Introduction

Joint review by Fire Code Review Committee

To ensure up to date fire safety standards shaped by changing building development trends as well as needs of the building industry

Incorporating changes previously disseminated via circulars

Update to

Chapter 4 -Site Planning & External Fire Fighting Provision

Chapter 8 - Other Systems

Update to Chapter 4 Site Planning & External Fire Fighting Provision

Purpose : To make provision for space around buildings to enable effective mounting of rescue and external fire fighting operations

Chapter 4 -Update/Add
Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES Cl.4.2.2(a)(ii) Cl.4.2.2(a)(iii) Cl.4.2.2(a)(v) Cl.4.2.2(b)(i)

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING

Cl.4.2.3(a) Cl.4.2.3(e) Clause 4.4.1 REQUIREMENT FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT Cl.4.4.1(a)(ii) Cl.4.4.1(d) Clause 4.4.2 WATER SUPPLY FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT Cl.4.4.2(a) Cl.4.4.2(b)(ii)

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES Cl.4.2.2(a)(ii) For buildings under purpose group II, no accessway will be required for buildings that do not exceed the habitable height of 10m. However, fire engine access road having minimum 4m width for access by pump appliance shall be provided to within a travel distance of 60m of every point on the projected plan area of the building. The requirement for fire engine access road shall not apply to non-residential standalone building, such as clubhouse, carpark, etc. (excluding guardhouse and substation) that are located within the housing development. Cl.4.2.2(a)(ii) For buildings under purpose group II, no accessway will be required for buildings that do not exceed the habitable height of 10m. However, fire engine access road having minimum 4m width for access by pump appliance shall be provided to within a travel distance of 60m of every point on the projected plan area of the building. The This requirement for fire engine access road shall not apply to non-residential standalone building, such as clubhouse, carpark, etc. (excluding guardhouse and substation) that are located within the housing development. The non-residential standalone building shall comply with Cl.4.2.2(a)(iv) and Cl.4.2.2(b)(i). The revision convey that nonresidential buildings within a residential development are subject to the relevant set of accessibility requirement. Non residential building such as car park shall be categorised differently from Purpose Group II. The risk level for non-residential space is higher than that of a residential. As such, it shall not be sharing the same requirement as residential development.

Light Fire Attack Vehicle (Red Rhino)

Cl. 4.2.2(a)(iv) For buildings under purpose groups III, IV, V and VII not exceeding the habitable height of 10m, accessway will not be required. However, provision of fire engine access road having minimum 4m width for pump appliance will be required to within a travel distance of 45m of every point on the projected plan area of the building. Cl.4.2.2(b)(i) For buildings under purpose groups III, IV, V and VII exceeding the habitable height of 10m, accessway shall be located directly below the access openings to provide direct outreach to the access openings. Accessway shall be provided based on the largest gross floor area of the following: (1) any floor including 1st storey, (2) if there are more than one floor interconnected, the aggregate areas of all the floor interconnected.

Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES

Illustration (non-Sprinkler protected)

Gross floor area of largest floor in the building <2000m2

Fire Code 2007

Cl.4.2.2(a)(iii) For buildings under purpose group II that exceed the habitable height of 10m, fire engine access road shall be provided close to every block and that the dry riser breeching inlets are located close to the road. The access road shall have a minimum 4m width and designed to sustain the load of stationary 30 tonnes fire engine fighting appliance, and shall be provided within 18m of dry riser breeching inlets of the building. The breeching inlets shall be located on the external wall above ground level nearest to the vertical run of the riser stack. The maximum horizontal run of the water pipe between the breeching inlets and the same riser stack shall not exceed 12m.

Fire Code 2013

Cl.4.2.2(a)(iii) For buildings under purpose group II that exceed the habitable height of 10m, fire engine
access road shall be provided close to every block and that the dry riser breeching inlets are located close to the road. fire

Rationale
The reason to specify the final discharge of exit staircase is because the rising main is normally located at the fire-fighting lobby, smoke-stop lobby adjacent to exit staircase. During a fire emergency, fire fighter will need to get to the fire lift, if any or via protected staircase to reach the fire floor for fire fighting & rescue operation. Hence, to use exit staircase, final discharge as point of reference is valid.

Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES

engine access road shall be provided within a travel distance of 18m to entrance of all exit staircases that are provided with landing valve (dry or wet riser) in accordance with Cl.6.2.2(b). The measurement of 18m shall be between the fire engine access road and the entrance of exit staircase. The fire engine access road shall have a minimum 4m width and designed to sustain the load of stationary 30 tonnes fire engine fighting appliance, and shall be provided within 18m of dry riser breeching inlets of the building. The breeching inlets shall be located on at the external wall exterior, above ground level readily visible and accessible from the fire engine access road. nearest to the vertical run of
the riser stack. The maximum horizontal run of the water pipe between the breeching inlets and the same riser stack

Pump Ladder (Fire Engine)

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES NIL Cl.4.2.2(a)(v) In the case of basement, the fire engine access road shall be provided within a travel distance of 18m to entrance of all exit staircases that are provided with landing valve (dry or wet riser) in accordance with Cl.6.2.2(b). The measurement of 18m shall be between the fire engine access road and the entrance of exit staircase. To separately address single or multi-level basement.

Combined Platform Ladder

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES Cl.4.2.2(b)(i) For buildings under purpose groups III, IV, V and VII exceeding the habitable height of 10m, accessway shall be located directly below the access openings to provide direct outreach to the access openings. Accessway shall be provided based on the gross floor area (including toilets, stores, circulation areas, etc.) of the largest floor (including 1st storey) in the building as follows: Cl.4.2.2(b)(i) For buildings under purpose groups III, IV, V and VII exceeding the habitable height of 10m, accessway shall be located directly below the access openings to provide direct outreach to the access openings. Accessway shall be provided based on the largest gross floor area of the following: (1) any floor including 1st storey, (2) if there are more than one floor interconnected, the aggregate areas of all the floor interconnected. For the purpose of determining accessway perimeter in a building where floors could be interconnected, it should be based on aggregate floor area instead of the single largest floor area.

Combined Platform Ladder

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING Cl.4.2.3 (a) Definition Openings on the external wall for external fire fighting and rescue operation. Access openings shall include unobstructed external wall openings, windows, balcony doors, glazed wall panels or access panels. Windows, doors, wall panels or access panels must be readily openable from the inside and outside, unless fitted with breakable glazing. Inside and outside of access openings shall be unobstructed at all times during the occupancy of the building. Cl.4.2.3 (a) Definition Openings on the external wall for external fire fighting and rescue operation. Access openings shall include unobstructed external wall openings, windows, balcony doors, glazed wall panels or access panels. Windows, doors, wall panels or access panels must be readily openable from the inside and outside, unless fitted with breakable glazing. Inside and outside of access openings shall be unobstructed at all times during the occupancy of the building. The reason for disallowing fitted glazing is because it may be laminated glazing. An exercise on the breaking of laminated glass was conducted in 2012, it was found to be time consuming and tedious.

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING Cl.4.2.3(e) Access openings shall be not less than 850mm wide by 1000mm high with sill height of not more than 1100mm and head height not less than 1800mm above the inside floor level. Cl.4.2.3(e) Access openings shall be not less than 850mm wide by 1000mm high with sill height of not more than 1100mm and head height not less than 1800mm above the inside floor level. The access opening shall not be placed at plant/store room, staircase, smoke-stop lobby or dead space. It shall be placed against an occupied space. To explicitly state that FAP shall be positioned within an occupied space. It should exclude essential spaces that are protected and within reach via internal access.

Head height min. 1800mm

Sill height max. 1100mm

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.4.1 REQUIREMENT FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT Current relaxation is only extended to single lane road. Operations inputs were sought. During a fire turnout, it is common to have fire-fighting appliances occupying more than one lane width of road. To further extend to allow public hydrant that could be sited across a two-way lanes road.

Cl.4.4.1(a)(ii) Existing public hydrants along one side of a public road shall not be designated to serve developments that are sited across the other side of the public road, except for a one-way single lane road.

Cl.4.4.1(a)(ii) Existing public hydrants along one side of a public road shall not be designated to serve developments that are sited across the other side of the public road, except for a oneway or two-way lanes road.

Clause 4.4.1 REQUIREMENT FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT

Illustration

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.4.1 REQUIREMENT FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT Nil Cl.4.4.1(d) For a building that is required to have island site accessway under Cl.4.2.2(b), the hydrant pipe shall be a ringed system. Isolation valves shall be provided on the hydrant ring such that any section of ring, with a maximum of one fire hydrant, can be isolated when required for maintenance without affecting the water supply (both designed pressure and flow) to the other fire hydrants. Locking device shall be provided to lock the valves in open position during normal operation. The ring system main for private hydrant would provide adequate and stable supply of water during time of emergency

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 4.4.2 WATER SUPPLY FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT Cl.4.4.2(a) Private fire hydrants installed at reduced level 125m and below can receive direct supply from public water mains provided : (i) (ii) Note: (i) . (ii) . Cl.4.4.2(a) Private fire hydrants installed at reduced level 125 m and below can receive direct supply from public water main provided. Private fire hydrants installed at reduced level 125m and below can receive direct supply from public water main. If the flow and pressure from the public water mains cannot meet the hydrant requirements, a storage tank of sufficient capacity with the requisite pumping facilities shall be provided. Private fire hydrants receiving direct supply from public water mains shall comply with: (i) (ii) Note: (i) . (ii) . To tally with SS 575 ( previously CP 29) Note: Not withstanding this, storage cistern of sufficient capacity with pumping facilities may be required to meet SCDFs requirements on flow rates and pressure. The additional statement was requested by PUB and intended as a safeguard. Should the private fire hydrant that is receiving direct supply from Public water mains fails to comply with flow rates and pressure requirements, then the private hydrant should be provided with its own storage and pumping facilities.

Fire Code 2007

Cl.4.4.2(b)(i) Where there is only one private hydrant in the plot that is located above reduced level 125m; and Cl.4.4.2(b)(ii) this hydrant is not the sole hydrant within 50m from any breeching inlet(s) feeding into fixed water based fire fighting system(s) including automatic sprinkler systems, dry riser systems, and wet riser systems for the building(s) standing on this plot of land; this hydrant can be in the form of a "dry" hydrant. A "dry" hydrant shall be connected to a 150mm diameter dry pipe, which shall be connected at the other end to a four-way breeching inlet. This breeching inlet shall be within 18m from any accessway or fire engine access road having minimum 4m width and within 50m from any wet hydrant, private or public.

Fire Code 2013

Cl.4.4.2(b)(i) Where there is only one private hydrant in the plot that is located above reduced level 125m; and Cl.4.4.2(b)(ii) this hydrant is not the sole hydrant within 50m from any breeching inlet(s) feeding into fixed water based fire fighting system(s) including automatic sprinkler systems, dry riser systems, and wet riser systems for the building(s) standing on this plot of land; this hydrant can be in the form of a "dry" hydrant. A "dry" hydrant shall be connected to a 150mm diameter dry pipe, which shall be connected at the other end to a four-way breeching inlet. This breeching inlet shall be within 18m from any accessway or fire engine access road having minimum 4m width and within 50m from any wet hydrant, private or public. The private dry pillar shall be painted in yellow and labelled dry on the hydrant pillar. A signage indicating the location of breeching inlet shall be positioned next to the dry private hydrant.

Rationale

Clause 4.4.2 WATER SUPPLY FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT The colour preference for private wet hydrant is covered under SS 575. To distinguish internal private hydrant from private dry hydrant.

Dry Private Hydrant

Update to Chapter 8 - Other Systems 8.2 Voice Communication System and Fire Command Centre

Chapter 8 Updates
Changes to:

Clause 8.2.1 VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Cl.8.2.1(a)(i)
Cl.8.2.1(a)(iii)

Clause 8.2.3 FIRE COMMAND CENTRE Cl.8.2.3(c)

Fire Code 2007 Fire Code 2013 Clause 8.2.1 VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Cl.8.2.1(a) One way emergency communication system and a fire command centre shall be provided as follows: Cl.8.2.1(a)(i) For all large buildings under purpose groups III (not applicable to primary school, secondary school and junior colleges), IV, V & VII (gross floor area greater than 5000sq m or having a total occupant load exceeding 1000 persons and large industrial buildings under purpose groups VI & VIII (gross floor area greater than 5000 sq m). Cl.8.2.1(a) One-way emergency voice communication system and a fire command centre shall be provided as follows: Cl.8.2.1(a)(i) For all large buildings under purpose groups III (not applicable to primary school, secondary school and junior colleges), IV, V & VII, VI, VII & VIII with gross floor area greater than 5000sq m or having a total occupant load exceeding 1000 persons and large industrial buildings under purpose groups VI & VIII (gross floor area greater than 5000 sq m); or Cl.8.2.1(a)(ii) For all buildings Cl.8.2.1(a)(ii) For all buildings belonging to purpose groups belonging to purpose groups III, IV, V, VI. VII, and VIII of III, IV, V, VI. VII, and VIII of more than 24m in habitable more than 24m in habitable height. height.

Rationale General qualifying criteria for Purpose Group IV, V, VI, VII & VIII. So long as gross floor area exceed 5000sqm or having a total occupant load exceeding 1000 persons, one-way emergency communication system and a fire command centre shall be provided.

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 8.2.1 VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Cl.8.2.1(a)(iii) For hotel or health care occupancies of less than 24m in habitable height. Loudspeakers for the public address system shall be provided in every lift lobby, staircase enclosure and other strategic positions within audible distance of all parts of all storeys of the building. Cl.8.2.1(a)(iii) Exception For hotel or health care occupancies buildings of less than 24m in habitable height, gross floor area not greater than 5,000sqm and total occupant load not exceeding 1,000 persons, an ordinary public address system shall be provided. However, Fire Command Centre is not required. Loudspeakers for the ordinary public address system shall be provided in every lift lobby, staircase enclosure and other strategic positions within audible distance of all parts of all storeys throughout the building. upfront stipulate that FCC is not needed. add ordinary before public address system to avoid confusion.

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale The revision is intended to make the clause explicit. First by stating that FCC is to be located at the same level as the fire engine accessway and subsequent the order of priority. In this revision, there is requirement to address development having many standalone buildings. Essentially, the designer shall designate individual FCC to the different building. In another words, more than one FCC shall be provided.

Clause 8.2.3 FIRE COMMAND CENTRE Cl.8.2.3(c) Location Cl.8.2.3(c) Location A Fire Command Centre A Fire Command Centre shall be located adjacent to shall be located adjacent to the fire lift lobby at the the fire lift lobby at the designated storey of the designated storey of the building (i.e. the building (i.e. the lobby of the lobby of the building on the building on the first storey or first storey or immediately immediately adjacent adjacent thereto) or at any thereto) or at any other other location as may be location as may be designated by the Relevant designated by the Relevant Authority. Authority.

Cl.8.2.3(c)(i) The Fire Command Centre shall be located at the same level as the fire engine accessway or For such case the relevant authority access road and in the shall be consulted. following order of priority:

Cl.8.2.3(c)(i)(1) immediately adjacent to the fire-fighting lobby at the designated storey of the building;

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Fire Code 2013

Rationale

Clause 8.2.3 FIRE COMMAND CENTRE Cl.8.2.3(c)(i)(2) in the case where there is no firefighting lobby, it shall be located within vicinity of the fire engine accessway or access road and adjacent to one of the protected stairs serving all storeys of the development. Cl.8.2.3(c)(i)(3) at any other location as may be designated by the Relevant Authority. Cl.8.2.3(c)(ii) in the case of a site consisting of more than one building, there shall be more than one Fire Command Centre. For such cases, the Relevant Authority shall be consulted.

Clause 8.2.3 FIRE COMMAND CENTRE

Illustration

Conclusion
Greater awareness and better understanding of Technical Requirements are keys to ensuring compliance in design and construction.

To seek consultation with SCDF when in doubt.

Get It Right to avoid abortive design and construction.

THANK YOU

Clause 8.2.1 VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Explanation

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING

Illustration

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING

Illustration

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING

Illustration

1800mm

1000mm

Diagram 4.2.3(e)-1 In Fig. (iii), although the height of access opening complies with the Clause (1000mm), the head height is less than 1800mm.

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING

Illustration