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No. S 361

Fire Safety Act

(Chapter 109A)

Fire Safety (Building Fire Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1998

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 61 of the Fire Safety Act, the Minister for Home Affairs hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Fire Safety (Building Fire Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 and shall come into operation on 7th September 1998.

Amendment of regulation 3

2. Regulation 3 of the Fire Safety (Building Fire Safety) Regulations (Rg 1) (referred to in these Regulations as the principal Regulations) is amended —

(a)

by deleting the word “and” at the end of paragraph (d), and by inserting immediately thereafter the following paragraph:

“(e)	a declaration form as set out in the Second Schedule; and”; and

(b)

by re-lettering the existing paragraph (e) as paragraph (f).

Amendment of regulation 4

3. Regulation 4 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) and substituting the following sub-paragraph:

“(b)

be submitted —

(i)	on standard metric size sheets of the international A series (one set shall be on linen) and have on every sheet an outlined rectangular space measuring 150mm x 100mm provided at its top right hand corner for official stamps and endorsement; or
(ii)	in such electronic form stored in such medium as the Commissioner may determine; and”;

(b)

by deleting paragraph (2) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(2) Where the plans of fire safety works are submitted in electronic form, the qualified person shall —

(a)	authenticate the plans in electronic form in such manner as the Commissioner may require; and
(b)	ensure that such plans are visible or are capable of being displayed in a clear and intelligible manner on a suitably light background.”; and

(c)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (3), the following paragraphs:

“(4) This regulation shall not apply to the plans of fire safety works which relate to minor alterations or additions to existing buildings as set out in the First Schedule.

(5) The plans referred to in paragraph (4) shall be —

(a)	certified by a qualified person appointed in respect of such fire safety works;
(b)	lodged with the Commissioner;
(c)	in such form as the Commissioner considers necessary; and
(d)	accompanied by such other documents as the Commissioner may require.”.

Amendment of regulation 15

4. Regulation 15 of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting paragraph (2).

Amendment of regulation 16

5. Regulation 16 of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting the words “where the Commissioner has determined under regulation 4(2) that no qualified person was required to prepare the plans of fire safety works” in the third, fourth and fifth lines of paragraph (1) and substituting the words “for any fire safety works referred to in regulation 4(4)”.

Deletion and substitution of regulation 20

6. Regulation 20 of the principal Regulations is deleted and the following regulation substituted therefor:

“Application for change of use

20.—(1) No person shall carry out any change of use of any premises unless an application for approval is made to the Commissioner under section 23 of the Act and such approval is obtained.

(2) An application for approval referred to in paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by plans of fire safety works prepared for the purpose of the application.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply to an application for approval of temporary change of use for the purpose of stage shows, promotional activities, exhibitions, trade fairs or carnivals.

(4) An application for approval of such temporary change of use as referred to in paragraph (3) shall be made in such form as the Commissioner may determine and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fees and the following documents:

(a)

site plan;

(b)

floor plan showing or containing the proposed or existing use of every part;

(c)

layout plan showing or containing —

(i)	the purpose of the intended usage;
(ii)	clear statements indicating the details of the proposed activities; and
(iii)	the design and material of any temporary structure to be erected for the activities; and

(d)

such other information as the Commissioner may require.”.

Deletion and substitution of regulation 27

7. Regulation 27 of the principal Regulations is deleted and the following regulation substituted therefor:

“Application for approval of building materials and equipment

27.—(1) An application to the Commissioner for approval of building materials or equipment to be used in any fire safety works shall be made in such form as the Commissioner may determine and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fees and such other documents or information as the Commissioner may require.

(2) This regulation shall not apply if the building materials or equipment to be used in any fire safety works are currently listed under the Product Listing Scheme in the Singapore Directory of Productivity Standards Board Certified Products.”.

Deletion and substitution of regulation 30

8. Regulation 30 of the principal Regulations is deleted and the following regulation substituted therefor:

“Fees for approval of plans

30.—(1) The fee payable for an application for approval of plans of fire safety works which involves the installation of fire safety measures under Part IV of the Act shall be $150 for every 100 square metres of floor area or part thereof.

(2) The fee payable for an application for approval of plans of fire safety works which involves —

(a)	fire protection works; or
(b)	minor works,

under Part IV of the Act shall be $75 for each storey of a building.”.

Amendment of regulation 31

9. Regulation 31 of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting “$100” in the third line and substituting “$75”.

Amendment of regulation 32

10. Regulation 32 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)	by deleting “$100” in the third line of paragraph (1) and substituting “$75”; and
(b)	by deleting “$200” in the third line of paragraph (2) and substituting “$150”.

New regulations 32A and 32B

11. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting, immediately after regulation 32, the following regulations:

“Fee for lodgment of plan involving minor alterations or additions to existing buildings

32A. Any owner of an existing building or any part thereof who lodges any plan involving minor alterations or additions to such building or such part thereof under regulation 4(5) shall pay a fee of $75.

Fee for application for modification or waiver

32B. The fee payable for an application for modification or waiver under section 27(1) of the Act shall be $100 in respect of each item.”.

Deletion and substitution of regulation 33

12. Regulation 33 of the principal Regulations is deleted and the following regulation substituted therefor:

“Fee for change of use and temporary change of use

33.—(1) The fee payable for an application for approval of change of use as referred to in regulation 20(1) shall be $75 for each storey of a building.

(2) The fee payable for an application for approval of temporary change of use as referred to in regulation 20(4) shall be $50.”.

New Schedules

13. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting, immediately after regulation 42, the following Schedules:

“FIRST SCHEDULE

Regulation 4(4)

1. Minor alterations or additions to fire safety measures refers to —

(a)

minor building works involving the use of lightweight non-combustible construction which will not affect fire compartmentation such as fire resisting walls or doors or means of escape in the building, or pose additional fire hazard to the building; and

(b)

internal partition works —

(i)	which are to be carried out within a floor space defined as a shop or an office in an approved building plan; and
(ii)	for which a temporary fire permit or fire safety certificate has been obtained.

2. The criteria for minor alterations or additions to fire safety measures as referred to in paragraph 1 are as follows:

(a)	works that do not affect the fire resistance of element of structure and the fire compartmentation;
(b)	works that do not affect means of escape;
(c)	works that do not affect the wet or dry riser, landing valve or hosereel;
(d)	works that do not involve change of use;
(e)	works that do not involve an increase in floor area;
(f)	works that do not involve raised floor system; or
(g)	works that do not involve conservation projects.

3. The criteria for minor alterations or additions to fire protection, air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems are as follows:

(a)

in the case of mechanical ventilation systems, where fire dampers or fans are altered or shifted at areas other than —

(i)	exit staircases and internal exit passageways;
(ii)	pressurisation of internal corridors in hotels;
(iii)	smoke stop lobbies or fire-fighting lobbies;
(iv)	fire pump rooms, generator rooms, Fire Command Centre or rooms involving use of flammable and explosive substances;
(v)	basement smoke control systems; and
(vi)	engineering smoke control systems,

and do not contravene the Act or these Regulations;

(b)

in the case of fire protection systems —

(i)	changes involving range pipe and distribution pipes routing up to the design point from downstream and provided that they are still within the sprinkler protection area; or
(ii)	changes involving additions or alterations of concealed sprinkler heads arising from changes in depths of ceiling voids due to changes in ceiling heights, provided that the protection of the ceiling spaces is in accordance with the relevant sprinkler codes; and

(c)

in the case of automatic fire alarm systems —

(i)

where relocation of the alarm panels (main or subpanels) in —

(A)	the Fire Command Centre;
(B)	smoke stop lobbies;
(C)	protected staircases or main entrances; or
(D)	any other place which is not easily smoke-logged and readily accessible to firemen,

does not contravene the Act or these Regulations; or

(ii)

where replacement of the fire alarm panel does not contravene the Act or these Regulations.

”.

[G.N. Nos. S 128/96; S 254/97; S 434/97]

Made this 30th day of June 1998.

PETER CHAN JER HING

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Singapore.

[MHA 112/2/030 Vol. 18; AG/LEG/SL/109A/96/1 Vol. 1]