Checklist for Fire Engineering Assessment (Singapore Chapter)

Alternative approaches to address building modifications and compliance for fire safety

With the prevailing building codes and standards changing to address new technologies and market trends, existing buildings may be outdated or deemed to be non-compliant during the stage of upgrading. Innovative fire safety engineering designs for existing building designs are therefore required to ensure continuity and code compliance.

 

Through in-depth knowledge of prescriptive and performance-based approaches, SHEVS can provide the most appropriate and effective Fire Engineering Assessment to seal the gaps for code compliance.

Find out more >> SCDF Circular – Conduct Of Fire Engineering Assessment In Support Of Fire Safety Waiver Application

No. Fire Code 2013 Fire Code 2023 Fire Code Requirement
1 Cl. 1.2.1(A)
Minimum air well size		 Cl. 1.4.2 To assess if the smaller air well size (10 to 14m) is sufficient for the ventilation of staircase
2 Cl. 2.2.13(a)
Smoke free approach through external exit passageway or external corridor		 Cl. 2.2.13(a) To assess if the non-compliance of the following is sufficient for smoke free approach:

  • Min width of 6m for air well and not less than 93m2
  • At least 15% of floor area and not more than 9m from any part of the lobby
  • Cross ventilated corridor with at least 50% of the superficial area of the opposing external wall and any part of the corridor shall not be more than 13m from the opening
Cl. 2.2.13(b)(i)(iii)(iv)
Smoke free approach through smoke free lobby		 Cl. 2.2.13(b)(1) to (7)
3 Cl. 2.2.15 (c)
External corridor serving area of refuge		 Cl. 2.2.15(d) To assess the deficiency of the external corridor serving the area of refuge
4 Cl. 2.3.2 (c)
External Exit Passageway		 Cl. 2.3.2(c) To assess if the non-compliance in the design and ventilation requirement of external exit passageway will affect egress of occupants
Cl. 2.3.2 (d)
Internal Exit Passageway		 Cl. 2.3.2(d) To assess if the non-provision of 15% ventilation opening will affect egress of occupants
5 Cl. 2.3.3 (a) (iii)
Unprotected opening from internal staircase (1.5m horizontally and 3m vertically)		 Cl. 2.3.3(a)(3) To assess the effect on the shortfall of the 1.5m horizontal and 3m vertical setback to ventilation opening of internal staircase
6 Cl. 2.3.3 (b) (ii)
Unprotected opening from external staircase (3m horizontally and 3m vertically)		 Cl. 2.3.3(b)(2) To assess the effect on the shortfall of the 3m horizontal and vertical setback to external staircase
7 Cl. 2.3.3 (c) (i) (ii) (iii)
Protection at the staircase discharge		 Cl. 2.3.3c. (1) (2) (3) (4) To assess the safety at the discharge point if the design deviates from code requirement.
8 Cl. 2.3.3 (f)
Ventilation requirement for exit staircase		 Cl. 2.3.3 d. (7) To assess the effect on the shortfall of the 10% ventilation opening on the egress of occupants
9 Cl. 2.4.5 (f)
Smoke free approach to exit staircase for residential occupancy		 Cl. 9.2.1a. (4), (e) & (f) To assess the effect on the shortfall of the ventilation width for the smoke free approach:

  • Ventilation opening to be minimum width of 2000mm and minimum height of 1200mm
10 Cl. 2.4.8
Smoke free approach to exit staircase for residential occupancy via external corridor concept		 Cl. 9.2.1a. (7) To access if the non-compliance in the design and ventilation requirement of external corridor will affect egress of occupants
11 Cl. 2.4.13
Common internal corridor – means of ventilation for residential occupancy		 Cl. 9.2.1a. (10), (b) To assess the effect on the ventilation for the common internal corridor if the design deviates from code requirement:

  • Ventilation opening to be at least 15% of floor area and not more than 9m from any part of the common internal corridor.
  • For a cross ventilated corridor design, fixed openings at opposing external wall to be at least 50% of the superficial area of the walls and no part of the corridor shall be more than 13m away from the ventilation opening
12 Cl. 2.5.1 a (vi), (4) (5) (6)
Internal access corridor to patient accommodation ward		 Cl. 9.3.2 b. (7), (d) (e) (f) To assess the effect on the ventilation for the internal corridor if the design deviates from code requirement
13 Cl. 2.5.1 a (vii), (1) & (3)
External corridor to patient accommodation ward		 Cl. 9.3.2 b. (8) To assess the effect on the ventilation for the external corridor if the design deviates from code requirement
14 Cl. 2.7.1 (c)
Ventilation requirement for internal corridor (hotels, boarding houses, serviced apartments,
hostels, backpackers hotel)		 Cl. 9.7.2 a. (3) To assess the effect on the ventilation for the internal corridor if the design deviates from code requirement:

  • Min width of 6m for air well and not less than 93m2
  • At least 15% of floor area and not more than 9m from any part of the lobby
  • Cross ventilated corridor with at least 50% of the superficial area of the opposing external wall and any part of the corridor shall not be more than 13m from the opening
15 Cl. 2.7.2
External corridor design (hotels, boarding houses, serviced apartments, hostels, backpackers
hotel)		 Cl. 9.7.2 b. To assess the effect on the ventilation for the external corridor if the design deviates from code requirement
16 Cl. 2.9.3 (c) (d) (e)
Ventilation requirement for internal corridor serving workers’ dormitories		 Cl. 9.3.3 e. (3) (4) (5) To assess the effect on the ventilation for the internal corridor if the design deviates from code requirement:

  • Fixed opening of at least 15% of the floor area and not less than 3.5m and be positioned on opposite side of the corridor for cross ventilation
  • Ventilation opening in the external wall shall not be more than 12m from any part of corridor
17 Cl. 2.9.4
External corridor serving workers’ dormitories		 Cl. 9.3.3 f. To assess the effect on the ventilation for the external corridor if the design deviates from code requirement
18 Cl. 3.2.8 (c) (i) (ii)
Compartmentation requirement for open sided car park		 Cl. 3.2.8a. & b. To assess the effect on the compartmentation if the design deviates from code requirement:

  • 50% permanent fixed openings evenly distributed along the perimeter walls and on every floor/deck. No part of the floor shall be more than 12m from the openings on the perimeter walls

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