Chapter 2
Means of Escape
Chapter 2 governs the design, construction, and maintenance of all exit facilities required to provide safe means of escape from buildings in Singapore. It covers how to determine exit requirements based on occupancy type, occupant load, travel distance, and exit capacity, and sets specific numeric thresholds drawn from Table 2.2A. Special provisions address smoke-free approaches to staircases, exit door requirements, remoteness of exits, and dedicated requirements for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Scope: Applies to all buildings erected, altered, or changed in occupancy in Singapore, across all purpose groups (PG I–VIII). Specific sub-clauses address residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, assembly, and basement occupancies.
Source: SCDF Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings 2023. This is a guidance summary — always verify against the full Fire Code clause text.
Critical points
Every storey must be provided with exit facilities sufficient for its occupant load. Vertical exits above ground may serve all above-ground storeys simultaneously; basement exits may only serve basement storeys unless otherwise permitted by SCDF.
CriticalClause 2.2.1At least two independent exit staircases or other exits are required from every storey, unless otherwise permitted by the Code.
CriticalClause 2.2.11Minimum clear width of an exit door/exit access opening is 850 mm. No exit, exit staircase, or other exit facility shall be narrower than the minimum specified in Table 2.2A.
CriticalClause 2.2.7aWhere two exits are required from a room or space, each exit must accommodate not less than half the total occupant load.
CriticalClause 2.2.5bMaximum width of exit staircases is 2 m. Staircases exceeding 2 m must be divided by handrails into sections of 1–2 m width; width beyond 2 m cannot be counted for exit capacity.
ImportantClause 2.2.8Where a building or floor has mixed occupancies, apply the strictest exit requirements across the entire storey, or determine requirements separately for each section.
ImportantClause 2.2.2Exit access doors serving rooms with ≤2 persons shall be not less than 610 mm clear width. A single-leaf swing door along means of egress shall not exceed 1.25 m clear width.
NoteClause 2.2.7b–c
Compliance thresholds
| Parameter | Value | Condition | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exit capacity unit of width | 500 mm (half a metre) | All exits, exit staircases, exit passageways, corridors, exit doors | Clause 2.2.5a |
| Fraction of unit width that may be counted | ≥ 250 mm counts as ½ unit; < 250 mm is disregarded | Determining exit width | Clause 2.2.5a |
| Minimum clear width of exit door / exit access opening | 850 mm | All exits and exit access openings (general rule) | Clause 2.2.7a |
| Minimum clear width — exit access door (room ≤2 persons) | 610 mm | Room or space with occupant load of not more than 2 persons | Clause 2.2.7b |
| Maximum clear width — single-leaf swing door on egress path | 1.25 m | Single-leaf swing door along means of egress | Clause 2.2.7c |
| Maximum width of exit staircase | 2 m (only 2 m counts for exit capacity) | All exit staircases; width > 2 m requires handrail subdivision into sections of 1–2 m | Clause 2.2.8 |
| Handrail projection into staircase clear width | ≤ 80 mm each side | If projection exceeds 80 mm, clear width is measured from inner sides of handrails | Clause 2.2.9a (Note) |
| One-door occupant load limit — High hazard occupancy | 25 persons | Room requiring two exits when occupant load exceeds this figure | Clause 2.2.10 / Table 2.2.10 |
| One-door occupant load limit — Patient accommodation, classrooms, godowns/stores/factories (non-high hazard), assembly | 50 persons | Room requiring two exits when occupant load exceeds this figure | Clause 2.2.10 / Table 2.2.10 |
| Smoke-free lobby minimum floor area | 3 m² | Standard smoke-free lobby; if also serves as fire lift lobby: 6 m² | Clause 2.2.13b(4) |
| Smoke-free lobby minimum clear width | 1.2 m | Standard smoke-free lobby; if also serves as fire lift lobby: 2 m | Clause 2.2.13b(4) |
| Smoke-free lobby ventilation opening (natural) — minimum area | ≥ 15% of lobby floor area; each opening ≥ 1 m² | Permanent fixed ventilation openings in external wall of smoke-free lobby | Clause 2.2.13b(7)(a) |
| Air well for smoke-free lobby/external corridor ventilation — minimum clear area and width | 93 m² minimum clear area; 6 m minimum width | Air well used for ventilation of smoke-free lobby, external corridor, external exit passageway, or cross-ventilated lobby | Clause 2.2.13b(7)(a); Clause 2.3.11b |
| Maximum distance from lobby floor area to ventilation air well or external space | 9 m | Smoke-free lobby with natural ventilation openings | Clause 2.2.13b(7)(a) |
| Cross-ventilated corridor/lobby — max distance from ventilation openings | 12 m | No part of floor area shall exceed 12 m from ventilation openings | Clause 2.2.13b(7)(c)(ii) |
| Number of storeys triggering smoke-free lobby requirement | More than 4 storeys above ground level | Entry at every storey to exit staircase shall be through smoke-free approach | Clause 2.2.13 |
| Area of refuge — occupant load reduction | One area of refuge → occupant load for vertical exits reduced to 1/2; Two or more areas of refuge → reduced to 1/3 | Floor area with access to compliant area(s) of refuge | Clause 2.2.15 |
| Area of refuge — floor area per person | 0.3 m² per person | Sizing of area of refuge to hold received occupant load (except healthcare occupancies) | Clause 2.2.15a |
Interactive decision tree
Determine exit requirements for the storey/building.