Kurdistan Region issues new safety guide on fires and hazardous incidents

ERBIL, Iraq — The Kurdistan Regional Government has prepared a new civil defense safety guide aimed at reducing fire and disaster risks, the government’s Directorate of Information and Public Relations said. The guide was developed jointly by the Interior Ministry and civil defense units, setting technical standards for residential, commercial and industrial projects, as well as fuel stations, gas systems and the transport of hazardous materials. According to the statement, the seven-volume manual draws on standards from the U.S. National Fire Protection Association, the British Standards Institution and European frameworks. It covers building fire protection, firefighting procedures, early warning systems, fuel station safety, industrial and household gas systems, and rules governing the movement of hazardous materials. The government said updating the safety framework was necessary because of rapid urban transformation, high-density construction and the growing use of gas and flammable substances across Kurdistan Region cities. Authorities emphasized that enforcement and inspection by the relevant institutions will be as important as the preparation of the guide itself.