How often must fire drills be conducted in Malaysian workplaces?

Fire drills must be conducted at least twice a year (every 6 months) for most workplaces. High-risk premises such as factories handling flammable materials should conduct quarterly drills. Records of all drills must be maintained for inspection by Bomba.

What is a Bomba certificate and when is it required?

A Fire Certificate (FC) from Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia is required for designated premises under the Fire Services Act 1988. This includes buildings exceeding 18 metres in height, buildings with floor area exceeding 930 sq metres, and premises storing hazardous materials.

What types of fire extinguishers are required in Malaysian workplaces?

The type depends on fire risk classification: Water/Foam for Class A (ordinary combustibles), CO2 or Dry Powder for Class B (flammable liquids), CO2 for Class C (electrical), and Wet Chemical for Class F (cooking oils). Most offices need ABC dry powder and CO2 extinguishers.

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Fire Safety Requirements for Workplaces Malaysia 2026

Updated May 2026 · 8 min read · Fire Services Act 1988 & UBBL 1984

Fire safety compliance in Malaysian workplaces is governed primarily by the Fire Services Act 1988, the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984, and relevant provisions under OSHA 1994. Non-compliance can result in closure orders, heavy fines, and criminal liability in the event of fire-related injuries or deaths.

Key Legislation

Legislation	Scope	Enforced By
Fire Services Act 1988	Fire certificates, designated premises, fire safety standards	Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat
UBBL 1984 (Part VII)	Building fire safety design, means of escape, fire resistance	Local authorities
OSHA 1994	General duty to ensure safety including fire prevention	DOSH
FMA 1967	Fire precautions in factories and machinery premises	DOSH

Bomba Fire Certificate (FC)

A Fire Certificate from Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia is required for designated premises under Section 28 of the Fire Services Act 1988:

Buildings exceeding 18 metres in height
Buildings with floor area exceeding 930 square metres
Premises used for storage of hazardous/flammable materials
Hotels, hospitals, schools, and places of public assembly
Shopping complexes and high-rise residential buildings
Factories and industrial premises

The Fire Certificate confirms that:

Fire detection and alarm systems are installed and functional
Fire suppression systems (sprinklers, hose reels) are adequate
Means of escape are sufficient and unobstructed
Fire resistance of structural elements meets requirements
Emergency lighting and signage are properly installed
Fire extinguishers are correctly placed and maintained

Operating a designated premises without a valid Fire Certificate is an offence punishable by fine up to RM 50,000 or imprisonment up to 5 years.

Fire Extinguisher Requirements

Fire Class	Material	Extinguisher Type	Colour Code
Class A	Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth)	Water, Foam, ABC Dry Powder	Red / Cream
Class B	Flammable liquids (petrol, oil, solvents)	Foam, CO2, ABC Dry Powder	Cream / Black
Class C	Flammable gases (LPG, propane)	ABC Dry Powder	Blue
Class D	Combustible metals (magnesium, aluminium)	Special dry powder	Blue
Electrical	Electrical equipment fires	CO2, ABC Dry Powder	Black / Blue
Class F	Cooking oils and fats	Wet Chemical	Yellow

Placement and maintenance rules:

Maximum travel distance to nearest extinguisher: 25 metres
Mounted at height between 100mm (base) and 1,200mm (handle) from floor
Minimum provision: 1 extinguisher per 200 square metres of floor area
Visual inspection: monthly (check pressure gauge, pin, seal)
Professional service: annually by certified fire equipment company
Hydrostatic testing: every 5 years for water/foam; 10 years for CO2
All extinguishers must display service tags with dates

Fire Drill Requirements

Premises Type	Minimum Frequency	Duration Target
General offices	Twice per year (every 6 months)	Full evacuation within 3 minutes
Factories/warehouses	Twice per year	Full evacuation within 5 minutes
High-risk premises	Quarterly (every 3 months)	Full evacuation within 3 minutes
Hotels/hospitals	Quarterly	Phased evacuation per floor
Schools	Twice per year (each semester)	Full evacuation within 3 minutes

Fire drill requirements:

All employees must participate — no exemptions
Drills should be unannounced at least once per year
Assembly points must be clearly designated and communicated
Head count/roll call must be conducted at assembly point
Records must include: date, time, evacuation duration, issues identified
Corrective actions from drill findings must be documented and closed
Night shift workers must have separate drill arrangements

Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

Every workplace must have a documented Emergency Response Plan covering:

Fire detection and alarm: How fires are detected and alarm raised
Notification: Who calls Bomba (999) and internal notification chain
Evacuation routes: Primary and secondary escape routes for each area
Assembly points: Designated safe areas away from building
Fire wardens: Trained personnel assigned to each floor/zone
First attack: Procedures for using extinguishers on small fires
Special needs: Procedures for evacuating disabled persons or visitors
Utilities shutdown: Gas, electricity, and ventilation isolation procedures
Post-incident: Re-entry procedures and incident reporting

Fire Warden Requirements

Requirement	Details
Number	Minimum 1 per floor or zone; 1 chief fire warden per building
Training	Initial training + annual refresher; must cover extinguisher use, evacuation, first aid
Identification	High-visibility vest or armband during emergencies
Duties	Sweep assigned area, guide evacuation, report to chief warden, account for personnel
Deputies	Each warden must have a trained deputy for absence coverage

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Operating without Fire Certificate: Fine up to RM 50,000 or 5 years imprisonment
Failure to maintain fire safety systems: Fine up to RM 50,000
Obstructing means of escape: Fine up to RM 20,000
Failure to conduct fire drills: Fine up to RM 50,000 under OSHA 1994
In event of death due to negligence: Criminal charges under Penal Code

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