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CIRCULAR-AMENDMENTS TO FIRE CODE 2018 - 3rd BATCH OF AMENDMENTS PDF
CIRCULAR-AMENDMENTS TO FIRE CODE 2018 - 3rd BATCH OF AMENDMENTS PDF
Dear Sir/Mdm,
SCDF would like to issue the latest round of amendments to the Code of Practice for
Fire Precautions in Buildings 2018 (Fire Code 2018). The amendments which were deliberated
and accepted by the Fire Code Review Committee are attached as Annex A, B & C of this
circular.
2. Amendments stipulated in Annex A, B & C of this letter, shall take effect from the dates
specified therein. For those amendments that are to take effect at future dates as specified in
Annex A, B & C, Qualified Persons are encouraged to comply with the requirements at any
time before the effective dates. Any proposed plans of fire safety works for new buildings or
existing buildings that are submitted to SCDF for approval on or after 2 Mar 2020 shall be
subjected to the amendments made to the Fire Code.
3. Please convey the contents of this circular to members of your Board/ Institution/
Association. This circular is also available in CORENET’s e-Info:
http://www.corenet.gov.sg/einfo.
4. For any queries, you may contact Mr Randy Tan at DID: 68481461 or Mr Tan Yi Yang
at DID: 68481734.
Distribution list
CE, EMA
CEO, BCA
CEO, URA
CEO, HDB
CEO, JTC
CE, LTA
CE, Enterprise Singapore
President, REDAS
President, IFE
President, SISV
President, FSMAS
President, SCAL
Honorary Secretary, SPM
Manager (Fire Safety & Building Control Unit), DSTA
SCDF Fire Safety Standing Committee
Fire Code Review Committee
d. Endoscopy clinics.
2 1.4.30 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification “Custodian-care facility” is a building “Custodian care facility” is a building or
or part thereof, without stay in part thereof, without stay in
accommodation, used by persons who, accommodation, used by persons who,
because of age, or physical or mental because of age, or physical or mental
disabilities, are unable to care for their disabilities, are unable to care for their
self-preservation and safety. Such self-preservation and safety. Such
buildings shall include nurseries for facilities buildings shall include
children under 6 years of age, senior nurseries for children under 6 years of
day care centres and institutions for the age, senior day care centres and
mentally disabled. institutions for the mentally disabled.
include the followings:
Hospital Hospital
a. General hospitals;
d. Community hospitals.
a. Nursing homes;
c. Hospice.
5 1.4.100 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification Supervisory care facility Supervisory care facility
“Supervisory care facility” is a building “Supervisory care facility” refers to a is a
or part thereof, used for the housing, on building or part thereof, used for the
a 24-hr basis, of mental health patients housing, on a 24-hr basis, of mental health
who may be capable of self- patients, natal cares, aged and individuals
preservation but require supervision under welfare cares, who may be capable
and are receiving therapy, training or of self-preservation but require
other health-related care and for whom supervision and are receiving therapy,
there may be security measures not training or other health-related care and
under their control. for whom there may be security measures
not under their control. Such facilities
shall include the followings:
c. Dementia homes;
e. Welfare homes.
“Habitable floor” refers to all floors in “Habitable floor” refers to all floors in a
a building, including the roof level. building, including the roof level. The roof
1.4.63 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification The roof level can be taken as non- level can be taken as non-habitable if it is
6
habitable if it is not used for any not used for any purpose/activity other
purpose/activity other than housing than housing M&E and/or
M&E and/or telecommunication telecommunication plants/equipment, e.g.
plants/equipment, e.g. lift motors, fire lift motors, fire pumps, generators, fire
pumps, generators, fire hose reel hose reel pumps, water supply pumps,
pumps, water supply pumps, water water tanks, cooling towers, solar
tanks, cooling towers, solar photovoltaic panels, supply/ exhaust fans
photovoltaic panels, supply/ exhaust with associated ductwork, air-con
fans with associated ductwork, air-con condensing units, telecommunication
condensing units, telecommunication antenna equipment, satellite dishes and
antenna, satellite dishes and public public warning sirens, etc..
warning sirens, etc..
Mechanical ventilation
Pressurisation
9 1.4.84 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Deletion Public Building Public Building
“Public building” refers to a building, “Public building” refers to a building, or
or part thereof, that is used, part thereof, that is used, constructed or
adapted to be used as a shop, office,
constructed or adapted to be used as a
hospital or place of public resort. Places of
shop, office, hospital or place of public worship such as churches, chapels,
public resort. Places of public worship mosques, temples and places where
such as churches, chapels, mosques, religious ceremonies are performed are
temples and places where religious not considered public buildings.
ceremonies are performed are not
considered public buildings.
A fire escape plan shall be provided (1) A fire escape plan shall be provided
for all buildings except PG I and for all buildings except PG I and
displayed in common lobbies or lift displayed in common lobbies or lift
lobbies such that they are easily lobbies such that they are easily
viewable by the building occupants viewable by the building occupants
and the general public passing through and the general public passing
these common areas. The fire escape through these common areas. The
plan shall have legible lettering and fire escape plan shall have legible
10 2.3.1c. 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification
the fire escape routes made clear to the lettering and the fire escape routes
viewer. It shall clearly show the layout made clear to the viewer. It shall
of the floor in the correct orientation clearly show the layout of the floor
and highlight the escape routes (in in the correct orientation and
relation to viewer’s location), escape highlight the escape routes (in
corridors and exit staircases using relation to viewer’s location),
appropriate colours, directional signs escape corridors and exit staircases
and words. Other information using appropriate colours,
required on the plan are for directional signs and words. The
firefighting and evacuation purposes information required on the plan are
and shall include the locations of the only for firefighting and evacuation
following: purposes and shall include the
locations of the following:
(1) Fire lifts;
(a) Fire lifts;
(2) Evacuation lifts;
(b) Evacuation lifts;
(3) PWD holding points;
(c) PWD holding points;
(4) Hose reels;
(d) Hose reels;
(5) Fire extinguishers;
(e) Fire extinguishers;
(6) Manual alarm call points; and
(f) Manual alarm call points; and
(7) Rising mains.
(g) Rising mains.
General General
11 2.4.1 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification a. The following buildings/usages a. The following buildings/usages are
are exempted from these exempted from these requirements:
requirements:
(1) PG I and II buildings;
(1) PG I and II buildings;
(2) healthcare occupancies, except
(2) healthcare occupancies, custodian-care facility and
except custodian-care ambulatory healthcare centre
facility and ambulatory hospitals and nursing care
healthcare centre; facilities,;
12 2.4.3 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification Communication provisions Communication provisions
A suitable means of communication A suitable means of communication, as
shall be provided between the PWD required under Cl.6.6.5c.(4), shall be
holding point and FCC or any 24- provided between the PWD holding point
hourly manned station, for PWDs to and FCC or any 24-hourly manned
call for assistance during a fire station, for PWDs to call for assistance
emergency. It can be in the form of a during a fire emergency. It can be in the
distress button or voice form of a distress button or dedicated
communication. The means of voice communication. The dedicated
communication shall: voice communication handset shall
always be accessible and not to be locked.
a. be located between 800mm and 1.2m The means of communication shall:
above ground level;
a. be located between 800mm and 1.2m
b. be appropriately labelled; above ground floor level;
b. be appropriately labelled;
c. be provided with prominently
displayed clear instruction sign on c. be provided with prominently
its operation; and displayed clear instruction sign on its
operation; and
d. when the device for communication d. when the device for communication
is activated, it shall generate a clear is activated, it shall generate a clear
visual indication to indicate that the visual indication to indicate that the
distress signal has been relayed. distress signal has been relayed.
The exit staircase shall be separated The exit staircase shall be separated from
from other parts of the building by a other parts of the building by a masonry
masonry structure or drywall structure or drywall complying with
complying with Cl.3.8.7b. which shall Cl.3.8.7b. which shall have fire resistance
13 3.10.2 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification
have fire resistance for not less than the for not less than the period required by
period required by Cl.3.3 for elements Cl.3.3 for elements of structure. The
of structure. flight, landing and supporting structures of
the exit staircase shall comply with
Cl.3.10.1 and fire resistance rating is not
required.
Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD)
For individual residential units under For individual residential units under PG I
PG I or II, HFAD shall be installed in or II, HFAD shall be installed in
accordance with all of the following accordance with all of the following
requirements: requirements:
a. HFAD shall possess the following a. HFAD shall possess the following
features and comply with all the features and comply with all the
requirements stated below: requirements stated below:
15 8.2.4 2 Mar 2020 2 Mar 2020 Clarification A FCC shall be of adequate size to A FCC is a room within a building
house all the terminals and dedicated to the controlling and
supervisory/ control equipment, monitoring of fire protection systems
etc. of the building’s fire during a fire emergency. As such,
protection/detection systems and a equipment/services not meant for this
free working space (unobstructed purpose shall not be located inside the
by door swing) of at least 6m². FCC with exception of the following:
d. Location
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