FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS

FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS

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(Exit staircases): **

2.

Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the fire safety regulation stipulating a minimum of two independent exit staircases for every storey of a building applies to all residential and commercial buildings, including those built 30-40 years ago; and (b) whether there are existing buildings that do not meet this minimum requirement, and if so, what measures are in place to ensure safe fire egress in an event of a fire that affects the one and only fire staircase.

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Mr Wong Kan Seng: Fire safety standards for buildings in Singapore are governed by the Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Building,commonly known as the "Fire Code". Under the Fire Code, every storey of residential and commercial buildings is to be served by at least two independent exit staircases. However, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) may consider waiver applications for residential buildings and allow the provision of one exit staircase if the following conditions are met:

(a) the building height does not exceed 60 metres;

(b) the single exit staircase does not serve more than four apartments or maisonettes per floor;

(c) the travel distance from the main front door from each apartment or maisonette to the exit staircase does not exceed 15 metres;

(d) the approach to the existing staircase is through a cross-ventilated lobby;

(e) a fire lift and dry rising mains (which draws high pressured water to every storey for fire fighting purpose) are provided; and

(f) there is access to the building for fire fighting appliances.

Currently, there are existing buildings that do not meet the minimum requirement of two independent exit staircases for each storey. For example, HUDC or HDB point-block apartments exceeding 22 storeys (60 metres) have only one exit staircase. These buildings were exempted from obtaining approval from the Building Authority when they were built in the 1970s and 1980s. As part of HDB's ongoing Specific Works Programme and Main Upgrading Programme, some of these buildings have undergone improvement works to enhance fire safety, eg, the installation of fire fighting facilities, such as dry rising mains, installation of fire lifts, provision of fire engine space to allow immediate fire fighting and rescue operations from the outside of the building, and installation of half-hour fire rated doors at each apartment's main entrance.

SCDF will continue to work with HDB and other relevant agencies to ensure that such older buildings with one exit staircase meet the prevailing fire safety requirements when they undergo major renovation or upgrading works.

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