Engineering & design
Automated parking fire requirements: 2026 changes and design preparation
Planning automated or mechanised parking? Review Circular 5/2026 applicability, system type, rescue access and fire interfaces with the equipment supplier and design team.
If there is fire or immediate danger
Leave the premises using a safe route and call Hong Kong emergency services on 999. Do not remain to investigate or use a lift.
Legal information
This guide helps with initial planning; it is not legal advice or an engineering assessment of your premises. Confirm the requirements against the use, approved plans, licence conditions, written directions and current official documents.
Quick answers
Must every existing car park retrofit immediately under the 2026 change?
No blanket conclusion follows. The circular specifies plan categories and dates; assess existing sites against their approvals and proposed changes.
Check parking technology and plan dates
Circular 5/2026 took effect on 1 July 2026 for specified new-building and major-alteration plan submissions. It addresses automated guided vehicles and mechanised parking, with requirements that must be checked for the particular technology.
Existing car parks altering fire installations under the revised requirements still follow the applicable formal approval procedures. A supplier's smart-parking label is not sufficient to reuse another project's design.
Coordinate parking geometry, rescue and equipment operation
The amendment addresses fire installations and rescue provisions, including applicable monitoring, emergency controls and access. Review the full geometry and equipment operation, not only a conventional parking-bay plan.
Obtain parking levels, platform positions, maintenance access and emergency-operation details from the supplier, including any EV charging. Keep an interface list for the teams to resolve before installation.
Plan joint testing and operational handover
Agree responsibilities and information for fire and parking-system tests before procurement. Separate supplier tests do not necessarily demonstrate that the complete connected arrangement operates to the accepted design.
Break handover into installation, interface tests, rectification and documentation. The operator should receive usable drawings, contacts and maintenance arrangements in addition to product manuals.
Practical checklist
- Technology and equipment-supplier information
- Plan-submission date and project category
- Platforms, access and charging layout
- Fire interfaces and emergency-operation roles
- Joint-test and handover-document schedule
Discuss automated-parking fire works
Share the parking proposal, drawings and project stage so we can review fire-work coordination with the equipment supplier.
- Define fire-installation and interface scope
- Plan testing with designers and suppliers
- Quote works against the confirmed proposal
Official sources
The official documents below provide the full requirements and any updates.
Related reading
New-building fire acceptance: FS172, testing and document preparation
New-building acceptance differs from annual inspection. Understand OFFA coordination, FS172 versus FS251, and how to prepare plans, tests and defect evidence for the project.
Read articleBattery-room fire requirements: lithium-ion capacity and design preparation
Planning a battery room or charging facility? Establish chemistry, capacity, compartments and plan dates before reviewing the water-based protection requirements in Circular 3/2025.
Read articleFire-system shutdowns in Hong Kong: reporting, notices and reinstatement
A fire-system shutdown needs a plan for affected systems, connected functions, notices and reinstatement. Prepare these with management and the contractor before work starts.
Read articleRELATED SERVICE
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