3.2 PROVISION OF COMPARTMENT WALLS AND COMPARTMENT FLOORS
3.2.1 Compartment size - floor area & cubical extent
R Rationale - Clause 3.2.1Compartmentation serves to reduce the rate of fire spread to enable safe evacuation and firefighting in stations. It also serves to isolate high risk areas from other parts of a station.
Any station which has:
a. Any storey the floor area of which exceeds that specified as relevant to a station of that height in column (2) of Table 3.2A, or
b. A cubic capacity which exceeds that specified as so relevant in column (3) of Table 3.2A,
shall be divided into compartments by means of compartment walls and compartment floors so that:
(1) no such compartment has any storey with a floor area of which exceeds the area specified as relevant to the station in column (2) of Table 3.2A; and
(2) no such compartment has a cubic capacity which exceeds that specified as relevant in column (3) of Table 3.2A.
Exception: Size limitation of compartment shall not apply to the public area below ground level. Compartment size for public area below ground level shall comply with Cl.3.2.4e..
3.2.2 Cubical extent for compartment
a. Compartment exceeding 4m in height
In computing the cubical extent of compartments, the height of 4m shall be used where the actual height exceeds that figure.
If any compartment contains mezzanine, galleries or lofts, the full height of the compartment shall be used in computing the cubical extent.
R Rationale - Clause 3.2.2aThe 4m in height serve as a relaxation for purpose of computing cubical extent, instead of using the actual height. The consideration takes into account that such spaces are meant to be circulation.
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b. Open-side covered walkway/ link-bridge
Where station is connected to another station or building by external open-sided covered walkway or open-sided covered link-bridge, the station/ building is considered as separate station or building, if they comply with the following conditions:
(1) There is no commercial activities or other usage that would pose a fire risk within the covered walkway or link-bridge.
(2) The width of the covered walkway or covered link-bridge shall not exceed 6m clear width.
3.2.3 Compartmentation by height
a. In any compartment up to a habitable height of 24m, no compartment shall comprise more than three storeys.
b. In any station which exceeds 24m in habitable height, no compartment shall comprise more than one storey for compartments at storey level exceeding 24m above average ground level.
3.2.4 Situations requiring compartmentation
The following situations shall require compartmentation by provision of compartment walls and/ or compartment floors:
a. Separation of transit and non-transit occupancies
Transit and non-transit occupancies shall have a fire separation of at least 2-hrs. Stations connected to non-transit occupancies shall comply with the relevant requirements of Chapter 9.
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b. Separation of public and ancillary areas
(1) All public areas shall have a fire separation of at least 2-hrs from ancillary areas.
(2) Exception
(a) Fire separation shall not apply to Passenger Service Centre, station master room, ticketing office and enclosures housing ticket vending machines.
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c. Separation of commercial spaces
(1) Commercial spaces shall be compartmented by having not less than 2-hrs fire resistance construction. If sprinkler protection is provided, the fire resistance rating can be reduced to at least 1-hr.
(2) Shops with a maximum aggregated area of 115m2 (where no individual shop unit shall exceed 100m2) are allowed in the public area except at platform level. The shops can be subdivided into several smaller units by fire compartments. Where the concourse is located on the same level as the platform, no shops shall be permitted.
R Rationale - Clause 3.2.4c.2To allow flexibility in the sizing and location of shops at concourse level but still maintaining their aggregate area of not more than 115m2. Instead of mandating one big shop and one small shop units, the revision now permits the one big shop to be further subdivided to smaller units by fire compartments.
(3) Exception
(a) Additional commercial spaces shall be permitted in stations, provided these commercial spaces are located on a separate level other than the platform and concourse levels and comply with the relevant requirements in the Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings. Fire separation is required only at the periphery around the large commercial space as shown in Diagram 3.2.4c..
(b) Where commercial spaces at the ground level of station entrances of underground stations are not located along the station’s means of egress, and smoke generated from a fire in the commercial spaces will not be drawn into the station, these commercial spaces are not required to be compartmentalised.
(c) Commercial spaces in aboveground stations
(i) Where commercial spaces in above ground stations are not located along the station’s means of egress and are located more than 6m from the edge of the guideway, these commercial spaces are not required to be compartmentalised.
(ii) That parts of the external wall and roof of commercial spaces in aboveground stations not located along the station means of egress and more than 6m from the edge of the guideway, are not required to be fire-rated.
(iii) For aboveground or elevated stations, there is no restriction on the unpaid area taken up by shops after the point of safety or other locations stipulated in Cl.2.2.3e..
d. Separation between viaduct and M&E plantrooms/ commercial spaces
For aboveground stations, M&E plantrooms and commercial spaces located directly beneath and within 3m of the viaduct shall be compartmentalised from the viaduct by a fire resistance construction of not less than 2-hrs. If sprinkler protection is provided, the fire resistance rating can be reduced to at least 1-hr.
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e. Basement floors
In any compartment below ground level, no compartment shall comprise more than one storey, except for the public area which shall not exceed 3 storeys per compartment.
f. Special purpose rooms
Special purpose rooms shall be compartmentalised in accordance with Table 6.4A.
g. Areas of special hazard
(1) Transformer rooms, generator rooms, and any other area of special high risk shall be separated from other parts of the station by compartment walls and floors having fire resistance of at least 4-hrs. However, for transformer rooms which do not utilise flammable liquid, they shall be separated from other parts of the station by compartment walls and floors having fire resistance of at least 2-hrs;
(2) Room housing transformer that uses flammable liquid shall be located at ground level against an external wall; and
(3) Diesel fuel tank for emergency generator need not be located against an external wall
R Rationale - Clause 3.2.4g.3Room for dry transformer or transformer using non-flammable liquids or generator in underground stations is not required to be located against an external wall. This is because the flash point of diesel is above 60ºC and thus not deemed highly flammable.
h. Coldroom
Coldroom shall comply with the prevailing Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings.
i. Underground bicycle parking area for transit occupants
Underground bicycle parking area including the bicycle kiosk shall be compartmentalised from the station public area with at least one dedicated exit staircase and exit access door to station public area; sprinkler-protected and provided with smoke purging system. The bicycle kiosk’s size shall be limited to 30m2. Types of trades and services permitted in the stations are given in Table 1.4A – Code H.
R Rationale - Clause 3.2.4iThe underground bicycle parking area and kiosk are additional spaces and not part of 100m2 and 15m2 commercial spaces.
Underground bicycle parking area and bicycle kiosk will be provided for some of the new underground stations. As the fire risk for the underground bicycle parking area and bicycle kiosk is unlikely to be higher than that of underground car park, its smoke control system can follow that of underground car park i.e. smoke purging system. Engineered smoke control system is not required.
The bicycle kiosk is restricted to only servicing, repairs and cleaning of bicycle and also limit to selling of bicycle accessories and spare parts. This kiosk is also not allowed for sale or storage paint, solvent, thinner and bicycle batteries. Charging of battery activity for motorised bicycle is strictly not allowed in the bicycle parking area.
3.2.5 Permitted appliances within station
The conditions for appliances permitted within the station shall be as follow:
a. Automatic vending machines
Clusters of automatic vending machines are allowed in the public (unpaid) area except at platform. Each cluster of vending machines shall consist of not more than two vending machines and clusters of vending machines shall be placed at least 1m apart.
b. Light-emitting diode (LED) digital screens
LED digital screens installed at the transit station shall not impede passenger flow/ evacuation and shall not block visibility of exit signs. Clusters of LED digital screens are allowed in the transit station. Each cluster of LED digital screens shall not have more than two LED digital screens and clusters of LED digital screens shall be placed at least 2m apart.
R Rationale - Clause 3.2.5bLED digital screens support the operation needs of the transit station. They serve as a primary means of providing general information on train services and may be used for commercial or advertising purpose. The separation distance between the clusters of LED digital screens will prevent fire spread between them.