Setting up a warehouse

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
No

No
No
The guidelines
and regulations here assume that the warehouse is storing
general goods (i.e. non-food, non-chemical products).

There are two initial steps available:

Building one from scratch OR

Using an No
old premise, in which case the premise might have to be
converted before it could be used for warehousing.

BUILDING A NEW WAREHOUSE FROM SCRATCH

Application for approval of building plans with Building and
Construction Authority (BCA)
The objective of the Building Control Act is to ensure building works comply with
standards of safety, amenity and matters of public policy as prescribed in the
Building Control Act Yes
and Building Control Regulations.
As stipulated by the Building Control Act, building plans are to be submitted by a
Qualified Person (QP), a person who is registered as an Architect with the
Board of Architects or a Professional Engineer with the Professional Engineers
Board.
In the Third Schedule of the Building Control Regulations, the appropriate QP for
preparing and signing the plans of building works for warehouses must be a
professional engineer or an architect, but the structural plans are to be
prepared by a professional engineer.
For more details, you may refer to the following references for the submission of
application for approval of building plans:
No

Building Control Act (Chapter 29)

Building Control Regulations
Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations
o Only applicable if other temporary buildings (e.g. workers quarters,
site office, store, builders shed etc.) are to be erected besides the
warehouse.
Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment
o To take into consideration people with mobility disabilities working
in the warehouse.
Guidelines on Envelope Thermal Transfer Value for Buildings
o Thermal envelope refers to the shell of a building as a barrier to
unwanted heat transfer between the interior of the building and the
outside conditions. The information here is very technical, more for
the engineer to know.
Code of Practice on Buildable Design/Buildability
o Responsibility of the parties (e.g. engineers, architects) engaged in
the design and construction of the building.

In addition, according to the Code of Practice on Pollution Control, if the

warehouse is to be located within unprotected water catchments, it is not
allowed to store hazardous or polluting substances.

USING AN OLD PREMISE

Conditions
First and foremost, warehousing activities must only be carried out in premises
Setting up a new warehouse
zoned for industrial use. These premises are categorised as Business 1 or
Business 2, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Business 1: nuisance buffer is 50m or less (i.e. clean and light

industries)
Business 2: nuisance buffer is more than 50m but still within health
and safety buffers (i.e. general industries)

Converting the premise

If the previous premise is not already used for a warehouse, a Change of
Use approval is required. [FYI: Warehouse is classified as Class X (i.e. Class 10)
under the URA.] A Change of Use could be applied using the Online Business
Licensing Service (OBLS) here.
In addition, the URA 60:40 rule must be adhered. At least 60% of the gross floor
area (GFA) is to be used only for industrial activities (in this case, warehouse
usage). The remaining 40% could be used for other purposes (e.g. office,
communal facilities). GFA refers to the total cumulative area of all buildings
within the same premise.
[FYI: the 60:40 rule was enacted to ensure that industrial land is used
predominantly for industrial activities, as industrial space had been increasingly
used for other purposes instead e.g. offices, commercial schools, training
centres.]

Commence operations

APPLIES FOR BOTH CHOICES

Renovation

Most of the time, major renovations would be required. In this case a building
work permit is to be applied through the BCA. After renovation works are done, a
Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) or a Temporary Occupation
Permit (TOP) needs to be obtained from BCA before the space could be
occupied. All renovation works must be performed by certified/licensed
contractors.
The CSC is granted only when all requirements have been complied with. If only
certain requirements are met, a TOP must be applied first. Thereafter, when all
the requirements are complied, the CSC may be obtained. (For the list of
requirements, refer to the BCA website on Application For Occupation Of Building
WorksCSC)

Additionally, the Code of Practice: Street Work Proposals Relating to

Development Works, LTA stipulates the recommended width and turning
kerb radius of an entrance/exit driveway which a warehouse should have:

Recommended clear width of access: 10.0m to 12.0m

Recommended turning kerb radius: 6.0m to 8.0m

Fire Certificate

Under the Fire Safety Act, building owners and their QP are required to apply and
obtain a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) or a Temporary Fire Permit (TFP)
before using or occupying the premise.
The FSC is only issued after full completion of all fire safety works in the
project. Alternatively, a TFP may be obtained for a limited period to use the
premise before obtaining the FSC. The TFP is issued when the fire safety works of
the project has been satisfactorily completed with very minor outstanding

issues left to be complied with. The usual maximum timeframe given to obtain
the FSC after issuance of the TFP is 6 months.
(Refer to the section Fire Safety for the fire safety guidelines as provided in the
SCDF Fire Code.)
No fee is charged for the application of a FSC or TFP. The application has to be
submitted online through the CORENET e-Submission System here. The details of
the procedure of FSC/TFP application could be found at the SCDF website here.
After the FSC or TFP is issued (whichever is first), a Fire Certificate (FC) must
be obtained within 12 months. In applying for the FC, you are required to mail
the completed FC application forms to SCDF.
After applying for the FC, you are required to arrange for a Professional Engineer
(PE) and contractor to carry out pre-testing. Refer to the table below for the
category of PE to endorse on the various types of fire protection system.
Category of PE for various types of fire protection system
Type of System
Mechanical
ventilation
conditioning
Automatic fire alarm
Automatic sprinklers

Wet risers
Gas suppression systems
Fixed water spray/Foam

and

air-

Discipline of PE
Mechanical or
Electrical (up to 1311)
Mechanical or
Electrical
Mechanical or
Civil or
Chemical (up to 1311)
Mechanical or
Civil or
Structural (up to 1311)
Mechanical or
Electrical
Mechanical or
Civil or
Chemical (up to 1311)

After the application for the FC is in order, SCDF will make an appointment with
you for an inspection of the warehouse. The pre-testing report, together with the
FC application forms, has to be sent to SCDF before the inspection date.
It can either be submitted manually to the following address:
Central
Enforcement
Department
(Certification Branch)
HQ Singapore
Civil
Defence Force
Or it could be submitted online here.

The revised FC fee of $11 per storey is to be paid.

For more details on FC application, refer to the SCDF website here.

Workplace Safety and Health Act

The Workplace Safety and Health Act covers the responsibilities of the various
stakeholders. The MOM website details the responsibilities and penalties here.
Risk management is an important part of ensuring workplace safety. The
requirements for workplace risk management are stipulated under the Workplace
Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations, one of which states that: In
every workplace, the employer, self-employed person and principal shall take all
reasonably practicable steps to eliminate any foreseeable risk to any person who
may be affected by his undertaking in the workplace.
Risk assessments should be conducted on a regular basis by a risk assessment
team. The forms for conducting risk assessment could be found on the MOM
website here.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council has a Code of Practice on Workplace
Safety and Health(WSH) Risk Management, which guides you on how to manage
workplace risk and fulfil your legal obligations as an employer.

Fire safety
The guidelines are in accordance with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
Fire Code. The tables referenced below can be found in Appendix 4. [FYI: the Fire
Code is defined as the Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings under
the Fire Safety Act.]

Compartment size
The maximum allowable dimensions of the compartment size in the warehouse
are subject to the type of fire protection (with or without sprinkler) and location
of the warehouse. Refer to Table 1 for the measurements.

Sprinkler protection
If the compartment of the warehouse exceeds the maximum allowable size
stipulated in Table 1, an automatic sprinkler system must be installed. Coverage
of the sprinklers must also include any area covered by platforms/mezzanines.

Storage height control

Maximum allowable height and minimum clearance below the sprinkler heads
has to be in accordance with CP52 (code of practice for automatic fire sprinkler
system) stipulated by the Singapore Standards Council.
A 50mm wide red line is to be drawn around the wall with a signage indicating
No Storage Above This Line. The signage has to be provided on the walls of the
warehouse, including the loading/unloading area, at no more than 30m apart
along the red line. The lettering of the sign is to be at least 100mm.
Height control at temporary storage area (loading/unloading area) must comply
with Table 1A [Extract from Table 21(A) of CP52] (code of practice for
automatic fire sprinkler system). For non-sprinkler protected warehouse, the
storage height is limited to 2.5m.

Smoke control
The type of smoke control to be installed is dependent on the compartment size
and whether the warehouse is sprinkler protected. Refer to Table 2 for the
smoke control requirements.
Smoke control may be in any of following three types:

smoke vent
smoke purging system
engineered smoke control system

Smoke vent
Smoke vent must be of permanent open type. Glass blocks or panels must not be
used unless they are designed to be activated automatically.
Minimum dimensions

Vertical smoke vent

Horizontal smoke vent (roof or ceiling)

400mm (length) * 600mm (height)

0.25m2 in area

The smoke vent opening must adhere to the stipulated measurements in Table 2
or Table 2A.
No area in the warehouse must be more than the stipulated distance (Tables 2
or 2A) measured horizontally away from any vertical or horizontal smoke vent.
All smoke vents must be located at the highest unobstructed level along the
perimeter walls of the warehouse.
Smoke purging system
A smoke purging system may replace smoke vents only if the warehouse is
sprinkler-protected. The smoke purging system must comply with clause 7.1.9
of the Fire Code.
Engineered smoke control
Must be provided if the floor area of the compartment is more than 5000m 2
(aboveground warehouses) or 2000m2 (belowground warehouses).
The system must be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements
stipulated in clause 7.6 of the Fire Code, or equivalent standards approved by
the Fire Safety and Shelter Department (FSSD).

Fire extinguisher
To be provided in accordance with SS 578 (code of practice for use and
maintenance of portable fire extinguishers) as stipulated by the Singapore
Standards Council under SPRING Singapore.

Non-sprinkler protected warehouse

Sprinkler protected warehouse

Statutes referenced
Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
Building Control Act (Chapter 29 of Singapore Statutes)
Building Control Regulations
Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations
Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment
Guidelines on Envelope Thermal Transfer Value for Buildings
Code of Practice on Buildable Design/Buildability
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Code of Practice on Pollution Control
Land Transport Authority (LTA)
Code of Practice: Street Work Proposals Relating to Development Works
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
Fire Safety Act
Fire Code
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Workplace Safety and Health Act
Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations

Good practices and standards

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
Fire Code
MOM (Ministry of Manpower)
Workplace safety and health best practices
Building and Construction Standards CommitteeSingapore Standards
Council
Code of practice for automatic fire sprinkler system
Code of practice for use and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers

Alternatively, you may wish to refer to this summary of the

procedures, time and cost to build a warehouse in Singapore
done by the World Bank Group.