3.6.1 Requirements of separating walls
a. Every separating wall shall:
(1) form a complete barrier in the same continuous vertical plane through the full height between the buildings it separates, including roofs and basements and shall be without openings, except where permitted under Cl.3.6.2;
(2) have the appropriate fire resistance to comply with the requirements of Cl.3.3;
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.1a.(1) : Requirements of separating walls
-1.tmb-firecode.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=90b236b0_1 "Fg.3.6.1a(1)-1")
Section
Figure 3.6.1a.(1) - 1 : Separating wall with flat roof
Separating wall is the common wall that separates one house from another, as in the case of semi-detached or terraced houses. It is to prevent the spread of fire from house to house. The separating wall shall have the appropriate fire resistance rating as the elements of structure of the adjoining house having the larger floor area or cubical extent as the case may be. It shall not include fire-resisting glass.
-2.tmb-firecode.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=9fb4c58_1 "Fg.3.6.1a(1)-2")
Axonometric view
Figure 3.6.1a.(1) - 2 : Separating wall with pitched roof
Door opening in the separating wall is to provide communication between 2 houses is not acceptable, unless the 2 houses are under single ownership and occupied by a single family. Owner is required to furnish an undertaking to the SCDF that should one of the houses is to be sold, the door opening in the separating wall shall be bricked-up to have the necessary fire resistance as the adjoining wall.
(3) be constructed of non-combustible materials, together with any beam and column which form part of the wall and any structure which it carries; and
(4) not include glass fire-resisting walls.
b. Exception
Effective Date: 10 May 2019
Amendment History
| 3.6.1b |
10 May 2019 |
10 May 2019 |
Change in requirements |
Cl.3.6.1a.(1) need not be applied to wall between car porches of buildings under PG I. For terrace-houses, this exception shall not apply if the unprotected opening of the car porch fails to comply with the setback distance requirements from the other lot boundary. |
10 May 2019 |
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Cl.3.6.1a.(1) need not be applied to wall between car porches of PG I buildings or wall between canopies over private enclosed spaces
located on the grade level of PG II buildings. This exception shall not apply if the unprotected opening of the car porches/ canopies fails to comply with the setback distance requirements from the other lot boundary.
Effective Date: 10 May 2019
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.1b. : Requirements of separating walls
Figure 3.6.1b. - 1 : Scenario 1
Walls between car porches (annotated by dash line) need not be separating walls provided the car porches are set back (annotated as ‘x’ above) adequately from their respective unit side boundaries.
Figure 3.6.1b. - 2 : Scenario 2
Walls between car porches need to be separating walls (annotated by dash line) if the canopies span across the car porches and unit side boundaries.
Figure 3.6.1b. - 3 : Scenario 3
Boundary no. 1 need not be a separating wall if the extended canopy can comply with set back to the unit side boundary as reflected above. Conversely, boundary nos. 2 & 3 need to have separating walls since the extended canopies cannot comply with set back from their respective side boundaries.
Amendment History
| 3.6.1b |
10 May 2019 |
10 May 2019 |
Change in requirements |
Cl.3.6.1a.(1) need not be applied to wall between car porches of buildings under PG I. For terrace-houses, this exception shall not apply if the unprotected opening of the car porch fails to comply with the setback distance requirements from the other lot boundary. |
10 May 2019 |
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|
3.6.2 Openings in separating walls
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.2 : Openings in separating walls
( No illustration )
1. Opening in the separating wall shall comply with the following conditions:
a. QPs shall obtain prior approval from the SCDF before submission of building plan.
b. If the adjoining unit or building is under different ownership; written consent from the owner shall be obtained for submission to the SCDF.
c. Owners are to submit a written undertaking to the SCDF that should the opening in the separating wall is no longer required, it shall be restored to its original imperforate state.
2. Cl.3.6.2b. is not applicable to PG VI & VIII buildings.
Door opening between 2 industrial units is not acceptable, unless the units are owned by one owner and occupied by a single company. In such a case the door opening in the separating wall shall be used solely for providing communication between the units
and shall not be taken as means of escape during fire emergency, unless otherwise allowed. The owner is to furnish an undertaking to the SCDF that should one of the units be sold, the door opening in the separating wall shall be bricked-up to have
the necessary fire resistance as the adjoining wall.
A separating wall shall have no openings except for:
a. a door required to provide a means of escape in the event of a fire, having the same fire resistance as that required for the wall and complying with Cl.3.9.2,
or
b. a door provided for the purpose of public circulation and permitted by the SCDF, having the same fire resistance as that required for the wall and complying with Cl.3.9.2, or
c. an opening for the passage of a pipe complying with the relevant provisions of Cl.3.9.3.
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.2b. : Openings in separating walls
Figure 3.6.2b. - 1 : Basement plan 1
Figure 3.6.2b. - 2 : Basement plan 2
Doors are provided in separating walls to connect 2 buildings for public circulation. Prior approval shall be obtained before building plans are submitted for approval. The above provision for the purpose of public circulation shall not be taken to qualify for the requirements for the provision of area of refuge.
3.6.3 Roof junction
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.3 : Roof junction
Section
Figure 3.6.3
Separating wall is carried right up above the roof coverings to act as a barrier to prevent fire spread over the roof level. The above clause addresses the concern at the junction of separating walls with roofs and other elements of structure to prevent fire from spreading through cracks and gaps at such junctions.
A separating wall shall be either extended up to form a close joint with the underside of a pitched roof of non-combustible covering or extended up above the level of such roof covering. The junction between such separating wall and roof shall be properly fire-stopped so as not to render ineffective the resistance of such separating wall to prevent the spread of fire.
3.6.4 External wall junction
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.4 : External wall junction
Figure 3.6.4
If any external wall is extended across the end of a separating wall, such external wall and separating wall shall be bonded together or the junction of such walls shall be fire-stopped to comply with the requirements of Cl.3.12.
3.6.5 Prohibition of combustible materials in separating walls
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 3.6.5 : Prohibition of combustible materials
in separating walls
Section
Figure 3.6.5 - 1
Section
Figure 3.6.5 - 2
Combustible materials built into separating wall would weaken the fire resistance integrity of the wall. Separating wall must be constructed of wholly non-combustible materials, including the beam, column or other structure carrying the wall. Exception
is allowed for internal linings under Cl.3.13. However, for building under conservation, it would be acceptable if the original
method of construction of floor is required to be retained.
No combustible material shall be built into, extended through, across the ends of, or over the top of separating walls in such a way as to render ineffective the resistance of such separating walls to prevent the spread of fire.
