AR5421 Architectural Practice 1

LECTURE 5
FIRE SAFETY (PART I)

© Catherine Loke, August 2017

PRE-DESIGN
• RESEARCH
• DESIGN BRIEF

SCHEMATIC DESIGN
• SCHEMATIC DESIGN PROPOSALS
• SUBMISSIONS FOR DC CLEARANCE

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
• DEVELOPMENT OF DESIGN WITH CONSULTANT TEAM
• COST ESTIMATES
• SUBMISSIONS FOR BP CLEARANCE

DOCUMENTATION
• SELECT PROCUREMENT METHOD
• TENDER DOCUMENTATION
• CALL TENDERS
• AWARD BUILDING CONTRACT

CONSTRUCTION

• PERMIT TO CARRY OUT STRUCTURAL WORKS

• CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

COMPLETION
• AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
• APPLY FOR TOP/CSC

POST-COMPLETION
• MAINTENANCE PERIOD
• FINAL ACCOUNT
 Fire Safety

Fire Safety Fundamentals

Design Considerations
Prevention
Detection
Means of Escape
Fire Spread
 What is Fire?

Source https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=618479

Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic

chemical process of combustion.
 Bukit Ho Swee fire, 1961

• Gutted an area approx. 100 acres

• Left 16,000 people homeless
• Fire Risk
- Houses made of combustible
materials - timber, attap roofing
- Firewood used for cooking
- Rubbish not properly disposed of
- Burning of joss sticks and paper
in religious rituals
• Material damage estimated at $2m

If left to market forces, everyone acting in self-interest tends

to disregard fire safety
Fire Safety needs to be regulated by government
 Who is responsible for Fire Safety?

• Regulation – FSSD
• Design – Architects,
Architects Engineers
• Construction – builders
• Occupation – Registered Inspectors
• Use & Maintenance – Owners & Users
 Regulation

Acts, Codes & Regulations

available for download from
https://www.scdf.gov.sg/cont
ent/scdf_internet/en/fire-
safety/acts-codes-
regulations.html
 History of the Fire Code

First issued in 1974 as a prescriptive Code, the 2002

issue introduced performance-based provisions;
current version is Jan 2013:
• Performance-based provisions state Root
Objectives and Sub-objectives
• Prescriptive provisions are deemed to comply with
performance requirement as they are proven to be
safe (similar to BCA Approved Document)

FSSD

Fire Code 2013

 Mind Map of Fire Code 2013
Smoke control
systems Control Natural Outside
Manual
Smoke Smoke Reduce ventilation Area of
alarm
Inhalation Smoke refuge
Pressurisation Lead to
Automatic Communication Safe Area
Warning
alarm Smoke Protected PWD
RISK Free Area Holding
Detection
ASSESSMENT Point
Signage
Safe Lighting Dead-end
Route limit
One-way
Way
Fighting Finding Horizontal
the Fire Means of
Escape
Purpose Group Distance Two way
Occupant Load
Size / storeys Time
Proximity to others Structural Vertical
Integrity
Fire Height of building /
Fire Rating Spread Capacity no. of storeys

No. of exits
Compartmentation Doors
Flame Width of exits
Spread
Unprotected
Stairs Corridors
Openings
© Catherine Loke, August 2017
 Contents
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2 – Means of Escape
• Chapter 3 – Structural Fire Precautions
• Chapter 4 – Site Planning & External Fire Fighting Provision
• Chapter 5 – Electrical Power Supplies
• Chapter 6 – Fire Fighting Systems
• Chapter 7 – Mechanical Ventilation and Smoke Control Systems
• Chapter 8 – Other Systems
• Chapter 9 – Fire Safety Report (affects future QP)
• 24 Appendices
• Reference to SS, CP, AS, BS & NFPA Standards
FSSD

Fire Code 2013

 Terminology

Extract from Fire Code Handbook

Clause 1.2.37
FSSD
Habitable Height

Fire Code 2013

 Terminology

Extract from Fire Code Handbook

Clause 1.2.38
FSSD
Height of Building

Fire Code 2013

 Terminology

Measurement of
When designing an open plan (i.e. without partition layout), travel distance
the max. direct distance = 2/3 max. travel distance

Extract from Fire Code Handbook Clause 1.2.18 & 1.2.59

FSSD
Direct Distance & Travel Distance

Fire Code 2013

 Design Considerations

Using Factory as an
example, Purpose
Group is VI

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Purpose Group

Fire Code 2013

 Design Considerations

Production Area
– Occupant Load
is 10m2/person

FSSD
Extract from Fire Code 2013
Occupant Load

Fire Code 2013

 Prevention

Prevention of fire involves limiting the fuel available:

• Elements of Structure – non-combustible and fire-rated
(refer Table 3.3A)
• Finishes – subject to flame spread requirements (refer
Tables 3.13A & 3.13B)
• Impossible to eliminate fuel e.g. furniture, fittings,
clothings, etc.

FSSD

Fire Code 2013

 Detection

Detection goes hand in hand with fire alarm system:

• Heat or smoke detectors are used to trigger fire alarm
• Fire alarm can also be manually triggered (refer Cl. 6.3.3
& Table 6.3A)
• Voice communication is required for some large
buildings (refer Cl. 8.2.1)
• Emergency power supply required to be provided

FSSD
Purpose Group

Fire Code 2013

 Means of Escape
Cl. 2.2.7 Min
width is 850 mm

e.g. capacity of exit door width 900mm

= 1.5 X 80 = 120

Cl. 2.2.5 Every 250 mm can be

considered half a unit width

Cl. 2.8.2 Different min. width

applicable to assembly
occupancy, i.e. >50 persons

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Determination of Exit Requirement

Fire Code 2013

 Means of Escape

Measure from inside face Measure from inside

of door frame rebate face of door leaf

Extract from Fire Code 2013

Diagram 2.2.9(b)
FSSD
Measurement of Width of Exit Doors

Fire Code 2013

 Means of Escape

Distance between exits

must be >1/2 diagonal
dimension of lobby

Extract from Fire Code

Handbook Clause 2.2.12(c)
FSSD
Remoteness of exits

Fire Code 2013

 Means of Escape

FSSD

Fire Code 2013

 Means of Escape

FSSD

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Flame Spread

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread

Non-combustible wall
or ceiling; or for
surfaces, refer to
explanation for Cl.
3.13.1 in the Fire Code
Handbook

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Flame Spread

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread
100mm thk clay brickwall
without plastering is deemed
to be 2 hour fire-rated

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Fire Rating

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Compartmentation

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread

Extract from Fire Code 2013

FSSD
Vertical Fire Spread

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread

Extract from Fire Code 2013, Chapter 3

FSSD
Horizontal Fire Spread – Unprotected Openings

Fire Code 2013

 Enclosing rectangle for
Fire Spread
3rd storey windows

Enclosing rectangle for

1st storey windows
These windows are not
counted as they are at
a protected stair, i.e. a
protected shaft
FSSD
Horizontal Fire Spread – Unprotected Openings

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Spread

Extract from Fire Code 2013, Chapter 3

FSSD
Horizontal Fire Spread – Unprotected Openings

Fire Code 2013

 Fire Safety Requirements Checklist

Make ref. to
which edition

Make reminders for

yourself; use your own
words; be concise

FSSD
Sample

Fire Code 2013

ANY QUESTIONS?