Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.4a. : Compartmentation by height

Figure 3.2.4a.

Where 3 storeys or levels form one compartment, the total floor area shall not exceed 4000m² and the total cubical extent shall not exceed 15000m³, subject to compliance with travel distance requirements under Chapter 2.

In the case of atrium design space, it can go beyond 3 storeys per compartment but shall not exceed habitable height of 24m. in other words, every storey beyond 24m in height is a fire compartment.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.4b. : Compartmentation by height

Figure 3.2.4b. - 1

In any commercial building which exceeds 24m in habitable height, no compartment shall comprise more than one storey per compartment from storey level exceeding 24m above average ground level. There is a need to keep the fire compartment size small within 2000m² or 7500m³ above that habitable height, as it would otherwise pose difficulties to firefighting and control of fire spread should there be a fire occurrence in one of those high-rise units.

Figure 3.2.4b. - 2

In any residential building which exceeds 24m in habitable height, no compartment shall comprise more than one storey per compartment from storey level exceeding 24m above average ground level. However, for residential maisonette or penthouse unit, maximum two storey levels are allowed to form one compartment. This should be taken as a relaxation. There is a need to keep the fire compartment size small within 2000m² or 7500m³ above that habitable height as it would otherwise pose difficulties to fire fighting and control of fire spread should there be a fire occurrence in one of those high-rise units. In situation where there are maisonette or penthouse units located in non-residential building, fire protection/detection system applicable to the building shall be extended to cover the residential units.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5a. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5a. - 1 : Compartment walls in PG II building

Section

Figure 3.2.5a. - 2 : Compartment walls & floors in PG II building

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5b. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5b. - 1 : Compartment walls separating different PGs

Figure 3.2.5b. - 2 : Compartment walls separating different PGs

Figure 3.2.5b. - 3 : Compartment walls & floors separating different PGs

Compartment walls and floors shall be constructed of non-combustible materials to have minimum 1-hr fire resistance rating under Table 3.3A for any of the compartment.

Figure 3.2.5b. - 4 : Compartment walls separating different PGs

In the above diagram, the car park (PG VIII) is fire compartmented from the shopping area. The car park has higher fire risks than shopping and cineplex. Fire separation between cineplex and shopping area is required. This is to safeguard the occupants in the cineplex from any fire occurrence in the shopping area.

Figure 3.2.5b. - 5 : A mixture of different PGs without fire compartment

The above diagram shows a typical shopping floor, which has a mixture of different purpose groups without fire compartmentation.

Strictly interpreting the above subclause would mean that in a shopping centre, for example, shop (PG V), office (PG IV), place of public resort (PG VII), commercial school (PG III) would need to be separately compartmented from each other. This would not be practical. In practice, shopping or commercial buildings would have mixture of the uses of different purpose groups.

Under sub-clause (b)(i), an ancillary office which is located within the compartment or floor used as PG V is not required to be separately fire compartmented, provided the measurement of travel distance requirements of PG III shall apply to the ancillary office. Similarly, under sub-clause (b)(ii) , ancillary usage to PG III such as sick/first aid room, reception lobby/area, waiting area, staff lounge/staff recreation room, staff rest room/pantry, staff changing/locker room, meeting room, staff training room, etc. is not required to be separately fire compartmented.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5c.(2) : Areas requiring compartmentation

( No illustration )

To avoid providing fire compartmentation in building to comply with the cubical extent and floor area control under Table 3.2A, automatic sprinkler system would be proposed as an alternative. Where automatic sprinkler system is to be provided to a building, compliance with Table 3.2A on max 3 storeys per compartment is still required, unless atrium design is proposed subject to obtaining the SCDF ’s prior approval before submission of building plan.

Figure 3.2.5c.(2) - 1 : Floor over basement

Where the floor area of the basement exceeds 100m² it shall be a compartment below ground level and shall not comprise more than one storey. The basement floor shall be provided with sprinkler system under Cl.6.4.1d.(1) and dry riser under Cl.6.2.1b.

Figure 3.2.5c.(2) - 2 : Floor over basement

In situation where the basement floor area is not exceeding 100m², the basement and upper storeys may be allowed to be interconnected to form one compartment, subject to max. 3 storeys or levels in a single compartment. It should be noted that Cl.3.2.5d. prohibits more than one storey below ground level to be connected to form one compartment.

Figure 3.2.5c.(2) - 3 : Floor over basement

All basement floors, except those under PG I & II, are required to be provided with automatic sprinkler system under Cl.6.4.1d.(1). Where basement floor, regardless of its area, is interconnected with upper storeys, the automatic sprinkler system required for the basement shall be extended to cover all the upper storeys.

Figure 3.2.5c.(2) - 4 : Floor over basement

For buildings under PG IV, V and VII, the first basement floor can be inter-connected with the upper storeys regardless of whether or not it exceeds 100m², provided sprinkler system and smoke control system are provided.  For atrium design, prior consent from the SCDF should be obtained before making Building Plan submission.  See Cl.3.2.4a..

Cl.3.2.5d. prohibits more than one basement floor to be connected to form one compartment, except in the case of basement used solely for car parking.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5d. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5d. - 1

Basement 1, which has a floor area of less than 100m² can be interconnected with 1st storey, provided it is compartmented from basement 2. Sprinkler system and rising mains are required to be provided to the building.

Figure 3.2.5d. - 2

Basement 1 having a floor area of more than 100m² is required to be compartmented from 1st storey. The above clause does not permit more than one basement storey per compartment unless solely used for car parking. Sprinkler system and rising main are required to be provided to basement.

Figure 3.2.5d. - 3

Owing to the special use where ramps or car lifts are needed to connect all the floors, compartmentation is relaxed where sprinkler system and rising main are provided.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5e. : Areas requiring compartmentation

( No illustration )

The fire resistance rating of the walls and floors shall comply with the elements of structure and shall have minimum period of 2 hours. Any door opening into the Fire Command Centre from the occupancy area shall be minimum 2-hr fire-rated.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f.(1) to (3) : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5f.(1) to (3) - 1

The above figure illustrates a eating establishment without kitchen fire-suppression system.  The clause enables the QP to exercise the option of compartmenting kitchen with open-flame cooking.

Figure 3.2.5f.(1) to (3) - 2

Kitchen is compartmented from dining area by 1-hr enclosures and ½-hr fire doors. Protection to servery hatch can be a fire-rated roller shutter held in the open position by fusible links.

Section

Figure 3.2.5f.(1) to (3) - 3

As the dumb waiter is connecting 2 storeys, it shall be enclosed in 2-hr protective enclosures with 1-hr fire-rated access door at each storey.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f.(1)(a) : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(a)

The above sub clause allows the kitchen not to be compartmented if the cooking hood or range is installed with an automatic fire suppression system. Automatic fire suppression system shall be of approved type based on international standards such as NFPA 17A. QPs are also reminded to ensure that the premise owners/ operators are aware of the stipulated maintenance regime in the standards.

With this arrangement, there is no need to seek waiver approval from the SCDF.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f.(1)(b) : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(b) - 1

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(b) - 2

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(b) - 3

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f.(1)(c) : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(c) - 1

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(c) - 2

The 25% and 50% ventilation openings are required for smoke venting and relief of accumulated heat from the area on fire. This exemption cannot be applied in an enclosed air-conditioned environment, where the peripheral walls are fitted with glass panel.

The 25% and 50% ventilation openings are absolute values. Extrapolation of percentage ventilation openings based on depth of the eating establishment is not permitted.

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(c) - 3

In the above figure the kitchens are not required to be compartmented.

Ventilation openings along the external walls ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’ and ‘d’ shall be uninterrupted, having minimum 50% of the perimeter walls of the eating establishment. The openings to the air well shall not be included in this purpose.

The above requirement is more relevant to hawker centre type design.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f.(1)(d) : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(d) - 1

Under Cl.3.2.5f.(1)(d)(i), the kitchen and dining area can be in one compartment, provided the building is sprinkler-protected and there is no need restricting to the floor area of the compartment

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(d) - 2

With the provision of sprinkler system, further relaxation is allowed to permit the whole eating establishment to be enclosed with at least 1-hr fire-rated walls and ½-hr fire-rated door. There is no restriction to the accessible floor area of the eating establishments.

Figure 3.2.5f.(1)(d) - 3

Under Cl.3.2.5f.(1)(d)(iI) where the building is not sprinkler-protected, the area of the compartment, kitchen and dining area e.g. (unit A) shall not exceed 150m².

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f.(4) : Areas requiring compartmentation

Section

Figure 3.2.5f.(4)

Kitchen is required to be compartmented from other areas by 1-hr compartment walls and floors. Doors to the kitchen shall have minimum ½-hr fire resistance rating and shall open outward from the kitchen. Small fires which commonly occur in the kitchen are often caused by overheating of cooking oil on the stove or in a deep pan fryer or by grill. Exhaust ducts in kitchen are usually coated with grease internally over a period of time. Fire in the ducts could be started by sparks or by fire from the stove.

Cooking appliances include – open-flame gas fired oven, charcoal grill and appliances which have open flames located or protected from views.

Fire-rated door to kitchen shall not be wedged open for serving purpose. In circumstances where fire doors are to be kept open, the door shall be fitted with electromechanical device susceptible to smoke under Cl.3.9.2c.. See Cl.1.4.34 for further illustration. 

To qualify for non-provision of fire compartment under Cl.3.2.5f.(1), auto fire suppression equipment should be incorporated into the cooking range. This equipment may consist of fixed pipe carbon dioxide, dry chemical or foam- water sprinkler or spray system. Such auto suppression system to the cooking range shall be listed and approved by a certification body.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5f. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Section

Figure 3.2.5f.

Where ‘open-flame’ cooking is used, the compartment comprising dining and kitchen areas shall not comprise more than one storey:

In the case of eating establishment which comprises 2 storeys, then each storey shall be a fire compartment by itself.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5g. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Section

Figure 3.2.5g.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5h. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5h.

Spray painting booth or room shall be mechanically ventilated and enclosed in min. 2-hr fire-rated compartment to allow spraying of paint to be carried out. It shall be constructed to prevent the escape of spray and flammable vapour which shall be removed by the exhaust system. 

The exhaust discharge point shall be not less than 5m from the inlet of any mechanical ventilation system.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5i. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Figure 3.2.5i.

Store 1 exceeding 10m² inside a Hotel space will need to be compartmentalised with 1- hour fire rated enclosures.

Store 2 which is less than 10m² still required to be provided with fire door as the store opens into internal corridor, which is pressurised.

The main reason for compartmentation of storeroom is to prevent undetected fire in the storeroom from developing into a big fire.

Compactus

Compactus room which is more than 10m² shall be treated as a compartment under the above sub-clause. The enclosing walls/floor/ceiling/door shall have min. 1-hr fire resistance rating. Irrespective of the location of the compactus storage area, if it is not enclosed in a room, it shall be treated as open storage shelves and not as a store. The main reason is that a fire occurring in a room could be unnoticed, until it becomes too big to be put out by first aid firefighting equipment. An incipient fire occurring in an unenclosed compactus storage area could be easily spotted by occupants and immediate reaction could be taken to put out the fire.

Any store, regardless of its size, shall be compartmented under the above sub-clause if it opens directly into exit passageways and designated protected escape routes, e.g. smoke-stop lobbies, protected staircases.

Explanations & Illustrations

Clause 3.2.5j. : Areas requiring compartmentation

Section

Figure 3.2.5j.

Transformer and generator rooms that contain flammable liquids should be located against an external wall for external ventilation and explosion relief.

Transformer room

Transformers could be dry type or oil cooled type. Oil cooled type is to be located against an external wall above ground level to allow for external ventilation and explosion relief. Adequate precautions should be taken by the provision of a suitable catch pit or other means to prevent the spread of fire resulting from leakage and ignition of oil.

Generator rooms

Generator sets shall be located in clean, dry locations within fire-rated compartments. They may be placed outdoors if they are of purpose built type, provided proper separation from unprotected openings of the building is maintained. Generator rooms shall be located against an external wall above ground level to allow for external ventilation and explosion relief.

Storage areas of highly combustible or flammable materials

Where possible, oil storage tanks should be installed in open air at ground level at least 6m from adjacent buildings and in accordance with CP 40. A max. capacity of 700 litres of diesel oil is permitted to be stored in the generator room. The oil drum(s) shall be located within a bunded area, capable of containing 100% spillage from the drum(s).

Prior approval is to be obtained from the SCDF for storage of combustible or flammable liquids, other than in the generator room, before building plan submission.