Building Professionals

A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) provides for the safety of the building's occupants. Therefore, owners and their Qualified Persons (QP) whom they have engaged for their fire safety works are required to apply and obtain the FSC before using or occupying the premises. The FSC is only issued after full completion of all fire safety works in the project. Failure to comply with this is an offence under the Fire Safety Act and the owner is liable to court action.

A building owner may also apply and obtain a Temporary Fire Permit (TFP) for a limited period to occupy or use the premises, prior to obtaining the FSC. The TFP is only issued on condition that the fire safety works of the project has been satisfactorily completed with very minor outstanding issues left to be complied with. The timeframe to obtain the FSC after issuance of the TFP will depend on the size, type and complexity of the project. Normally, a maximum of 6 months will be granted.

An application for a FSC/TFP should only be submitted after the plans for the fire safety works of the project have been approved and the works have been fully completed in accordance to SCDF's requirements. An Inspection Certificate issued by a Registered Inspector (RI) is required. Depending on the type of project, 2 disciplines of RIs, a RI (Architecture) and a RI (M & E) may be needed. Owners must engage RIs to inspect and certify the fire safety works of their project before submitting to SCDF their application for a FSC/TFP.

For the appointment of Registered Inspectors, the letter of appointment (RI Appt) is required to be completed by the owner and RI. If the owner terminates the services of a RI and appoints another RI, then the letter of relinquishment (RI Relq) of the first RI has to be submitted to SCDF as well.

After the project is completed, the QP is required to make the application on behalf of the owner. No fee is charged for the application of a FSC/TFP. The FSC application has to be submitted electronically (on-line) through the CORENET system (CORENET e-submission). The documents to be submitted are the FSC form, the CFSW (Certification for Fire safety Works) form and the RI Inspection Certificates. Other forms of certification that may be required for the processing of the application are to be submitted to FSSD only if specifically requested for after the application has been made.

Upon receipt of a FSC application through the CORENET system, it will then be processed in FSSD’s computer system. FSSD observes a 3-working day timeframe to issue a response upon receipt of an application. All correspondence is done electronically through the CORENET system, including the issuance of the FSC/TFP. Should an application be rejected, the QP will be required to re-submit complying with the instructions. The status of the application can also be checked at the following link after 3-working days : http://www.scdf.gov.sg/Building_Professionals/E_Services/index.html.

**Note: Applications may also be selected for an inspection by FSSD. The inspection will normally be carried out within 10 days upon receipt of the application. If there are non-compliances or deviations found during the inspection, the QP is then required to make the rectifications and re-submit the application for FSC complying with the outstanding items.

Owners of premises are required to carefully keep their Fire Safety Certificates once it has been issued because they are required for future reference and may also have to be produced during checks made by SCDF staff.

No plan submission is necessary for the temporary building in construction sites. The Qualified Person (QP) for the project has to ensure that the temporary building is constructed in accordance with the technical guidelines issued by FSSD on 1 July 1997.

Please click below for a copy of the Technical Guidelines for Fire Safety in Temporary Buildings in Construction Sites (Appendix B).