8.2.1 One-way emergency voice communication system
One-way emergency voice communication system and a FCC shall be provided as
follows:
a. For all large buildings under PG III (not applicable to primary school, secondary school and junior colleges), IV, V, VI, VII and VIII with AFA greater than 5000m² or having a total occupant load exceeding 1000 persons. The calculation of AFA and occupant load shall exclude the aboveground or underground car park; or
Effective Date: 01 Mar 2019
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Rationale - Clause 8.2.1a
The life safety risk of car park is relatively low as it is a transient space and the occupant load is low. Including the car park area in the calculation of accessible floor area will result in many developments requiring FCC and one-way emergency voice communication system, which could be excessive and may not be practical.
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.1a.&b. : One-way emergency
voice communication system
( No illustration )
During fire emergency, the one-way emergency voice communication system will be used to notify occupants in the building. Under phase evacuation, occupants will be advised to relocate to ‘Safe area of refuge’ in which to wait out the fire. Occupants could also be advised to evacuate the building during fire emergency. In phase evacuation, communication with these people can be maintained to prevent panic and to allow further relocation, if necessary.
The one-way emergency voice communication system shall consist of microphone input, selector switches, amplifiers and remote loudspeakers to perform the functions specified. Loud speakers operated from the FCC shall be of sufficient number and appropriate design to provide effective voice communication to the following areas:
a. all habitable rooms;
b. all basement floor areas;
c. all escape staircases;
d. all staircase lobbies and lift lobbies forming parts of the means of escape;
e. the main entrance;
f. all corridors leading to exits;
g. all service areas where people may be working;
h. all areas of refuge;
i. all assembly areas;
j. all patients accommodation floors, hotel bedroom floors etc.; and
k. all other areas as may be required by the SCDF.
Amendment History
8.2.1a |
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01 Mar 2019 |
Revised, formerly Cl.8.2.1(a)(i) |
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b. For all buildings belonging to PG III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII of more than 24m in habitable height; or
Effective Date: 2 Dec 2019
Amendment History
8.2.1.b. |
2 Dec 2019 |
2 Dec 2019 |
Revised |
b. For all buildings belonging to PG III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII of more than 24m in habitable height. |
2 Dec 2019 |
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c. For building of mixed commercial-cum-residential usage:
(1) where the commercial component of the building occupies only the lower portion of the building and is separated from the residential occupancies, the habitable height of the commercial component of the building exceeds 24m, or
Effective Date: 01 Mar 2019
Amendment History
8.2.1c.(1) |
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01 Mar 2019 |
Revised, formerly Cl.8.2.1(c)(i) |
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(2) where a commercial component of the building is located above any residential occupancies, the habitable height of the building exceeds 24m.
For hotel or healthcare buildings of less than 24m in habitable height, AFA not greater than 5000m² and total occupant load not exceeding 1000 persons, an ordinary public address system shall be provided. However, FCC is not required. Loudspeakers for the ordinary public address system shall be provided in every lift lobby, staircase enclosure and other strategic positions within audible distance of all parts of all storeys throughout the building.
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Rationale - Clause 8.2.1d
The provision of ordinary public address system serves to effect early and orderly evacuation of occupants in times of emergency.
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.1d. : One-way emergency
voice communication system
( No illustration )
To address the concerns of transient guests and sleeping risk in hotels, boarding houses and the like which are less than 24m in habitable height, an ordinary public address system shall be provided to effect early and orderly evacuation of occupants in times of emergency.
The ordinary public address system shall consist of the microphone input, selector switches and remote loudspeakers to perform the functions specified. Loud speakers shall be of sufficient number and appropriate design to provide effective voice communication to the following areas:
a. all habitable rooms;
b. all basement floor areas;
c. all escape staircases;
d. all staircase lobbies and lift lobbies forming parts of the means of escape;
e. the main entrance;
f. all corridors leading to exits;
g. all service areas where people may be working;
h. all areas of refuge;
i. all assembly areas;
j. all patients’ accommodation floors, hotel bedroom floors etc.; and
k. all other areas as may be required by the SCDF.
8.2.2 Two-way emergency voice communication system
a. Two-way emergency voice communication system shall be provided for
(1) buildings, which are required to be provided with one-way emergency voice communication system under Cl.8.2.1 a.,
b. or c.; and
Effective Date: 2 Dec 2019
Amendment History
8.2.2.a.(1) |
2 Dec 2019 |
2 Dec 2019 |
Revised |
Two-way emergency voice communication system
a. Two-way emergency voice communication system shall be provided for
(1) buildings, which are required to be provided with one-way emergency voice communication system under Cl.8.2.1 a., b. and c.; and
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2 Dec 2019 |
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(2) all multi-level basements of buildings under PG II to VIII, except the following:
(a) Single-level basement, irrespective of its usage of building under PG II to VIII and basements of building of PG I.
(b) Multi-level basements of building under PG II, provided the basements are used solely for car parking and not exceeding two basement storeys in depth.
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.2a.(2) : Two-way emergency
voice communication system
( No illustration )
1. The requirement would be applicable to buildings having any basements greater than a depth of 9m from the averaged ground level outside the building. This is to complement the need to provide fire lift to serve the basement storeys under Cl.6.6.4 of the Fire Code.
2. In view of the adequacy of the lift intercom system, the SCDF will accept the lift intercom system in-lieu of the handset provided it complies with SS 546 on ‘Installation and Power Supply’.
b. Two-way emergency voice communication system, where required, shall provide two-way communication between the FCC and the following areas:
(1) Every fire lift lobby, including 1st storey
(2) All firefighting-related mechanical equipment rooms
(These include sprinkler pump room, wet rising main pump room, hose reel pump room, switch rooms and generator rooms.)
(3) All rooms housing smoke control equipment
(4) All lift machine rooms
(5) Fire lift
(Where the lift car is equipped with built-in intercom system that complies with SS 546, the two-way communication system can be exempted)
(6) Each area of refuge
(7) Air-handling control rooms
(Where AHU can be remotely monitored and controlled at the FCC, and cannot be by-passed locally, and the electrical cabling between AHU rooms and FCC are fire-rated, the two-way emergency voice communication system can be exempted.)
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.2b. : Two-way emergency
voice communication system
( No illustration )
The two-way communication system shall consist of the main telephone handset and selector switches at the control console located in the FCC and the other remote handset installed at various locations as mentioned in the Cl.8.2.2b(1) to (7).
In general, at least one emergency handset shall be located on each floor. When a floor is divided into two or more fire-isolated zones used as areas of refuge for one another, each zone shall be provided with a handset. The criteria to be considered
in determining the position of each handset shall be such that, wherever possible, the handset is near the protected staircase or near the central position of the zone covered by it, and as remote as possible from the nearest alarm sounding
device.
In view of the adequacy of the lift intercom system, the SCDF will accept the lift intercom system in-lieu of the handset provided it complies with SS 546 on ‘Installation and Power Supply’
Where a one-way or two-way emergency voice communication system is required by this Code, it shall comply with the requirements stipulated in SS 546.
8.2.4 Fire Command Centre
a. Provision
A FCC shall be provided in any building, with the exception of buildings under PG I and II (PG II building having not more than two basement storeys used solely for car parking), which requires any of the following installations:
(1) Fire lift.
(2) Emergency voice communication system.
(3) Engineered smoke control system.
b. Supporting equipment
A FCC is a room within a building dedicated to the controlling and monitoring of fire protection systems during a fire emergency. As such, equipment/services not meant for this purpose shall not be located inside the FCC with exception of the following:
(1) Lift supervisory panel.
(2) Background music system connected to one-way emergency voice communication system rack.
(3) Workstation/server rack for security card access & CCTV system for security monitoring.
(4) Workstation/server rack for car park access control system.
(5) Workstation/server rack for fire alarm's colour graphics system.
(6) Workstation/server rack for BMS/BAS monitoring and controlling other ACMV system.
(7) Walkie-talkie charging stations.
(8) UPS system with totally sealed battery capacity not exceeding 750Amp-hr.
Effective Date: 2 Mar 2020
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.4b. : Fire Command Centre

Planal isometric view
Figure 8.2.4b. : Fire Command Centre
The actual size of a FCC should be provided at plan submission stage. The minimum net working space of 6m² shall exclude spaces for equipment and furniture.
Amendment History
8.2.4b. |
2 Mar 2020 |
2 Mar 2020 |
Clarification |
b. Size A FCC shall be of adequate size to house all the terminals and supervisory/ control equipment, etc. of the building’s fire protection/detection systems and a free working space (unobstructed by door swing) of at least 6m². |
2 Mar 2020 |
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c. Size
A FCC shall be of adequate size to house all the terminals and supervisory/ control equipment etc. of the building's fire protection/detection systems, as well as a free working space (unobstructed by door swing) of at least 6m2 and minimum clear width of 2m.
d. Location
Effective Date: 1 Mar 2023
Amendment History
8.2.4d |
1 Mar 2023 |
1 Mar 2023 |
Revised/Clarifications |
Location
(1) The FCC shall be located at the same level as the fire engine accessway or fire engine access road and its entrance shall be located in the following order of priority:
(a) It shall be within 5m from entrance of the fire lift lobby at the designated storey of the building.
(b) In the case where there is no fire lift lobby, it shall be located within vicinity of the fire engine accessway or fire engine access road and within 5m from the entrance of one of the protected stairs serving all storeys of the development.
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1 Mar 2023 |
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(1) The FCC shall be located at the same level as the fire engine accessway or fire engine access road and its entrance shall be located in the following order of priority:
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.4c.(1) : Fire Command Centre
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Figure 8.2.4c.(1) - 1
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Figure 8.2.4c.(1) - 2
For both scenarios, it is desirable that a “line of sight” could be achieved from the door of FCC to the door of the fire lift and the door of the exit staircase adjacent to the fire lift lobby.
This arrangement would assist the communication linkage amongst the areas greatly & lead to better command of firefighters operationally.
However, where direct linkage between FCC & fire lift/exit staircase could not be achieved, prior approval from the SCDF should be obtained before building plan submission.
(a) The travel distance between the nearest edges of the FCC door and fire lift lobby door at the designated storey of the building shall not exceed 5m.
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Rationale - Clause 8.2.4c1a
As the term “adjacent” previously used is ambiguous, it is replaced with specific distance for clarity. 5m is considered a distance reasonably close to the fire lift lobby.
(b) In the case where there is no fire lift lobby, it shall be located within vicinity of the fire engine accessway or fire engine access road. The travel distance between the nearest edges of the FCC door and entrance of one of the protected stairs serving all storeys of the development shall not exceed 5m.
(c) It shall be at any other location as may be designated by the SCDF.
(2) In the case of a site consisting of more than one building which required FCC in accordance with Cl.8.2.1, there
shall be more than one FCC. For such cases, the SCDF shall be consulted.
e. Construction
The construction of enclosure, facilities and lighting of a FCC shall comply with the SS 546.
f. Air-conditioning and/ or mechanical ventilation
Air-conditioning and/ or mechanical ventilation where required for the FCC shall be provided with secondary power supply and shall have ductworks independent of any other ductwork serving other parts of the building.
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Rationale - Clause 8.2.4f
The purpose of having independent ductwork for the ACMV system serving the FCC is to prevent fire or smoke from being conveyed into the FCC via the ducts.
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Explanations & Illustrations
Clause 8.2.4e. : Fire Command Centre

Figure 8.2.4e. : Mechanical ventilation to Fire Command Centre
The critical usage of FCC during fire emergency requires that lighting/ventilation and other power supply should come from standby power source e.g. generator set. The supply & exhaust ductworks of the mechanical ventilation shall be independent of any other ductwork serving other parts of the building. This is to prevent heat or smoke from being conveyed into the FCC via the ducts.

Diagram 8.1.7a.(2)
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Diagram 8.1.7a.(3)(b)(i)
(c)(i)---1.tmb-firecode.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=aba8a7b7_1)
Diagram 8.1.7a.(3)(c)(i) - 1
(c)(i)---2.tmb-firecode.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=41cead7_1)
Diagram 8.1.7a.(3)(c)(i) - 2
(c)(ii).tmb-firecode.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=5f16bb17_1)
Diagram 8.1.7a.(3)(c)(ii)
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Diagram 8.1.7b.(1)