Chapter 9
Additional Requirements for Each Purpose Group
Chapter 9 sets out purpose-group-specific fire safety requirements that supplement the general provisions in Chapters 1–8. Each clause addresses the unique risks, occupancy patterns, and structural characteristics of one of the nine Purpose Groups (I–VIII plus Others). Requirements range from simplified exit provisions for small houses (PG I) to detailed compartmentation, smoke-control, and sprinkler thresholds for hospitals, factories, warehouses, and assembly buildings. Clause 9.9 covers special building types including conservation shophouses, buildings under construction, engineered timber structures, mega underground developments, and flammable refrigerant restrictions.
Scope: All buildings in Singapore classified under Purpose Groups I through VIII and special building types covered by Clause 9.9. Requirements supplement and, where they conflict with, take precedence over Chapters 1–8.
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
Storage areas exceeding 100 m² (aggregate) in a non-sprinkler-protected factory must either comply with PG VIII warehouse requirements or be compartmented to keep storage ≤100 m². Sprinkler protection raises this to 700 m².
CriticalCl.9.6.1cFire compartmentation between individual tenancy units in terraced/flatted factory buildings is mandatory: walls and floors with ≥1-hr FRR for the entire unit enclosure.
CriticalCl.9.6.1bPetroleum service stations: boundary of station must be ≥50 m from residential buildings or ≥90 m from places of public assembly. All tanks must be installed underground with individual capacity ≤30 kl.
CriticalCl.9.6.2a–bEV charging stations at petrol stations: ≥12 m from refilling points/vent pipes, ≥6 m from oil tanker parking, ≥8 m from fuel dispensers; emergency isolation switch within 15 m of each EV charger, at 800–1200 mm above floor level.
CriticalCl.9.6.2v.(2)BSL-3/BSL-4 high containment facilities: fire compartment ≥1-hr (sprinkler-protected) or ≥2-hr (non-sprinkler); must be at ground floor; firefighter staging lobby required at each entrance with ≥6 m² free space.
CriticalCl.9.6.3b–dMezzanine floors in factories: single open staircase permitted if aggregate mezzanine AFA per unit ≤60 m², stair width ≥1 m non-combustible, habitable height ≤24 m, and mezzanine used only for store/ancillary office.
ImportantCl.9.6.1a.(2)
Compliance thresholds
| Parameter | Value | Condition | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max AFA for single-staircase aboveground factory floor | 200 m² | Single exit staircase, aboveground factory floor | Cl.9.6.1a.(1)(c) |
| Max aggregate mezzanine AFA per unit (single open staircase) | 60 m² | Mezzanine floor within factory unit | Cl.9.6.1a.(2)(a) |
| Max mezzanine habitable height (single open staircase) | 24 m | Mezzanine floor within factory | Cl.9.6.1a.(2)(e) |
| Storage area trigger (non-sprinkler factory) — comply with PG VIII or compartment | 100 m² | Non-sprinkler-protected factory | Cl.9.6.1c.(1) |
| Storage area trigger (sprinkler-protected factory) | 700 m² | Sprinkler-protected factory; if exceeded, comply with PG VIII warehouse requirements | Cl.9.6.1c.(2) |
| Min separation — service station boundary from residential buildings | 50 m | Petroleum service station | Cl.9.6.2a.(2) |
| Min separation — service station boundary from places of public assembly | 90 m | Petroleum service station | Cl.9.6.2a.(2) |
| Max underground tank capacity per tank | 30 kl | Petroleum service station underground tanks | Cl.9.6.2b.(2) |
| Max convenience store size integrated with petrol station | 150 m² | Convenience store within petroleum service station | Cl.9.6.2a.(5) |
| Farm building max habitable height (special requirements apply) | 10 m | Farm buildings qualifying for Cl.9.6.4 requirements | Cl.9.6.4a.(1) |
| Farm building max FLED (fire load energy density) | 200 MJ/m² | Compartment used solely for farming | Cl.9.6.4a.(4) |
| Farm building max compartment AFA | 8000 m² | Farm building farming compartment | Cl.9.6.4b.(5) |
| Min separation — EV charger to fuel dispensing unit | 8 m | EV charging station at petrol station | Cl.9.6.2v.(2)(e) |
| Underground transformer room max AFA | 250 m² | Underground electrical transformer room | Cl.9.6.7b.(1)(a) |
| Underground transformer room max depth | 9 m below grade, max 1 level below grade | Underground electrical transformer room | Cl.9.6.7b.(1)(b) |
Interactive decision tree
Is this a general factory/industrial unit or a specialist PG VI sub-type?