Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings 2018 - SCDF

1 Code of Practice for fire Precautions in Buildings 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the singapore civil defence edition : 19742nd edition : 19823rd edition : 19914th edition : 19975th edition : 20026th edition : 20077th edition : 20138th edition : 2018 Published by : singapore civil defence Force91 Ubi Avenue 4 singapore 408827 The fire Code is a living document periodically reviewed by the SCDF to ensure that fire safety standards keep pace with singapore s evolving urban landscape and national development. By taking into account the knowledge gleaned from valuable feedback received during consultation sessions with Qualified Persons, dialogues and meetings with other industry professionals, the SCDF ensures that the fire Code remains relevant to the practices of the building industry and effective in its latest 8th edition of the fire Code is the result of a multi- disciplinary, multi-professional public-private collaborative endeavour.

2 It adopts an evidence-based and quantitative approach involving literature research, comparative studies, fire tests and the conduct of fire and evacuation modelling. The objective is to make the Code requirements sharper and less onerous through quantitative assessment to manage the risks. Led by the SCDF, the fire Code Review Committee comprises esteemed representatives from professional bodies, academia and statutory boards. The Committee has contributed immensely and I would like to place on record our appreciation for their assiduous the process of review, we were guided by the need for the fire Code to be more user-friendly and organised. For instance, over the years, a growing number of appendices were added to the fire Code in response to new systems, fire safety products and developments being introduced into the building industry.

3 This made referencing complicated as related fire safety requirements were mentioned in both the main sections and appendices of the fire Code. One of the key changes is the incorporation of the annexes and appendices into the main sections of the fire Code to avoid confusion on the significance of the annexes and appendices vis- -vis the main sections of the Code. And to enhance user experience, the 8th edition has been digitised with interactive features that facilitate speedy search and cross-referencing. All users will now have access to web-based information they need anytime, anywhere via the SCDF The editorial team also improved descriptions in the fire Code to meet the requirements of a variety of users including non-technically trained users. Other aspects of the review include addressing common consultation and waiver issues with a view to mainstream them, as well as permitting the use of new building products, materials, systems and technologies.

4 In doing so, the fire Code is refreshed to ensure currency and the years, SCDF and our stakeholders have work closely to maintain a high standard of fire safety in singapore . We must continue to progress and surpass expectations on public safety. The latest Code is both progressive and pro-enterprise in design with fire safety at the is always open to feedback and suggestions on fire safety requirements and I look forward to our stakeholders continued support and partnership with the SCDF. ERIC YAPCOMMISSIONERSINGAPORE civil defence FORCEA ugust 2018 CODE OF Practice FOR fire Precautions IN Buildings REVIEW COMMITTEE The Code of Practice for fire Precautions in Buildings Review Committee comprises the following members:Advisor: Commissioner Eric Yap.

5 singapore civil defence ForceChairman: SAC Christopher Tan .. singapore civil defence ForceSecretary: Mr Tan Yi Yang .. singapore civil defence ForceEditor: Mr Tan Eu Seng, Randy .. singapore civil defence ForceMembers: Er Teo Yann ..Association of Consulting Engineers, singapore Er Vincent Han ..Association of Consulting Engineers, singapore Er (Dr) Tran Chi Trung .. building & Construction Authority Ar Tan Lily ..Housing & Development Board Ar Jansen Foo Chek Han ..Housing & Development Board Er Tham Kwok Leong .. Institution of Engineers, singapore Er Mok Kam Tim, Timmy .. Institution of Engineers, singapore Er Yeow Mei Leng .. Institution of fire Engineers, singapore Er Yee Poh Kin .. Institution of fire Engineers, singapore Er Yee Peng Huey ..JTC Corporation Mr Kwok Weng Yin ..JTC Corporation Er Chiam Boon Hui.

6 Land Transport Authority Mr Liew Ching Boon .. Nanyang Technological University Mr Steven Leow . Real Estate Developers Association of singapore Mr Chan Weng Khoon . Real Estate Developers Association of singapore Mr Tan Guan Leong, Peter ..Urban Redevelopment Authority Mr Chng Seng Yong, Joseph .. singapore Accreditation Council Ar Eng Yew Hoon PBM .. singapore Institute of Architects Ar Song Yew Kee (served till Nov 2016) .. singapore Institute of Architects Mr Heng Chai Liang .. singapore civil defence force Mr Lee Wee Keong .. singapore civil defence force LTC Choh Choon Jin .. singapore civil defence force LTC Goh Boon Han .. singapore civil defence force Mr Nicholas Lee .. singapore civil defence ForceEditorial Team: CPT Ranneth Tan .. singapore civil defence force CPT Gladis Choo .. singapore civil defence force Notice to Users of the Code of Practice for fire Precautions in Buildings 2018 The singapore civil defence force (SCDF) reviews the Code of Practice for fire Safety Precautions in Buildings ( fire Code) regularly to ensure relevance with new developments, such as changes in building construction methods, new/improved building materials, changing building risk profiles, The SCDF will periodically inform the building industry through circulars on all changes made to the Code, and will update the interactive version of the Code on its website when the changes take effect.

7 Users are advised to visit the website at to obtain the updated requirements. i CONTENTSCHAPTER 01 : Rapid Transit System (RTS) .. fire safety requirements for laboratories handling hazardous chemicals .. fire safety requirements for road tunnels.. fire safety report and fire safety instruction manual (Appendix 1 & 2) .. CODES AND Reference .. Conflicting requirements.. Accessible Floor Area (AFA) .. Air well .. Ambulatory healthcare centre .. Ancillary office .. Ancillary usage .. Anteroom .. Approved .. Area of compartment/room/space .. Area of refuge.. Area of roof.. Area of storey .. Assembly occupancy .. Atrium .. Authority having jurisdiction .. Basement storey .. Biological Agent .. Boundary .. Cavity barrier .. Ceiling.

8 Circulation space .. Code of Practice (CoP) .. Coldroom ..7ii Compartment .. Compartment wall & compartment floor .. Composite panel .. Concealed space/Cavity.. Corridor .. Cross-ventilated corridor/lobby.. Cubical extent.. Custodian-care facility .. Dead-end .. Direct distance .. Door .. Electromagnetic or electromechanical door-holding device .. Electromagnetic or electromechanical locking device .. Element of structure .. Emergency generator .. Emergency lighting .. Engineered timber .. Evacuee holding area.. Exit .. Exit access .. Exit access door .. Exit door .. Exit passageway .. Exit staircase .. External corridor .. External exit passageway.. External exit staircase .. External space .. External wall (or side of a building ) .. External wall finishes.

9 fire lift lobby .. fire resistance .. fire safety report .. fire stop .. Flammable refrigerant .. Flexible joints and flexible connections .. fire engine access road .. fire engine accessway ..12 iii Fully Automated Mechanised Car Park (FAMCP) .. General warehouse .. Habitable floor .. Habitable height .. Height of building .. High containment facility .. High hazard occupancy .. Hospital .. Load-bearing wall .. Masonry .. Non-combustible material.. Non-load-bearing wall .. Notional boundary .. Nursing home, convalescent home, home for the aged & hospice .. Occupant load .. Outdoor Display Area (ODA) .. Outdoor Refreshment Area (ORA) .. One-way travel .. Permitted limit of unprotected area .. Plastic .. Private lift .. Protected shaft .. Protecting structure.

10 Public building .. Purpose Group (PG) .. Refuge floor .. Relevant boundary .. Remoteness of exits .. Roof light .. Room .. singapore civil defence force (SCDF) .. Separated part (of a building ) .. Separating wall .. Setback distance .. Single point emergency lighting .. Smoke-check door .. Smoke-stop lobby.. Storey ..17iv Super high-rise residential building .. Supervisory care facility .. Tenancy unit .. Thermoplastics .. Thermosetting plastic .. Toxin .. Travel distance .. Two-way travel .. Unmanned building .. Unprotected area .. Vertical exit .. Wall surface .. Workers dormitories ..19 CHAPTER 02 : MEANS OF DETERMINATION OF EXIT General.. Mixed occupancy .. Multiple occupancy or use .. Non-simultaneous occupancy .. Capacity of exits and exit facilities.