Fire Code Chap 4 and 8 Mr Vincent Han

Introduction

• Joint review by Fire Code Review Committee

• To ensure up to date fire safety standards shaped by changing

building development trends as well as needs of the building industry

• Incorporating changes previously disseminated via circulars

Update to

• Chapter 4 -Site Planning & External Fire Fighting Provision

• Chapter 8 - Other Systems

Update to Chapter 4

Site Planning & External Fire Fighting Provision

Purpose : To make provision for space around buildings to enable effective mounting of rescue and external fire fighting operations

Chapter 4 -Update/Add

Clause 4.2.2 ACCESSWAY FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES

Cl.4.2.2(a)(ii)

Cl.4.2.2(a)(iii)

Cl.4.2.2(a)(v)

Cl.4.2.2(b)(i)

Clause 4.2.3 ACCESS OPENING TO BUILDING FOR FIRE FIGHTING

Cl.4.2.3(a)

Cl.4.2.3(e)

Clause 4.4.1 REQUIREMENT FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT

Cl.4.4.1(a)(ii)

Cl.4.4.1(d)

Clause 4.4.2 WATER SUPPLY FOR PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANT

Cl.4.4.2(a)

Cl.4.4.2(b)(ii)

Fire Code 2007 Fire Code 2013 Rationale

Cl.4.2.2(a)(ii) For buildings

under purpose group II, no

accessway will be required

for buildings that do not

exceed the habitable height

of 10m. However, fire engine

access road having

minimum 4m width for

access by pump appliance

shall be provided to within a

travel distance of 60m of

every point on the projected

plan area of the building.

The requirement for fire

engine access road shall

not apply to non-residential

standalone building, such

as clubhouse, carpark, etc.

(excluding guardhouse and

substation) that are located

within the housing

development.

Cl.4.2.2(a)(ii) For buildings under

purpose group II, no accessway

will be required for buildings that

do not exceed the habitable

height of 10m. However, fire

engine access road having

minimum 4m width for access by

pump appliance shall be provided

to within a travel distance of 60m

of every point on the projected

plan area of the building.

The This requirement for fire

engine access road shall not

apply to non-residential

standalone building, such as

clubhouse, carpark, etc.

(excluding guardhouse and

substation) that are located

within the housing development.

The non-residential standalone

building shall comply with

Cl.4.2.2(a)(iv) and Cl.4.2.2(b)(i).

The revision convey that non-

residential buildings within a

residential development are

subject to the relevant set of

accessibility requirement.

Non residential building such as

car park shall be categorised

differently from Purpose Group II.

The risk level for non-residential

space is higher than that of a

residential. As such, it shall not

be sharing the same requirement

as residential development.


Light Fire Attack Vehicle (Red Rhino)

Cl.4.2.2(b)(i) For buildings under purpose groups III, IV, V and VII exceeding the habitable

height of 10m, accessway shall be located directly below the access openings to provide

direct outreach to the access openings. Accessway shall be provided based on the largest

gross floor area of the following:

(1) any floor including 1st storey,

(2) if there are more than one floor interconnected, the aggregate areas of all the floor

interconnected.

Cl. 4.2.2(a)(iv) For buildings under purpose groups III, IV, V and VII not exceeding the

habitable height of 10m, accessway will not be required. However, provision of fire engine

access road having minimum 4m width for pump appliance will be required to within a travel

distance of 45m of every point on the projected plan area of the building.

Illustration (non-Sprinkler protected)


Gross floor area of largest floor in the building <2000m2


Cl.4.2.2(a)(iii) For buildings

under purpose group II that

exceed the habitable height of

10m, fire engine access road

shall be provided close to every

block and that the dry riser

breeching inlets are located

close to the road. The access

road shall have a minimum 4m

width and designed to sustain

the load of stationary 30 tonnes

fire engine fighting appliance,

and shall be provided within

18m of dry riser breeching inlets

of the building. The breeching

inlets shall be located on the

external wall above ground level

nearest to the vertical run of the

riser stack. The maximum

horizontal run of the water pipe

between the breeching inlets

and the same riser stack shall

not exceed 12m.

Cl.4.2.2(a)(iii) For buildings under

purpose group II that exceed the

habitable height of 10m, fire engine

access road shall be provided close to

every block and that the dry riser breeching

inlets are located close to the road. fire

engine access road shall be provided

within a travel distance of 18m to

entrance of all exit staircases that are

provided with landing valve (dry or

wet riser) in accordance with

Cl.6.2.2(b). The measurement of

18m shall be between the fire engine

access road and the entrance of exit

staircase. The fire engine access

road shall have a minimum 4m width

and designed to sustain the load of

stationary 30 tonnes fire engine

fighting appliance, and shall be

provided within 18m of dry riser

breeching inlets of the building. The

breeching inlets shall be located on

at the external wall exterior, above

ground level readily visible and

accessible from the fire engine

access road. nearest to the vertical run of

the riser stack. The maximum horizontal

run of the water pipe between the

breeching inlets and the same riser stack

shall not exceed 12m.

The reason to specify the final

discharge of exit staircase is because

the rising main is normally located at

the fire-fighting lobby, smoke-stop lobby

adjacent to exit staircase. During a fire

emergency, fire fighter will need to get

to the fire lift, if any or via protected

staircase to reach the fire floor for fire -

fighting & rescue operation.

Hence, to use exit staircase, final

discharge as point of reference is valid.


Pump Ladder (Fire Engine)


NIL Cl.4.2.2(a)(v) In the case of

basement, the fire engine

access road shall be provided

within a travel distance of 18m

to entrance of all exit staircases

that are provided with landing

valve (dry or wet riser) in

accordance with Cl.6.2.2(b). The

measurement of 18m shall be

between the fire engine access

road and the entrance of exit

staircase.

To separately address single or

multi-level

basement.


Combined Platform Ladder


Cl.4.2.2(b)(i)

For buildings under purpose

groups III, IV, V and VII

exceeding the habitable

height of 10m, accessway

shall be located directly

below the access openings

to provide direct outreach to

the access openings.

Accessway shall be

provided based on the gross

floor area (including toilets,

stores, circulation areas,

etc.) of the largest floor

(including 1st storey) in the

building as follows:

Cl.4.2.2(b)(i)

For buildings under purpose

groups III, IV, V and VII

exceeding the habitable height

of 10m, accessway shall be

located directly below the

access openings to provide

direct outreach to the access

openings.

Accessway shall be provided

based on the largest gross floor

area of the following:

(1) any floor including 1st storey,

(2) if there are more than one

floor interconnected, the

aggregate areas of all the

floor interconnected.

For the purpose of determining

accessway perimeter in a building

where floors could be

interconnected, it should be based

on aggregate floor area instead of

the single largest floor area.


Combined Platform Ladder


Cl.4.2.3 (a) Definition

Openings on the external

wall for external fire fighting

and rescue operation.

Access openings shall

include unobstructed

external wall openings,

windows, balcony doors,

glazed wall panels or access

panels. Windows, doors,

wall panels or access panels

must be readily openable

from the inside and outside,

unless fitted with breakable

glazing. Inside and outside

of access openings shall be

unobstructed at all times

during the occupancy of the

building.

Cl.4.2.3 (a) Definition

Openings on the external wall

for external fire fighting and

rescue operation. Access

openings shall include

unobstructed external wall

openings, windows, balcony

doors, glazed wall panels or

access panels. Windows, doors,

wall panels or access panels

must be readily openable from

the inside and outside, unless

fitted with breakable glazing.

Inside and outside of access

openings shall be unobstructed

at all times during the

occupancy of the building.

The reason for disallowing fitted

glazing is because it may be

laminated glazing. An exercise on

the breaking of laminated glass

was conducted in 2012, it was

found to be time consuming and

tedious.


Breaking FAP.wmv


Cl.4.2.3(e)

Access openings shall be

not less than 850mm wide

by 1000mm high with sill

height of not more than

1100mm and head height

not less than 1800mm

above the inside floor level.

Cl.4.2.3(e)

Access openings shall be not

less than 850mm wide by

1000mm high with sill height of

not more than 1100mm and

head height not less than

1800mm above the inside floor

level.

The access opening shall not be

placed at plant/store room,

staircase, smoke-stop lobby or

“dead space”. It shall be placed

against an occupied space.

To explicitly state that FAP shall be

positioned within an occupied

space. It should exclude essential

spaces that are protected and

within reach via internal access.


Sill height max. 1100mm

Head height min. 1800mm


Cl.4.4.1(a)(ii) Existing

public hydrants along one

side of a public road shall

not be designated to serve

developments that are sited

across the other side of the

public road, except for a

one-way single lane road.

Cl.4.4.1(a)(ii) Existing public

hydrants along one side of a

public road shall not be

designated to serve

developments that are sited

across the other side of the

public road, except for a one-

way or two-way lanes road.

Current relaxation is only extended

to single lane road.

Operations inputs were sought.

During a fire turnout, it is common

to have fire-fighting appliances

occupying more than one lane

width of road.

To further extend to allow public

hydrant that could be sited across a

two-way lanes road.


Illustration



Nil Cl.4.4.1(d) For a building that is

required to have island site

accessway under Cl.4.2.2(b),

the hydrant pipe shall be a

ringed system. Isolation valves

shall be provided on the hydrant

ring such that any section of

ring, with a maximum of one fire

hydrant, can be isolated when

required for maintenance

without affecting the water

supply (both designed pressure

and flow) to the other fire

hydrants. Locking device shall

be provided to lock the valves in

open position during normal

operation.

The ring system main for private

hydrant would provide adequate

and stable supply of water during

time of emergency



Cl.4.4.2(a)

Private fire hydrants

installed at reduced level

125m and below can

receive direct supply from

public water mains provided

:

(i) …

(ii) …

Note:

(i) ….

(ii) ….

Cl.4.4.2(a)

Private fire hydrants installed at

reduced level 125 m and below

can receive direct supply from

public water main provided.

Private fire hydrants installed at

reduced level 125m and below

can receive direct supply from

public water main. If the flow

and pressure from the public

water mains cannot meet the

hydrant requirements, a storage

tank of sufficient capacity with

the requisite pumping facilities

shall be provided. Private fire

hydrants receiving direct supply

from public water mains shall

comply with:

(i) …

(ii) …

Note:

(i) ….

(ii) ….

To tally with SS 575 ( previously CP

29)

Note: Not withstanding this, storage

cistern of sufficient capacity with

pumping facilities may be required

to meet SCDF’s requirements on

flow rates and pressure.

The additional statement was

requested by PUB and intended as

a safeguard. Should the private

fire hydrant that is receiving direct

supply from Public water mains

fails to comply with flow rates and

pressure requirements, then the

private hydrant should be provided

with its own storage and pumping

facilities.



Cl.4.4.2(b)(i) Where there is

only one private hydrant in the

plot that is located above

reduced level 125m; and

Cl.4.4.2(b)(ii) this hydrant is not

the sole hydrant within 50m

from any breeching inlet(s)

feeding into fixed water based

fire fighting system(s) including

automatic sprinkler systems, dry

riser systems, and wet riser

systems for the building(s)

standing on this plot of land;

this hydrant can be in the form

of a "dry" hydrant. A "dry"

hydrant shall be connected to a

150mm diameter dry pipe,

which shall be connected at the

other end to a four-way

breeching inlet. This breeching

inlet shall be within 18m from

any accessway or fire engine

access road having minimum

4m width and within 50m from

any wet hydrant, private or

public.

Cl.4.4.2(b)(i) Where there is only

one private hydrant in the plot that is

located above reduced level 125m;

and

Cl.4.4.2(b)(ii) this hydrant is not the

sole hydrant within 50m from any

breeching inlet(s) feeding into fixed

water based fire fighting system(s)

including automatic sprinkler

systems, dry riser systems, and wet

riser systems for the building(s)

standing on this plot of land; this

hydrant can be in the form of a "dry"

hydrant. A "dry" hydrant shall be

connected to a 150mm diameter dry

pipe, which shall be connected at

the other end to a four-way

breeching inlet. This breeching inlet

shall be within 18m from any

accessway or fire engine access

road having minimum 4m width and

within 50m from any wet hydrant,

private or public. The private dry

pillar shall be painted in “yellow” and

labelled “dry” on the hydrant pillar. A

signage indicating the location of

breeching inlet shall be positioned

next to the dry private hydrant.

The colour preference for private

wet hydrant is covered under SS

575. To distinguish internal private

hydrant from private dry hydrant.


Dry Private Hydrant

Update to Chapter 8 - Other Systems

8.2 Voice Communication System

and Fire Command Centre

Chapter 8 Updates

Changes to:

Clause 8.2.1 VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Cl.8.2.1(a)(i)

Cl.8.2.1(a)(iii)

Clause 8.2.3 FIRE COMMAND CENTRE

Cl.8.2.3(c)


Cl.8.2.1(a) One way

emergency communication

system and a fire command

centre shall be provided as

follows:

Cl.8.2.1(a)(i) For all large

buildings under purpose

groups III (not applicable to

primary school, secondary

school and junior colleges),

IV, V & VII (gross floor area

greater than 5000sq m or

having a total occupant load

exceeding 1000 persons and

large industrial buildings

under purpose groups VI &

VIII (gross floor area greater

than 5000 sq m).

Cl.8.2.1(a)(ii) For all buildings

belonging to purpose groups

III, IV, V, VI. VII, and VIII of

more than 24m in habitable

height.

Cl.8.2.1(a) One-way

emergency voice

communication system and a

fire command centre shall be

provided as follows:

Cl.8.2.1(a)(i) For all large


groups III (not applicable to

primary school, secondary

school and junior colleges), IV,

V & VII, VI, VII & VIII with

gross floor area greater than

5000sq m or having a total

occupant load exceeding 1000

persons and large industrial


groups VI & VIII (gross floor

area greater than 5000 sq m);

or

Cl.8.2.1(a)(ii) For all buildings

belonging to purpose groups

III, IV, V, VI. VII, and VIII of

more than 24m in habitable

height.

General qualifying criteria for

Purpose Group IV, V, VI, VII & VIII.

So long as gross floor area exceed

5000sqm or having a total

occupant load exceeding 1000

persons, one-way emergency

communication system and a fire

command centre shall be provided.



Cl.8.2.1(a)(iii)

For hotel or health care

occupancies of less than

24m in habitable height.

Loudspeakers for the public

address system shall be

provided in every lift lobby,

staircase enclosure and

other strategic positions

within audible distance of all

parts of all storeys of the

building.

Cl.8.2.1(a)(iii) Exception

For hotel or health care

occupancies buildings of less

than 24m in habitable height,

gross floor area not greater than

5,000sqm and total occupant

load not exceeding 1,000

persons, an ordinary public

address system shall be

provided.

However, Fire Command Centre

is not required.

Loudspeakers for the ordinary

public address system shall be

provided in every lift lobby,

staircase enclosure and other

strategic positions within audible

distance of all parts of all

storeys throughout the building.

upfront stipulate that FCC is not

needed.

add “ordinary” before public

address system to avoid

confusion.



Cl.8.2.3(c) Location

A Fire Command Centre

shall be located adjacent to

the fire lift lobby at the

designated storey of the

building (i.e. the

lobby of the building on the

first storey or immediately

adjacent thereto) or at any

other location as may be

designated by the Relevant

Authority.

Cl.8.2.3(c) Location

A Fire Command Centre

shall be located adjacent to

the fire lift lobby at the

designated storey of the

building (i.e. the lobby of the

building on the first storey or

immediately adjacent

thereto) or at any other

location as may be


Authority.

Cl.8.2.3(c)(i) The Fire

Command Centre shall be

located at the same level as

the fire engine accessway or

access road and in the

following order of priority:

Cl.8.2.3(c)(i)(1) immediately

adjacent to the fire-fighting

lobby at the designated

storey of the building;

The revision is intended to make the

clause explicit.

First by stating that FCC is to be

located at the same level as the fire

engine accessway and subsequent the

order of priority.

In this revision, there is requirement to

address development having many

standalone buildings. Essentially, the

designer shall designate individual

FCC to the different building. In

another words, more than one FCC

shall be provided.

For such case the relevant authority

shall be consulted.



Cl.8.2.3(c)(i)(2) in the case

where there is no fire-

fighting lobby, it shall be

located within vicinity of the

fire engine accessway or

access road and adjacent to

one of the protected stairs

serving all storeys of the

development.

Cl.8.2.3(c)(i)(3) at any other

location as may be


Authority.

Cl.8.2.3(c)(ii) in the case of

a site consisting of more

than one building, there

shall be more than one Fire

Command Centre. For such

cases, the Relevant

Authority shall be consulted.


Illustration


Conclusion

Greater awareness and better understanding of Technical Requirements are keys

to ensuring compliance in design and construction.

To seek consultation with SCDF when in doubt.

Get It Right to avoid abortive design and construction.

THANK YOU

Explanation


Illustration


Illustration


Diagram 4.2.3(e)-1In Fig. (iii), although the height of access opening complies with the Clause (1000mm), the head height is less than 1800mm.

Illustration

1800mm1000mm


Illustration


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Fire Code Chap 4 and 8 Mr Vincent Han

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