducts general fire prevention and fighting inspection at karaoke establishments

215 establishments were temporarily suspended and suspended

In order to prevent fires and explosions with serious consequences, from April 2022 up to now, Nghe An Police have continuously conducted general inspections and reviews of facilities.karaoke, bars, and nightclubs in the area. Accordingly, up to now, through inspection and handling, the authorities have temporarily suspended the operations of 180 establishments and suspended the operations of 35 establishments.

According to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police, one of the main violations when inspecting karaoke businesses is that the finishing materials, advertising signs, wall and ceiling decoration in the singing room and escape corridors still use some flammable materials, which reduces the effect of preventing fire spread, the ability to generate smoke, smoke toxicity and flammability...

Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department inspects a karaoke business in Nghia Dan district. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

For example, the Royal Club karaoke facility located at 100 Mai Hac De Street, Ha Huy Tap Ward, Vinh City, during the inspection, it was found that the facility had fully equipped all construction items (escape routes, horizontal escape corridors, vertical escape stairs, hinged escape doors, opening in the direction of escape), emergency lighting system, escape indicator lights... In addition, the facility also built an iron escape staircase on the east side of the building to ensure escape routes according to regulations; a fire fighting water tank with a volume of 150m3³has a cover to ensure convenience for fire trucks to get water…

However, the facility is using decorative and soundproofing materials in crowded karaoke rooms, on the suspended ceiling and walls of the escape route and escape corridor, which are still using some flammable materials, which are ineffective in preventing the spread of fire. Although it was temporarily suspended for 1 month according to regulations, up to now, the facility continues to be suspended because it has not been able to fix the problem.

Decorative and soundproofing materials in karaoke rooms are made of flammable materials. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Similarly, 18 karaoke rooms on the 6th floor of Dai Hue Cooperative, located at 2 Nguyen Phong Sac Street, Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City, were also temporarily suspended and are currently suspended due to the use of decorative and soundproofing materials in the karaoke rooms made of plywood, materials that have not been proven to be fire-resistant and non-flammable, which will not prevent the spread of fire. This is a serious violation of fire prevention regulations as stipulated in Point b, Clause 1, Article 17, Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP dated November 24, 2020 of the Government.

According to the owner of a karaoke establishment in Vinh City, investing in a karaoke business is very expensive, including decorative materials, soundproofing, etc. The usual wall cladding structure in a singing room includes a brick wall layer, then a soundproof layer, followed by a layer of plywood, and finally decorative materials.

However, currently, with the goal of reviewing and ensuring fire prevention and fighting work, the existing decorative and soundproofing materials, most of which are plywood and materials that do not have documents proving that they are fireproof and non-flammable, the facility has been suspended. “Every day of suspension is a loss, a worry because of the bank interest rate, however, we do not know what to do, we are really confused. Replacing the existing decorative and soundproofing materials is like stripping and starting over, and we do not know what materials to replace them with. I have thought about using materials such as stainless steel, glass, brick, stone... but these materials make the room echo, making it difficult to ensure soundproofing and difficult to decorate,” said the karaoke facility owner.

Resolutely handle

According to the statistics compiled by the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police: In Nghe An province, there are 424 karaoke establishments, bars, and pubs under the State management of fire prevention and fighting. Through inspection and monitoring, fire prevention and rescue work at karaoke establishments and bars has increasingly received attention, focus, and investment.

The owners of the establishments have organized or assigned responsibilities and tasks in performing fire prevention and fighting and search and rescue work to individuals and units under their management to ensure seriousness and effectiveness, specifically: promulgating and posting internal rules and regulations on fire prevention and fighting; propagating and disseminating laws and knowledge on fire prevention and fighting; providing professional training on fire prevention and fighting; organizing and maintaining grassroots fire prevention and fighting forces; developing and practicing fire fighting plans; implementing compulsory fire and explosion insurance regimes...

Checking the electrical system, soundproofing materials, and decorations at a karaoke establishment. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Individuals operating in karaoke businesses and bars must comply with the instructions and directions of the owners and relevant authorities as prescribed. Through on-site inspections, karaoke businesses and bars in the area have basically implemented and maintained regularly and effectively the conditions to ensure fire safety and rescue as prescribed in Article 5, Decree 136/2020/ND-CP and Decree No. 83/2017/ND-CP, thereby contributing to improving the effectiveness of fire prevention and suppression work, or when a fire occurs, it can be promptly controlled to prevent the fire from spreading and causing serious consequences.

Identified as a conditional business, only qualified establishments can operate. If a karaoke establishment does not ensure fire safety while operating, it is very dangerous. One of the main causes of large fires in karaoke establishments is substandard decorative and soundproofing materials. When burned, these materials will emit large amounts of smoke and toxic gases, which can cause suffocation and death in just a few seconds.

Announcement of the decision to temporarily suspend 18 karaoke rooms on the 6th floor of Dai Hue Cooperative, located at 2 Nguyen Phong Sac Street, Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City. Photo courtesy

According to the results of the general review by Nghe An Provincial Police, 215 establishments that do not meet fire safety standards must stop operations for correction. According to the request, if karaoke establishments use wood, foam... to cover the ceiling, walls, partitions, they must be completely removed and replaced with non-flammable, fire-resistant materials such as: bricks, glass, alloys... ensuring that the replacement materials must have a fire resistance limit equal to or higher than the regulations.

Also according to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police, for establishments that have been temporarily suspended from operation or have been requested in writing by relevant authorities to temporarily suspend operations to remedy existing problems and violations of fire prevention and fighting, the Provincial Police proactively grasp the situation, regularly urge, remind, and guide establishments to promptly organize to remedy existing problems and violations in accordance with regulations.

At the same time, monitor to ensure that establishments do not evade the authorities to operate during the period of temporary suspension or temporary suspension of operations without completely correcting the existing problems and violations of fire prevention and fighting. In case the temporary suspension or temporary suspension of operations has expired but the existing violations of fire prevention and fighting have not been completely corrected, the Provincial Police will resolutely suspend the operation of the establishment according to regulations and request the relevant authorities to revoke the license that does not meet the prescribed business conditions.