SCDF Fire Code 2023 Decision Workflows

Portable fire extinguishers must be provided in all buildings except defined exemptions (PG I, residential floors of PG II, certain car parks and roof PV areas). Construction must comply with SS EN 3 and maintenance with SS 578; type, size, and siting are determined by the occupancy hazard class under SS 578.

The type of rising main system is determined by building habitable height: dry rising mains for PG II–VIII buildings between 10 m and 60 m, wet rising mains above 60 m. All buildings with basements require dry rising mains. Hose reels are required on every storey of all buildings regardless of height, subject to defined exemptions. Systems must conform to SS 575.

An electrically supervised fire alarm system (SS 645) is required for PG III–VIII buildings exceeding defined floor area thresholds. The type (manual only, or automatic + manual) depends on number of storeys and whether the occupancy has stay-in facilities. Residential units (PG I and II) require Home Fire Alarm Devices (HFAD). Buildings in high-risk categories or those protected by automatic suppression systems must be connected to the SCDF Operations Centre via an approved alarm monitoring company.

Automatic sprinkler systems (SS CP 52) are mandatory for buildings exceeding 24 m habitable height (excluding PG I and II), all basements (excluding PG I, II and effectively cross-ventilated basements), and any building where compartmentation requirements of Chapter 3 cannot be met. Additional triggers include PG II mixed occupancy above 24 m, atrium spaces, and car park provisions. Water mist systems may substitute sprinklers subject to SCDF approval.

Fixed automatic fire extinguishing systems installed beyond the Code's mandatory requirements are considered additional property protection only and cannot substitute for any Code-prescribed provision unless SCDF approves. The design and installation of all such systems must comply with Codes of Practice acceptable to SCDF.

All lift installations must comply with SS 550. Fire lifts are mandatory for most buildings exceeding 24 m habitable height (at least 2 fire lifts for non-PG I/II; 1 fire lift for PG II, 2 for super high-rise PG II >40 storeys). Evacuation lifts serving PWDs must be provided for buildings >24 m (except PG I and II). Standby generating plants are required for specified building types. Homing of lifts to a designated floor is required in fire and power-failure events.

All specified fire protection equipment, fixtures and fittings must be painted red. Key exceptions include dry riser breeching inlets (yellow), dry pillar hydrants (entirely yellow), wet pillar hydrants (red with yellow band). Pipework not required to be red must have red colour bands of ≥20 mm width at intervals of ≤6 m with labelling.

All fire pumping systems — covering wet rising mains, hose reels, sprinklers and hydrants — must be designed with redundancy so that the loss of any one pump or its associated control system (due to routine maintenance or breakdown) does not reduce overall system performance. This applies to all buildings where these systems are required.