How to Obtain Fire Safety Inspection Certificate

A Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) is a certificate being issued by the local fire department. It is required for issuance of occupancy permit and business permit.

For example, if you have a business in Makati or your newly built building in Makati is ready for occupancy, you have to secure Fire Safety Inspection Certificate from the Makati City Fire Station before your building can be occupied or before you can open a business. For existing business wherein you already have your FSIC, you still have to secure a new FSIC for renewal of business. FSIC is valid for a year.

Requirements for Issuance of FSIC:

1. Endorsement from the Building Official or Business Permit Licensing Office
2. Photocopy of Building Permit and Assessment of Occupancy Permit Fee/Assessment of Business Permit Fee/BPLO Assessment/Tax Bill for Business Permit, as the case maybe
3. Copy of Fire Insurance Policy (if any)
4. Copy of Latest Fire Safety Inspection Certificate immediately preceding the current application (if any)

When to Apply:

Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the local office of the Bureau of Fire Protection

Local office means the municipal or city fire station.

Fee for Fire Safety Inspection Certificate:

10% of all fees charged by the Building Official or by the Local Government Unit or other government agencies concerned in granting pertinent permits or licenses

Steps in Obtaining Fire Safety Inspection Certificate:

1. Secure FSIC Application Form with the list of requirements from the Customer Relations Officer of the local BFP office.
2. Submit duly accomplished application form with the complete requirements to the Customer Relations Officer.
3. Wait for the Release of Order of Payment.
4. Pay the Fire Code Fee to Government Servicing Bank or BFP Collecting Officer.
5. Present machine validated Order of Payment or Official Receipt as basis for issuance of claim stub. (From step 5 to step 6, it will take about five days because the local fire department will still conduct fire safety inspection of the building or establishment.)
6. Present claim stub to the Customer Relations Officer to claim Fire Safety Inspection Certificate.

Fire Safety Definition of Terms (Part 1 of 4)

Under Republic Act No. 9514, otherwise known as the "Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008," there are over 50 terms on fire safety defined. Most of the definitions from the old Fire Code (PD 1185) were carried over in the new Fire Code. The definition of terms is placed under Section 3 of the code. Here are the most important definition of terms:

• Abatement - any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard.
• Administrator - any person who acts as agent of the owner and manages the use of a building for him.
• Blasting Agent - any material of mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used to set off explosives.
• Cellulose Nitrate or Nitro Cellulose - a highly combustible and explosive compound produced by the reaction of nitric acid with a cellulose material.
• Cellulose Nitrate Plastic (Pyroxylin) - any plastic substance, materials or compound having cellulose nitrate (nitro cellulose) as base.
• Combustible Flammable or Inflammable - descriptive of materials that are easily set on fire.
• Combustible Fiber - any readily ignitable and free burning fiber such as cotton, oakum, rags, waste cloth, waste paper, kapok, hay, straw, Spanish moss, excelsior and other similar materials commonly used in commerce.
• Combustible Liquid - any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Corrosive Liquid - any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with certain chemicals.
• Curtain Board - a vertical panel of non-combustible or fire-resistive materials attached to and extending below the bottom chord of the roof trusses, to divide the underside of the roof into separate compartments so that heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent.
• Cryogenic - descriptive of any material which by its nature or as a result of its reaction with other elements produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate surroundings.
• Damper - a normally open device installed inside air duct system which automatically closes to restrict the passage of smoke or fire.
• Distillation - the process of first raising the temperature in separating the more volatile from the less volatile parts and then cooling and condensing the resulting vapor so as to produce a nearly purified substance.
• Duct System - a continuous passageway for the transmission of air.
• Dust - a finely powdered substance which, when mixed with air in the proper proportion and ignited, will cause an explosion.