Fire Services Department Launches Full Electronic FS251 Certificate System
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) has achieved a major milestone in digitalising fire safety administration by fully implementing electronic submission of Fire Installation and Equipment Certificates (FS251) from July 1, 2026. The new system, an upgraded version of the Integrated Licensing, Fire Safety and Prosecution System (LIFIPS), enables registered fire service installation contractors to prepare, sign and submit certificates electronically, eliminating paper documentation entirely. The platform provides real-time information on inspection status, damage reports and repair progress for fire installations across approximately 60,000 buildings throughout Hong Kong .
Key Points
- Registered contractors must submit FS251 certificates within 14 days of completing inspection, maintenance or repair work on fire installations
- Contractors use iAM Smart or Hong Kong Post e-Certificate for electronic signatures, with the system generating certificates with anti-counterfeit QR codes
- As of August 16, the department received approximately 70,000 electronic FS251 certificates, with annual submissions exceeding 300,000
- The system identifies overdue, missing or incomplete submissions, automatically generating reminders and flagging cases for enforcement action
- Major damage to critical systems such as sprinkler pumps or hydrant inlets triggers automatic alerts to the Fire Command and Control Centre
- From August 2026, the department increased random audits of contractors' annual inspection checklists from about 40 to approximately 50 percent of contractors performing fire engineering work annually
Why It Matters
This electronic transformation enhances the FSD's ability to identify fire safety risks promptly and hold contractors accountable, with the department planning to introduce artificial intelligence to further improve case identification and processing efficiency . The system's integration with the Fire Command and Control Centre means that when a building suffers major damage to critical fire systems, an additional fire engine will be dispatched to cover potential extra risks during fire incidents, directly protecting public safety .
This electronic transformation enhances the FSD's ability to identify fire safety risks promptly and hold contractors accountable, with the department planning to introduce artificial intelligence to further improve case identification and processing efficiency . The system's integration with the Fire Command and Control Centre means that when a building suffers major damage to critical fire systems, an additional fire engine will be dispatched to cover potential extra risks during fire incidents, directly protecting public safety .