(Not in use)

a. Access through an internal corridor

Guestrooms or accommodation units with access through an internal corridor shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(1) Each guestroom or accommodation unit shall be compartmented from adjoining rooms and other parts of the same building, including the internal corridor, by construction having fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour.

(2) Doors opening into internal corridors shall have fire resistance of at least half an hour and fitted with automatic self-closing device to comply with the requirements of Cl.3.9.2.

(4) Other rooms or spaces which open into or form part of the guestroom or accommodation unit corridor which can jeopardise the means of escape shall be required to be compartmented to the same extent as the guestroom or accommodation unit.

b. Access through an external corridor

Guestrooms or accommodation units with access through an external corridor shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(1) Each guestroom or accommodation unit shall be compartmented from adjoining rooms and other parts of the same building by construction having fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour, unless otherwise permitted under Cl.2.3.10 for the provision of window openings between the guestroom or accommodation unit and external corridor.

(2) Doors opening into the external corridor need not have fire resistance rating.

c. Measurement of travel distance

The travel distance shall be measured from the most remote point of a guestroom or accommodation unit or suite to the exit door of an exit staircase, exit passageway or external space.

d. Spacing of smoke barrier

(1) Internal corridors which are not naturally-ventilated shall be subdivided by smoke barriers into the following lengths:

(a) Building protected by sprinkler system - 45m, or

(b) Building not protected by sprinkler system - 30m

(2) Smoke barriers shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(a) The smoke barriers shall consist of non-combustible partitions containing smoke check doors. The smoke barriers, including the enclosing walls to the corridor, shall be constructed to full height, carried right up to form a close joint with the soffit of the floor slab above, or an imperforate non-combustible ceiling or the roof coverings.

(b) The smoke barriers shall be sited at suitable locations across the corridor to create multiple sections, with each having free and direct access to an exit or exit staircase, exit passageway or exit ramp.

(c) Smoke-check doors excluding glass doors, shall be provided with clear glass vision panels having at least 25% of the surface area of each door leaf.

(d) Smoke-check doors shall be of the self-closing, swinging type. Double swing type is permitted provided that the door opening is closed completely with such clearance as is reasonably necessary for proper operation. The doors shall be closely fitted around their edges and the bottom clearance gap between such doors and the floor shall not exceed 4mm.

(e) Smoke-check doors shall normally be in the closed position. However, they can be left open if they are arranged to close automatically by an approved electromagnetic or electromechanical device which can be activated by the presence of smoke and/or the building fire alarm system.

e. Visual alarm system

a. General

Number and minimum width of exits for assembly occupancies shall comply with the provisions tabulated as follows:

b. Assembly occupancy with fixed seating (Performance theatres, Cinemas, Auditoriums, Concert Halls, etc.)

(1) Aisles and gangways

(a) clear aisles or gangways of not less than the minimum width of corridors shall be provided around the auditorium, stalls and balconies leading to doors or exit doors;

(b) aisles or gangways shall be provided with intersecting rows of seating and the number of seats in a row shall be in accordance with the provisions tabulated as follows:

The seatway shall be the minimum clear width between rows, which shall not be less than 300mm, measured as the clear horizontal distance from the back of the row ahead (including seats that tip up automatically) and the nearest projection of the row behind when the seats are in upright position. The seatway widths shall be constant throughout the length of the row. (See Diagram 9.7.3b.(1)(b) - 1 and 2)

(c) for changes of level, steps shall not be used to overcome differences in level in aisles or gangways unless the slope of such gangways exceeds 1 in 10;

(d) handrails shall be provided, where steps of a pitch exceeding 30º or ramps of a slope exceeding 1 in 10 are provided in aisles or gangways flanking the seating;

(e) flooring for the surface of steps and ramps forming the aisles or gangways shall be finished using non-slip materials; and

(f) illumination of steps shall be such that each step is clearly visible in the event of emergency.

(g) Combustible seats for cinemas, theatre, auditorium, etc.

The construction of combustible upholstered seats in cinema, theatre, auditorium, etc. shall comply with BS 5852 in respect of the following testing standard:

(i) Smouldering Ignition Source;

(ii) Flaming Ignition Source 1; and

(iii) Crib Ignition Source 5.

(2) Exits from a theatre, cinema or a concert hall

(a) The number and capacity of exits from an enclosed space in an assembly occupancy used or intended for use as cinema, concert hall, auditorium, performance theatre that is not normally provided with natural ventilation and lighting, shall be provided its own means of escape without having to take into account exits provided for its adjoining parts of the same building in which it is housed. Exception can be permitted where the occupancy load does not exceed 200 persons, in which case at least half the capacity of exits shall be provided within the compartment.

(b) Where a building or part of a building is designed as a cineplex to house multiple mini-cinemas, the means of escape to be provided can be shared by all the mini-cinemas. Each cineplex shall be treated as a single big cinema for the purpose of determining the exit requirements under Cl.9.7.3b.(2).

(c) The exits adjacent or attached to cinema, theatre or concert hall and the like can be shared as exits with the other parts of the building, provided the exits are accessible from the common circulation areas. The occupancy load of the cinema, theatre, concert hall and the like does not exceed 200 persons.

(3) Separation of theatre, cinema or concert hall from other parts of the building

A theatre, cinema or concert hall shall be separated from other parts of the same building, which is of a different purpose group, by compartment walls and floors having a fire resistance rating of at least 2 hours. If the building is protected by an automatic sprinkler system, the fire resistance rating of the compartment walls or floors can be reduced to 1 hour. Where openings are provided for access between the theatre, cinema or concert hall and any other part of the same building of a different purpose group, the openings shall either be protected by fire doors having the necessary fire resistance rating as the enclosing walls or floors, or be provided with lobby which complies with the following requirements:

(a) The lobby is enclosed by walls having fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour, is naturally ventilated complying with the requirements for ventilation of smoke-free lobbies, or mechanically ventilated to comply with the requirements in Chapter 7; and

(b) All doors to the lobby shall each have fire resistance rating of at least ½ hour and fitted with an automatic self-closing device.

(4) Separation by proscenium wall in theatres or concert halls

(a) In a place of public resort, such as theatres, and concert halls, capable of seating more than 500 persons and in which fly tower is used for stage scenery or when extensive stage scenery is installed on the stage side, the stage shall be separated from the seating area by a proscenium wall of at least 1-hr fire resistance rating in such a way that the stage and the audience seating area form separate compartments.

(b) The entire stage side of the proscenium wall shall be fitted with an automatic sprinkler system which complies with the requirements in Chapter 6.

(c) The proscenium opening shall be protected by fire curtain with fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour, automatically operated by a fusible link or a smoke detector. In lieu of fire curtain, a smoke curtain is acceptable, if engineered smoke control and automatic sprinkler systems are to be provided to the stage area.

(d) Not more than three other openings can be provided in the proscenium wall. Such openings shall not exceed 2m² in area and shall be fitted with doors having fire resistance rating of at least ½ hour and fitted with an automatic self-closing device.

a. General

(1) This set of fire safety requirements shall be applicable to all food and beverage (F&B) outlets where ORAs are permitted by the authority have jurisdiction. F&B outlets shall include eating houses, restaurants, coffee shops, hawker centres, fast food outlets, cafeterias, canteens, pubs, bars and the like.

(2) The total occupant load within each F&B outlet shall not exceed 200 persons. Where the limit is exceeded, alternate rear exit opening directly into a back lane or safe external space shall be provided.

(3) Where an ORA encroaches on neighbouring property(s) or state land, it is the responsibility of the F&B’s owner/operator to seek no objection from the property owner(s) for the setting up of the ORA on his property.

b. Fire safety requirements for ORAs

(1) ORAs along covered walkway

(a) A five-foot way of width not less than 1.2m shall be provided along the covered walkway. Tables and chairs shall be abutting the F&B shop front or located at the outer edge of the building within the covered walkway. The entrance of the F&B outlet shall not be blocked.

(b) For F&B outlet located next to an exit staircase, a clear escape path from the staircase discharge point to external space shall be maintained. The width of the escape path shall not be less than the width of the exit staircase. No table(s), chair(s) or any form of obstruction shall encroach onto this escape path at all times.

(See Diagram 9.7.4b.(1))

(2) ORAs open to the sky

(a) There is no limit to the number of table(s) or chair(s) placed in areas open to the sky, subject to compliance to other authorities having jurisdiction.

(b) When placement of table(s) or chair(s) is extended to any covered walkway, the requirements stipulated under Cl.9.7.4b.(1) shall be complied with.

(c) There is no control on the size/height of the ODAs and the materials used for displaying goods at the ODAs. There shall be no encroachment of table(s), chair(s) or any form of obstruction on the escape path from the exit staircase discharge point to external space. The portion of covered ORAs beyond the building lines and abutting the escape path shall be demarcated from the escape path with a red colour line of width not less than 50mm. Red colour wordings, “NO OBSTRUCTION OF EXIT”, of height not less than 100mm shall be marked along the line at regular intervals of not more than 1.5m.

(See Diagram 9.7.4b.(2))

(3) ORA with umbrellas

(a) When umbrellas are used to provide shelter for diners, its size shall not be larger than 2m in diameter or 2m x 2m. The umbrellas shall be placed at a distance of not less than 1.5m from the building line (eaves of building).

(b) There shall be no limit on the number of umbrellas placed in areas open to the sky. A separation distance of not less than 1.5m shall be provided between rows of umbrella. There shall be no roofing between rows of umbrellas.

(c) Where placement of table(s), chair(s) or any form of obstruction is extended to any covered walkway, the requirements stipulated under Cl.9.7.4b.(1) shall be complied with.

(d) There shall be no encroachment of table(s), chair(s) or umbrella(s) or any form of obstruction on the escape path from the exit staircase discharge point to external space. Where umbrellas are placed close to the exit staircase discharge path,  Cl.9.7.4b.(2)(c) shall be complied with.

(e) Umbrella having dimensions larger than 2m in diameter or 2m x 2m shall be treated as canopy/awning. Hence, requirements stipulated under Cl.9.7.4b.(4) shall be complied with.

(See Diagram 9.7.4b.(3))

(4) ORAs with canopy/awning

(a) There shall be no encroachment of table(s) or chair(s) or any form of obstruction onto the escape path from the exit staircase discharge point to the external space. This path beyond the building façade shall be clearly demarcated as per Cl.9.7.4b.(2)(c).

(b) For canopy/awning with projection not exceeding 1m

(i) No separation between the canopy/awning and the nearer edge of the exit staircase discharge path is required.

(ii) The high/low separation requirements stipulated under Cl.3.5.7 need not be complied with.

(iii) The requirements on set back of unprotected openings from building/notional boundary stipulated under Cl.3.5.3 need not be complied with.

(iv) Placement of table(s) or chair(s) beneath the canopy/awning is permitted.

(v) The canopy/awning can be continuous and cover the exit staircase discharge path. Separation between the canopy/ awning of the F&B outlet and those of the neighbouring units is not required.

(vi) There shall be no control on the material of the canopy/ awning.

(See Diagram 9.7.4b.(4)(b))

(c) For canopy/awning with projection greater than 1m but not exceeding 2m

Diagram 9.7.3b.(1)(b) - 1 : Seatway width and number of seats in a row

Diagram 9.7.3b.(1)(b) - 2 : Determination of seatway width

Diagram 9.7.4b.(1) : ORAs along covered walkway

Diagram 9.7.4b.(2) : ORAs open to sky

Diagram 9.7.4b.(3) : ORAs with umbrella

Diagram 9.7.4b.(4)(b) : ORAs with canopy/awning projection not exceeding 1m