Fire Safety (Building Fire Safety) Regulations

Fire Safety Act

(Chapter 109A, Section 61(1))

Rg 1

REVISED EDITION 1995

(1st April 1995)

[8th April 1994]

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Fire Safety (Building Fire Safety) Regulations.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“area of refuge” means an area which is relatively safe from fire, whether in an adjoining building or an adjoining part of the same building, and from which access can be made through supplemental exits such as a balcony, a bridge, a tunnel, a staircase or such other types of linkage and which allows a person using it to exit safely to the open at ground level;

“area of special risk” means an area where there is a risk of explosion or rapid spread of fire due to the presence of flammable liquids, gases or explosive materials;

“compartment wall” means a wall that is designed and constructed to a specific fire resistance rating to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through it;

“elements of structure” means —

(a)	a member forming part of the structural frame of a building or any beam or column but not a member forming part of a roof structure only;
(b)	a load bearing wall or load bearing part of a wall;
(c)	a floor, including a compartment floor, other than the lowest floor (in contact with the ground) of a building;
(d)	an external wall;
(e)	a separating wall;
(f)	a compartment wall; and
(g)	a structure enclosing a protected shaft (protecting structure);

“fire certificate” means a certificate issued by the Commissioner under section 20(1) of the Act;

“Fire Code” means a set of rules and requirements produced or approved by the Commissioner for the purpose of establishing the standards, procedures and practices required for fire safety matters under the Act or regulations made thereunder and includes any amendment made to the Code from time to time;

“Fire Command Centre” means a room within any premises which is specifically designated for the purpose of command and control of operations in the event of fire or other emergencies and fitted with the necessary equipment;

“fire damper” means a device installed in an air distribution system which is designed to close automatically to restrict the passage of fire and heat;

“fire emergency plan”, in relation to a building, means a plan which contains information on the types of fire safety measures that are provided for in a building and includes the floor layout plans and evacuation procedures for the building;

“fire engine access” means a route which is designed for the passage and positioning of fire engines in fire fighting operations;

“fire extinguishing system” means a system designed for extinguishing a fire;

“fire lift” means a lift which is adequately protected from fire and which is meant for the exclusive use of firemen in an emergency without interference from the landing call points;

“fire lift lobby” means a protected and ventilated lobby into which a fire lift opens and from which direct access to a protected staircase can be made for the purpose of fire fighting;

“fire resistance rating” means the minimum period of time during which an element of structure or building element may be expected to function satisfactorily while subject to a recognised standard fire test;

“fireman access panel” means an opening in the external wall of a building to enable firemen to gain access into the building during fire fighting operations;

“means of escape” means a continuous and unobstructed way of exit from any point in a building or structure to a safe and open area at ground level;

“occupant load” means the total number of persons that may occupy a building or part thereof at any one time;

“smoke control system” means a system designed to inhibit or act as a barrier against the spread of smoke in a building;

“smoke detector” means a device which is used for detecting the presence of visible or invisible products of combustion, and which would automatically initiate a signal upon detecting the presence of these products.

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