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One-stop Coordination Office for New Fire Protection Facilities Acceptance

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One-stop Coordination Office for New Fire Protection Facilities Acceptance

 

Background

"One-stop Coordination Office for New Fire Protection Facilities Acceptance" (OFFA) has been established and operated since 13 March 2025, aiming to enhance the overall efficiency of Fire Service installation and equipment (FSI) acceptance inspections of new buildings and projects that facilitate business operations and benefit the public, as well as to strengthen co-operation between the engineering sector and relevant government departments.

At present, the entire acceptance inspection process, from submission of application to completion of acceptance inspection, as well as vetting of all the plans and documents, and the issuance of Fire Services Certificates in the end, can be completed within 52 working days in most cases.  To further enhance service efficiency, the FSD expects that, upon establishment of OFFA, the overall time required for acceptance inspections can be shortened by one-third and be further compressed to within 35 working days in respect of average-scale regular projects through a series of innovative measures including the use of technology, early-stage coordination and communication with stakeholders as well as advance scheduling and streamlining.  As for public housing projects, FSD targets that the entire process to be completed within 22 working days.

OFFA will also serve as a collaborative hub, working closely with construction industry professionals and registered fire service installation contractors to improve the efficiency in FSI acceptance inspection.  In addition, OFFA has set up a dedicated email and hotline to provide comprehensive assistance to the industry.  For any comment and enquiry related to new fire protection facilities acceptance or OFFA, please feel free to send email to offa@hkfsd.gov.hk or call 3961 5000.

 

Application for Acceptance Inspection of Fire Service Installation and Equipment

Pursuant to Section 21(6)(d) of the Buildings Ordinance (Cap.123), Fire Service Installation and Equipment (FSI) acceptance inspection shall be carried out in new buildings for granting an occupation permit. Having confirmed the newly installed FSI are in efficient working order, a Fire Services Certificate (FS 172) will be issued by the Director of Fire Services.

 

Download the Fire Services Department Mobile Application to check the inspection progress

https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/education/mobileapps_hkfsd.html

 

Application Procedure:

  • 1. Application+-

    • Responsibilities of AP and RPE

      All applications for inspection and testing of FSI in new building should be tendered by an AP. APs before submitting applications, are required to ensure that all FSI to be inspected and tested are adequately covered by FSI/501a. For FSI in new building involving staircase pressurisation system, dynamic smoke extraction system, water mist system or other FSI fall under RPE’s purview, RPEs are required to certify at Part A of FSI/501 that the FSI to be inspected and tested are operating in accordance with approved design and in full compliance with the FSD requirements.

      APs should certify at Part B of FSI/501 that the FSI listed in the FSI/501 and all of the attached FSI/501a have been installed in accordance with approved building plans and are ready for inspection. The completed FSI/501 should be submitted together with, inter alia, duly signed FSI/501a provided by RFSICs.

      Responsibilities of RFSIC

      Under the new arrangement, whenever RFSICs install any FSI in new building, they shall certify that the FSI listed therein have been installed and tested, and are in efficient working order in accordance with the Code by signing FSI/501a. The signed FSI/501a is a certificate under Regulation 9 of the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations (Cap. 95B) which shall be issued by the RFSIC within 14 days after completion of the work to the person on whose instructions the work was undertaken with a copy thereof forwarded to the Director of Fire Services.

      The new arrangement also applies for fixed automatically operated approved appliance and portable hand-operated approved appliance (portable equipment) such as fixed sprayer unit, fire extinguisher, sand bucket and fire blanket, for which the equipment should be certified by Class 3 RFSIC via separate FSI/501a. Certificate of Fire Service Installations and Equipment (F.S.251) is no longer required in new building. Nonetheless, the statutory requirements by virtue of Cap. 95B and the Code on the installation, maintenance, inspection and repair of FSI (e.g. provision of maintenance label on portable extinguishers) shall still be adhered to.

       

       

      Documents required for application:

      1. FSI/501-Application for Inspection and Testing of Fire Service Installations and Equipment

      FSI/501-Application for Inspection and Testing of Fire Service Installations and Equipment

      Reference sample

      Electronic Submission
      e-FSI/501- Application for Inspection and Testing of Fire Service Installations and Equipment

      User Guide for Input of the Form FSI/501-Appendix I(A)

       

       

      2. FSI/501a- Certificate of Completion of Installation of Fire Service Installations and Equipment in New Buildings

      FSI/501a- Certificate of Completion of Installation of Fire Service Installations and Equipment in New Buildings

      Reference sample

      Electronic Submission
      e-FSI/501a- Certificate of Completion of Installation of Fire Service Installations and Equipment in New Buildings

      User Guide for Input of the Form FSI/501a-Appendix I(B)

       

       

      3. Fire Service Installation Schematic Drawings / As-fitted Layout Drawings (FSI/314)

      Fire Service Installation Schematic Drawings / As-fitted Layout Drawings (FSI/314)

      The AP and RFSIC shall submit a duly completed form FSI/314 together with the following documents/drawings according to the Stage 2 submission procedures as stipulated in FSD Circular Letter No. 1/2005:

      (a) Two sets of as-fitted FSI layout plans as prepared according to Part I of FSD Circular Letter 4/96 (one set of the drawings shall be coloured); and
      (b) A schedule of the submitted FSI layout plans.

       

       

      4. Testing and Commissioning Checklists

      The RFSIC shall submit duly completed testing and commissioning checklists for FSIs to FSD before the inspection.
      Application submitted in accordance with the 2022 version of the Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment and Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Installations and Equipment
      https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/fire_protection/notices/code.html

       

       

      Fire Service Installations – Equipment List

      Fire Service Installations – Equipment List

       

      To facilitate the compliance inspection, the RFSIC shall submit to FSD the duly completed Equipment List with his signature on each page together with the following supporting documents and documentary proof if applicable:
      (a) Listing certificates/ records/ documents/ printouts from product certification bodies; 
      (b) FSD approval/ acceptance letters;
      (c) Test certificates/ data sheets/ catalogues/ calculations; and
      (d) Other necessary technical information.

       

      5. Fire Service Completion Advice / WWO46 Part IV from Water Suppliers Department    

      According to FSI/501, the Fire Service Completion Advice in respect of fire service installation(s)/equipment requiring government water main connection should have been applied for/issued by the Water Supplies Department  

       

  • 2. Preliminary review of all submitted documents+-

    • To avoid delays in processing your FSI acceptance application, please ensure that all required documents, including the Fire Service Installation Testing and Commissioning (T&C) Checklist Report and the Equipment List, are submitted with your initial application. From our past experience, incomplete submissions are a common cause of delays, as the application process cannot begin until all necessary documents are received.

  • 3. Pre-inspection meeting+-

    • A pre-inspection meeting will be conducted on a need basis amongst FSD’s Inspecting Officers, AP, RFSIC and RPE (if appropriate) before on-site inspection. During the pre-meeting, the following tasks will be carried out: -

       

  • 4. On-site inspection+-

    •  

      Tasks Acceptance Criteria Examples
      Functional checking

      - Part V of CoP
      - T&C checklists / Test reports

      - Proper actuation of pump/fans
      - Actuation of fire alarm via manual call point
      Performance verification

      - Part V of CoP
      - T&C checklists / Test reports

      		 - Flow or pressure measurement as per performance requirements
      Material checking

      - Equipment list
      - Fire resisting cable as required in FSD Circular Letter No. 2/2017

      - Brand, types, model no., etc.
      - Fire resisting cables for primary and secondary power supply
      - Self-contained battery Ampere-hour rating, etc.
      Layout checking

      - As-fitted FSI Plans
      - Siting and spacing as required by various standards

      - Coverage of sprinkler heads, detectors, hose reel, etc.
      - Mounting height of Manual Call Points, Exit signs, etc.
      Interoperability of FSI

      - Part V of CoP
      - FSD Circular Letter 2/2002 for Hot Smoke Test

      - Full load power supply test by emergency generator
      - Hot smoke test for dynamic smoke extraction system
      - Any inter-relation between FSIs as stated in FER

       

  • 5. Inspection result+-

    • The Inspecting Officer will record the inspection and testing results on the FSI/507(B) " Report on Fire Service Installation Inspection and Testing" , which will then be filed as a complete record of the inspection work. The Authorized Person (AP) and the Registered Fire Service Installation Contractors (RFSICs) are also required to sign the FSI/507(B) form to acknowledge the inspection results.

      The owner of the newly constructed building will also be informed of the inspection result.

  • 6. Re-inspection (if applicable)+-
    • After the defects have been duly rectified the Authorized Person (AP) must submit a written confirmation certifying that the defects have been remedied. A written request for re-inspection should then be sent to the FSD by fax or post within two months. Re-inspections will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis. During the re-inspection, if all defects are confirmed to be rectified, the acceptance inspection of the Fire Service Installations (FSI) will be deemed complete. Otherwise, further re-inspections will be required.
  • 7. Plan Revision / Document Supplementation+-

    • It will be commenced after completion of on-site inspection with a satisfactory result. During document checking, AP, RFSIC and RPE will proceed the following tasks: -

      • Make minor amendments to GBP;
      • Revise FSI plans, equipment lists, etc; and
      • Supplement outstanding documents
  • 8. Issuance of Fire Services Certificate+-

    • After confirming that the newly installed FSIs are in full compliance with the FS requirements, a Fire Services Certificate (FS 172) for non-government buildings, or an acceptance memo/ a letter for government buildings will be issued by FSD within 7 working days upon completion of document checking.

      The Certificate shall only be valid when the permanent and adequate water supply from Water Supplies Department for the FSI has been connected.

       

  • Relevant guidelines / circulars+-