Fire Safety (Registered Inspectors) Regulations

Fire Safety Act

(Chapter 109A, Section 61(1))

Rg 2

G.N. No. S 166/1994

REVISED EDITION 2008

(2nd June 2008)

[8th April 1994]

Citation

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

Definitions

2. In these Regulations —

“codes of practice” means the codes of practice, standards, guides or manuals relating to fire safety which are acceptable to the Commissioner;

“fire safety plans” means the plans for fire safety works which have been approved by the Commissioner under section 23 of the Act.

Registered Inspectors Selection Panel

3.—(1) For the purposes of section 5(4) of the Act, the Commissioner may appoint a committee to be known as the Registered Inspectors Selection Panel comprising a Chairman and such other members as the Commissioner may determine to assist the Commissioner in considering applications for registration as registered inspectors under the Act.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), the Registered Inspectors Selection Panel may —

(a)	interview any applicant for registration as a registered inspector to determine whether the applicant has such proper and recognised training and practical experience in the design and inspection of buildings with respect to fire safety works as will enable him to perform the duties of a registered inspector efficiently; and
(b)	recommend to the Commissioner the applicants who qualify for and are deserving of registration as registered inspectors.

(3) The Chairman of the Registered Inspectors Selection Panel or, in his absence, a member appointed by the Commissioner to act as Chairman, shall preside at all meetings of the Registered Inspectors Selection Panel.

(4) The Registered Inspectors Selection Panel shall meet at such times and places as the Chairman or, in his absence, the member appointed by the Commissioner to act as Chairman, may determine.

(5) Subject to this regulation, the Registered Inspectors Selection Panel may regulate its own procedure.

Qualifications for registration as registered inspector

4.—(1) No person shall be registered under the Act as a registered inspector unless he satisfies the Commissioner that —

(a)

he is an architect registered under the Architects Act (Cap. 12) or a professional engineer registered under the Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253); and

(b)

immediately before his application for registration as a registered inspector, he has not less than 10 years of practical experience —

(i)	in the design and inspection of buildings incorporating the provisions for fire safety; or
(ii)	in the design and inspection of fire protection systems and mechanical ventilation systems,

acquired after his registration as an architect or a professional engineer.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no registered inspector shall inspect any part of the fire safety works which uses any alternative solution unless he is also a fire safety engineer registered under the Act.

Attendance at courses

5. The Commissioner may at any time require any registered inspector to attend and pass such courses of instruction or receive such training relevant to the work of a registered inspector as he may determine.

Application for registration

6. Every application for registration as a registered inspector under the Act shall be —

(a)

submitted in the form provided by the Commissioner;

(b)

accompanied by true copies of any documentary evidence of the applicant's qualifications and practical experience;

(c)

accompanied by 2 recent testimonials as to his good character; and

(d)

accompanied by a recent certificate issued by the Registrar of the Board of Architects in the case of an architect or the Registrar of the Professional Engineers Board in the case of a professional engineer, stating at the date of the certificate —

(i)	whether disciplinary proceedings are pending or contemplated against the applicant; and
(ii)	whether the applicant's professional conduct is or has been under investigation.

Duplicate certificate of registration

7. A fee of $10 shall be payable in respect of any duplicate certificate of registration issued by the Commissioner.

Duties of registered inspectors

8.—(1) All fire safety works shall be inspected by the appropriate registered inspector determined in accordance with the First Schedule to determine whether the fire safety works have been completed in accordance with the approved fire safety plans, the relevant codes of practice, the Act and any regulations made thereunder.

(2) In the performance of his duties under these Regulations, the registered inspector may require the qualified person and, where applicable, the fire safety engineer appointed under section 25(1) of the Act to —

(a)	supply him with a complete set of all the plans for fire safety works approved by the Commissioner;
(b)	liaise with him concerning the time and dates of inspection;
(c)	cause to be carried out such rectification to the fire safety works as he may consider necessary; and
(d)	assist him in the performance of his duties under these Regulations on such other matters as he may determine.

(3) The registered inspector shall keep a proper record of all reports, requests and correspondences made in respect of the inspection and shall furnish the Commissioner with a copy of any of the documents which the Commissioner may require.

Registered inspector to notify Commissioner of engagement and disengagement

9. A registered inspector shall —

(a)	within 14 days of his being engaged by any person to perform any of the duties specified in the First Schedule; or
(b)	within 14 days of the cessation of such engagement,

notify the Commissioner of his engagement or the cessation of such engagement, as the case may be, in such form as the Commissioner may require.

Duties of qualified persons and fire safety engineers to assist

10. It shall be the duty of the qualified person and, where applicable, the fire safety engineer appointed under section 25(1) of the Act to —

(a)	ensure that all fire safety works are completed in accordance with the approved fire safety plans, the relevant codes of practice, the Act and any regulations made thereunder before a registered inspector is engaged to inspect them under these Regulations;
(b)	render all necessary assistance and co-operation to the registered inspector engaged to inspect the fire safety works;
(c)	make available to the registered inspector all documents, test reports and certificates relating to the fire safety works; and
(d)	inform the registered inspector whether an application for waiver of fire safety requirements has been submitted to the Commissioner.

Certificates of inspection

11.—(1) A registered inspector shall, without delay after inspection of fire safety works, prepare and submit to the Commissioner and the person for whom the fire safety works have been or are being carried out —

(a)	a certificate of inspection set out in Form 1 of the Second Schedule if he is satisfied that the fire safety works have been carried out in accordance with the approved fire safety plans, the relevant codes of practice, the Act and any regulations made thereunder; or
(b)	a certificate of inspection set out in Form 2 of the Second Schedule if there is any deviation from the fire safety works with the approved fire safety plans, the relevant codes of practice, the Act or any regulations made thereunder.

(2) Nothing in this regulation shall impose any duty on the registered inspector to report any deviation from or non-compliance with the approved fire safety plans, the relevant codes of practice, the Act or any regulations made thereunder which he did not know and could not reasonably have discovered.

Appeals to Minister

12. Any appeal under section 5A(5) of the Act shall —

(a)	be in writing and addressed to the Minister;
(b)	state the decision of the Commissioner in respect of which the appeal is brought;
(c)	specify the grounds on which the appeal is made; and
(d)	be accompanied by such documentary evidence as the Minister considers necessary.

Penalty

13. Any person who contravenes regulation 8, 9, 10 or 11 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

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