QCVN 04:2021/BXD National technical regulation on apartment buildings

On May 19, 2021, the Ministry of Construction issued Circular 03/2021/TT-BXD promulgating QCVN 04:2021/BXD National technical regulation on apartment buildings. and takes effect from July 5, 2021 to replace Circular No. 21/2019/TT-BXD issued QCVN 04:2019/BXD.

Regulation 04:2021/BXD stipulates the technical requirements to be applied when building new, rebuilding apartment buildings with a height of up to 150 m or with up to 3 basements, including apartment buildings built with the purpose of residential and mixed-use condominiums.

Accordingly, the population for apartment buildings and mixed-use apartment buildings must be calculated uniformly in all steps of preparing design documents as prescribed, and must be determined in accordance with the population target already approved by the competent authority. authority to approve construction investment projects.

Regarding the area, the minimum area of ​​the apartment is regulated as follows:

• For an apartment, there must be at least one living room and one toilet area; The minimum usable area of ​​the apartment is not less than 25m2 and must be naturally lit. For apartments with 2 or more rooms, there must be at least 1 room with natural lighting. Bedrooms must be ventilated and naturally lit. The area of use of rooms in the apartment is not less than 9 m2.
• For accommodation apartments: the usable area must not be less than 25 m2.
• For office combined with accommodation: the usable area is not less than 25 m2, in which the area of ​​the working area is at least 9 m2. Kitchens are not allowed in the office combined with the residence.

Community living space must ensure the minimum average usable area of ​​0.8 m2/ apartment. Specifically as follows:

• Condominiums, part of apartments in condominiums mixed to arrange space for community activities to ensure the area using minimum average 0.8 m2/ apartment, which must have a suitable space to hold a resident meeting.
• For apartment complexes in a project when it is not possible to arrange community living space in each building, it is allowed to combine in a separate location or area with a reduced total area for community activities. up to 30%; the radius from the building's lobby to the place of community activities is not more than 300 m and needs to be calculated and explained to ensure convenient living needs for residents.

In addition, the QCVN 04:2021/BXD regulation also stipulates other issues such as:

• Structural requirements: requirements for bearing safety, normal ability to use, ensuring fire resistance, design life, ... ;
• Elevator requirements;
• Requirements on water supply and drainage systems;
• Requirements on ventilation and air conditioning systems;
• Requirements on garbage collection;
• Requirements on electrical systems, lightning protection, lighting, noise protection and information transmission systems;
• Fire safety requirements.

Circular No. 03/2021/TT-BXD is entering into force as of July 5, 2021, replacing the Circular No. 21/2019/TT-BXD dated December 31, 2019.