In the Philippines, the Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) is a prerequisite by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for business occupancy permits, as mandated by Philippine laws.

A business owner’s failure to comply can result in large fines or penalties.

The FSIC essentially serves as an assurance that a certain facility, structure, building, or occupancy has been duly inspected and deemed to comply with the Fire Code of the Philippines, or Republic Act (RA) 9514.

Fire safety inspections are conducted as a pre-requisite to business grants of permits and/or licenses by local governments or other government agencies.

Such inspections happen before, during, and after the construction of your business establishment.

As a business owner, you should remember that inspections and business permit renewals are done at least once a year.

Owners of business establishments with defects and/or deficiencies are given a grace period to comply with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9514, and a letter/reminder will be sent to the client informing him/her of non-compliance with FSIC.

The main objective of these safety inspections is to point out potential RISKS and HAZARDS in the building or facility, which are noted at the end of a report to be rectified by employers, hence, these should not be taken lightly as LIVES are on the line.

Being prepared for fire safety inspections is the ultimate goal when trying to develop a positive working relationship with authorized fire inspectors, esp. during surprise visits.

Therefore, it is always good to be prepared and up-to-date on maintenance and fire protection initiatives, especially when using modern fire safety technology.