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a. The following buildings/ usages/ areas are exempted from these requirements:

(1) PG I and II buildings;

(2) hospitals and nursing care facilities; 

(3) buildings/ usages/ areas that are exempted from barrier-free accessibility compliance, as required by the authority having jurisdiction on accessibility in the built environment; and

(4) non-residential buildings/ usages/ areas, such as car parks, clubhouses and gardens/ terraces located within residential developments and which are intended for ancillary use, are not required to comply with these requirements; and

(5) PG III to VIII buildings that are not served by any lift.

b. The escape routes shall be free from any obstacle that may cause undue delay to PWDs during evacuation, e.g. raised thresholds or steps. Where there are minor changes in level within any storey, a ramp conforming to the requirements stipulated in the “Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment” shall be provided.

A suitable means of communication, as required under Cl.6.6.5c.(4), shall be provided between the PWD holding point and FCC or any 24-hourly manned station, for PWDs to call for assistance during a fire emergency. It can be in the form of a distress button or dedicated voice communication. The dedicated voice communication handset shall always be accessible and not to be locked. The means of communication shall:

a. be located between 800mm and 1.2m above finished floor level;

b. be appropriately labelled;

c. be provided with prominently displayed clear instruction sign on its operation; and

d. generate a clear visual indication to indicate that the distress signal has been relayed.

A PWD Holding Point shall be adequately sized so as to accommodate a wheelchair user and to allow the user to manoeuvre easily. In this respect, the PWD Holding Point shall meet the following requirements: 

a. the space provided for a wheelchair in a PWD Holding Point shall be at least 900mm X 1.4m to allow for manoeuvring of the wheelchair;

b. where a PWD Holding Point is sited inside an exit staircase, smoke-free lobby or fire lift lobby, the wheelchair space shall not result in reduced size of these spaces and its access shall not obstruct the flow of evacuation; and

c. the PWD Holding Point shall be marked on the ground with a wheelchair symbol in white against contrasting background, with a dotted white rectangular outline.

A PWD Holding Point shall be enclosed with fire-resisting construction (other than any part that is an external wall of a building) and shall be served directly by a safe route to a storey exit, evacuation lift or final exit.

a. Handrails

The handrails within an exit staircase shall be continuous.

b. Wheelchair stairlifts

A wheelchair stairlift, where installed, shall be sited inside an exit staircase. Such a stairlift, when in operating position, shall not encroach into the escape path of building occupants.

Internal and external exit ramps can be used as exits in lieu of internal and external exit staircases or evacuation lifts subject to compliance with Cl.2.3.3 and Cl.2.3.8, and “Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment” and any subsequent amendment/ addendum.