5.2.1 Installations requiring primary and secondary power supplies
Where any of the following installations is required by this Code or other Codes/ Regulations, its primary and secondary source of power supply shall comply with the corresponding Code of Practice stated therein.
a. Electrical lifts
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1a. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
Electrical installations, inclusive of battery and other forms of secondary power supply shall comply with SS 550. However, for building under PG I,emergency supply is not required. The power supply to the lift shall be from a sub-main circuit so that
whenever there is power failure to the house, the electrical supply to the lift is still available.
For lifts which are not powered by emergency generator, an Automatic Rescue Device (ARD) should be incorporated in the lift system to bring the lifts to the nearest lift landing and open its door upon power failure from the sub-main circuit. Installation
of hydraulic lifts is acceptable, provided there is safety feature to bring the lift to the lowest floor, except basement upon power failure.
SS 550 does not specifically require the installation of generator set to provide secondary power supply to the above lifts. If emergency generator is not available, power supply to passenger lift and fire lift shall be provided via a sub-main circuit
to enhance reliability.
For buildings exceeding the 60m habitable height and mixed developments under Cl.6.6.3b. and the provision of private lifts under Cl.3.8.8h., emergency power supply from a generating plant shall be provided to home the lift to the designated floor when there is a power failure in the building.
Where electrical fire alarm system is required, its primary power supply as well as type and capacity of battery shall comply with SS CP 10.
Atrium smoke control system is required if any building under PG VI and VIII is designed to incorporate an atrium under Cl.7.5.
Large basement occupancy other than car park usage shall be provided with engineered smoke control system, if the accessible floor area exceeds 2000m² under Cl.7.4. All smoke control systems shall be connected to secondary power supply.
Lifts that are commonly found in buildings under PG VI and VIII are electrical passenger lifts, fire lifts and goods lifts.
Although the current SS 550 does not specifically require the installation of generator set to provide secondary power supply to the above lifts, however in the case of multi-storey industrial buildings under Cl.6.6.3b., generator set is required to be provided to operate the lifts during an emergency.
Where an emergency generator is provided, the lifts would be designed to home to the designated floor under generator power upon loss of normal power supply.
Where an electrical passenger or goods lift is required, its electrical installations, including batteries and other forms of secondary power supply, shall comply with SS 550. Where the provision of fire lift is required by this Code, installation of the primary and secondary supplies shall also comply with the above- mentioned Code of Practice.
b. Electrical fire alarm system
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1b. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
1. Fire alarm panel - For buildings which are provided with automatic fire alarm system, the fire alarm panel should be located near the main entrance of the building.
2. Alarm Sounding - The fire alarm sounder shall have a sound that is readily distinguishable from any other alarm system. However, permission may be obtained for having a common sounding for fire alarm and burglar alarm in residential houses only.
3. Connection to monitoring station - It is not a requirement to connect the automatic fire alarm system to monitoring station for residential houses.
Provision of electrical fire alarm system is not required in buildings under PG II, except those located over commercial development or car park. The electrical fire alarm system shall be provided with emergency battery supply to the requirement of SS CP 10.
Where electrical fire alarm system is required, its primary power supply as well as its type and capacity of battery shall comply with SS 645.
c. Exit light and emergency lighting systems
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1c. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
The provision of exit or emergency lighting system would be required for non-residential areas, such as basement car park in cluster housing development.
Emergency lighting in exit staircases and escape routes outside the residential units would need to be provided with either self-contained battery or connected to secondary power supply.
Where exit or emergency lighting system is required, its electrical wiring, type and capacity of battery or other form of secondary power supply shall comply with SS 563.
d. Emergency voice communication system
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1d. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
The current Fire Code requires emergency voice communication system to be provided in buildings under Cl.8.2.1a. PG III to VIII.
The type and extent of the emergency voice communication shall be in accordance with Cl.8.2 of the Fire Code. Technical requirements such as fire-rated cables, routing and emergency power supply shall comply with SS CP 546.
Where an emergency voice communication system is required, its electrical wiring shall be fire-rated or otherwise fire-protected in accordance with SS 546. The appropriate type and capacity of secondary source of supply shall also be provided accordingly.
e. Wet rising main system
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1e. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
Where a building under PG II exceeds 60m in habitable height, wet rising main system shall be provided. The wet riser pumps including any transfer pumps shall require connection to secondary power supply. If emergency generator is available, the electrical pumps shall be connected to emergency generator supply. In the absence of emergency generator set, the duplicate wet riser pump or transfer pump shall be diesel engine driven and shall start automatically upon demand of water supply. This is to ensure that the wet riser main system would remain operational during failure of normal power supply.
Where a wet rising main system is required, the relevant electrical supply shall be installed in accordance with SS 575. A secondary source of power supply with capacity stipulated in SS 575 shall be provided for the wet rising main pumps.
f. Fire sprinkler system
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1f. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
Buildings under PG II are usually not provided with sprinkler system, except those with basement car parking facilities. See Cl.6.4.1d..
Buildings under PG III to VIII exceeding 24m in habitable height, larger than the permitted compartmentation size and containing the respective hazard category (high risk) shall be provided with automatic fire sprinkler system complying with SS CP 52.
The sprinkler pump including any transfer pumps shall be connected to secondary power supply. If electrical generator set is available, the electrical pumps shall be connected to this source of supply. In the absence of electrical generator set, the duplicate
sprinkler pump or transfer pump shall be diesel engine-driven and shall start automatically when there is demand on the sprinkler system to supply water. This is to ensure that the sprinkler system would remain operational during failure of normal
power supply.
Installation of electrical supply for sprinkler systems shall comply with SS CP 52. The capacity of the secondary source of supply, where required, shall satisfy operational requirements under the respective hazard category.
g. Mechanical ventilation/ pressurisation systems
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1g. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
Standby source of power supply may be in the form of emergency generator. This is to ensure that the mechanical ventilation system provided to these rooms or spaces would not be affected during power failure.
The following systems shall be provided with secondary source of power supply:
(1) mechanical ventilation system for the following rooms or spaces:
(a) exit staircases;
(b) exit passageways;
(c) smoke-free/ fire lift lobbies;
(d) area of refuge within the same building;
(e) basement car parks;
(f) fire command centres;
(g) emergency power generator rooms;
(h) engine driven fire pump rooms;
(i) rooms involving the use and/ or storage of flammable liquid/ gas and explosive substances;
(j) any other areas where such systems are installed for fire precautionary measures; and
Effective Date: 01 Mar 2019
Amendment History
| 5.2.1g.(1) |
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01 Mar 2019 |
Revised, formerly Cl.5.2.1(g)(i) to (x) |
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(2) pressurisation systems for the following areas:
(a) smoke-free/ fire lift lobbies;
(b) internal exit staircases;
(c) hotel corridors;
(d) hostel corridors;
(e) healthcare corridors; and
(f) any other areas where such systems are installed.
(3) all smoke control/ purging systems, including associated equipment forming part of the systems.
Effective Date: 01 Mar 2019
Amendment History
| 5.2.1g.(2) and (3) |
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01 Mar 2019 |
New |
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h. Air supply system for generator and fire pump
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.1h. : Installations requiring primary &
secondary power supplies
( No illustration )
If the emergency generator or engine driven fire pump rooms are provided with mechanical ventilation, the mechanical ventilation system should continue to function under secondary source of power supply.
A secondary source of power supply shall be provided for the mechanical ventilation system which is installed to
provide air for the operation of the following equipment:
(1) emergency generator; and
(2) engine driven fire pump.
Power supply cables for equipment that are required to operate during a fire emergency shall be of fire resistant type. The fire resistant cables shall comply with SS 299.
5.2.3 Electric motors and control equipment
All motors and their control equipment, as well as the associated wiring and accessories, shall be suitable for their particular application and for the environment they are exposed to. In addition, they shall comply with all of the following requirements:
a. High Rupturing Capacity Fuses (HRC) or Moulded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCB) with magnetic release shall be installed and be capable of protecting the cable connections to the motor, and of carrying the stalled current of the motor for a period not less than 75% of the period for which such a current would cause the motor windings to fail;
b. any no-volt release mechanism shall be of the automatic resetting type, such that on restoration of supply the motor can start automatically;
c. thermal overload trips shall not be permitted; and
d. magnetic (short circuit) trips are permitted for use in motor circuits of mechanical ventilation systems serving essential services.
5.2.4 Emergency generator
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 5.2.4 : Emergency generator
( No illustration )
Emergency generator shall start automatically upon power supply failure and shall be sufficiently sized to supply power to fire safety systems such as essential fans, fire pumps & lift system for a required period of time.
a. Where emergency generators are provided as a secondary source of supply, they shall comply with SS 535.
b. For outdoor emergency generator, all of the following requirements shall be complied with:
(1) Day tank incorporated within the body of the emergency generator shall be constructed of steel. The day tank shall be of double skin construction. The emergency generator enclosure shall be able to contain any leakage of diesel.
(2) Alternatively, an internal bund wall shall be built within the outdoor emergency generator’s day tank large enough
to contain 100% of the diesel content within the day tank.
(3) The maximum quantity of diesel permitted in the day tank is 1000 litres.
Effective Date: 01 Mar 2019
Amendment History
| 5.2.4b |
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01 Mar 2019 |
New |
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