FSM

BRIEFING 2014
COMMON FIRE SAFETY NON-COMPLIANCES
AND SCDF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
CPT NEO JIN XIANG

TEAM LEADER
ENFORCEMENT & PROSECUTION BRANCH
CENTRAL ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION

Introduction
SCDFs Fire Safety Enforcement Approach
State of Fire Safety in Our Buildings
Types of Fire Safety Non-Compliances
Case Studies
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

To create a fire safe environment by enforcing the FSA and achieved

through
Scheduled fire safety checks
Responding to public feedback
Concerted joint efforts by SCDF, building managements, owners,
CERTs and FSMs
SCDF FIRE SAFETY APPROACH

Types of Enforcement Checks

Non scheduled or complaints
Scheduled attended by fire stations
Re-inspections
SCDF FIRE SAFETY APPROACH

Types of Enforcement Actions

Serving of notices via FHAN
Serving of fines via NOC and NFSO
Court actions
Commissioner Closure
Fire Hazard Order Abatement, Prohibition and
Closure
FIRE
COURT HAZARD
CHARGE ORDER
NOC
FHAN
SCDF FIRE SAFETY APPROACH

Types of Fire Safety Non-Compliances

Fire hazards
Fire safety violations
SCDF FIRE SAFETY APPROACH

SCDFs Fire Safety Enforcement Regime

Violation found

Fire Hazards Fire safety violations

SCDF issues FHAN SCDF issues NFSO

Fire hazard not addressed Violation not addressed

SCDF issues NOC Subsequent NFSOs

Fire hazard not addressed Violation not addressed

Court Action Court Action

STATE OF FIRE SAFETY IN OUR BUILDINGS

Breakdown of Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHAN) issued in Jan

Dec 2013
Offence Industrial Commercial PE Outlets Residential Others Total (Jan Dec 13) Total (Jan June 14)

Overcrowding 1 1 2 4 4
Obstruction (exits/ fire engine
access and other fire safety
209 138 7 43 30 427 357
measures eg. hosreel,
extinguishers)
Locked exits 4 3 1 1 9 6

Exit signs not illuminated 403 59 9 14 35 520 377

Storage of combustible / flammable
189 29 1 37 12 268 131
material
Non-maintenance of fire fighting
equipment (hosereel/fire 166 40 6 5 20 237 175
extinguisher)
Non-maintenance of fire alarm
47 23 1 19 43 133 85
system
Storage along perimeter fencing 6 1 7 6
Poor housekeeping (storage within
staircase/hosereel / risers, fire 66 11 1 22 13 113 83
fighting lobby)
Failure to comply with SCDF
2 2 6
guidelines for HDB Shopfront
Others (General fire hazards eg FD
wedged opened, FD missing, fire
312 106 10 124 583 393
door closure faulty, placement of 2
items along 5-foot way etc)
Total 1403 412 38 265 185 2303 1623
STATE OF FIRE SAFETY IN OUR BUILDINGS

Breakdown of Notices of Fire Safety Offence (NFSO) issued in Jan

Dec 2013

Offence Industrial Commercial PE Outlets Residential Others Total (Jan Dec 13) Total (Jan Jun 14)

Change of use without approval 457 133 1 455 33 1079 625

Carrying fire safety works without

395 115 1 22 13 546 296
approval
Storage &/or transportation of
Petroleum &/or Flammable
84 46 41 24 195 134
Materials
without licence
Occupied building without Fire
1 1 2 12
Certificate
Failure to obtain Fire Safety
37 80 2 2 121 92
Certificate
Unauthorised erection of LPG
8 159 1 168 81
manifold system
Sales & supply of Petroleum &
17 30 1 2 50 41
Flammable Materials
Non-compliance to Temporary
3 4 7 13
Permit (TP) requirement

Others 58 48 2 127 235 86

Total 1057 615 4 521 206 2403 1380

STATE OF FIRE SAFETY IN OUR BUILDINGS

Trending For Notices Issued From 2012 to 2014

3000

2634
2500 2403
2341 2303

2000

1623 2012

1500 1380 2013

2014

1000

500
286
171 165

0
FHAN NFSO NOC
STATE OF FIRE SAFETY IN OUR BUILDINGS

In retrospect
12832 fire safety inspections conducted in 2013
2303 FHANs, 286 NOC and 2403 NFSOs issued in 2013
Jan Jun 2014 conducted 6985 inspections
Issued 1623 FHANs, 1380 NFSOs, 165 NOCs
Significant decrease in numbers of fire safety non-compliances in 2013
as compared to 2012
Jan Jun 2014 figures suggest figures possibly higher by end of the
year compared to 2013
Fires cases at commercial and industrial premises
FIRE HAZARDS

Fire Hazards
Non-maintenance of fire safety measures
Obstruction to means of escape
Obstruction to fire safety measures
Overcrowding
EXAMPLES OF FIRE HAZARDS

Non-maintenance of fire safety measures

EXAMPLES OF FIRE HAZARDS

Non-maintenance of fire safety measures

EXAMPLES OF FIRE HAZARDS

Obstruction to means of escape

EXAMPLES OF FIRE HAZARDS

Overcrowding
FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Fire safety violations

Contravention to requirements in FSA and its regulations
Storage or mismanagement of Petroleum and Flammable
Material
Carry out fire safety works without approval
Change of use of premises
EXAMPLES OF FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Unlicensed Storage of P and FM

EXAMPLES OF FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Unauthorised Fire Safety Works

EXAMPLES OF FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Unauthorised Change of Use

EXAMPLES OF FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Unauthorised Foreign Worker Dormitories

EXAMPLES OF FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Setting up Trade Fair without SCDF Approval/

Trade Fair Does Not Comply with Approved Plan
CASE STUDY Fire at Sungei Kadut

Unfolding of Events

17 August 2014, ~1000 hrs

12 SCDF appliances
Affected area is approximately 80 by 80 metres.
About 50 SCDF staff were involved in the firefighting operation which lasted 3hrs before
the fire was put out.
CASE STUDY Fire at Sungei Kadut

Fire Safety Inspection Findings

Findings revealed fire safety violations such as:

Unauthorised change of use from
- driveway to storage all around the premises
- part of factory area to office
Unauthorised fire safety works
- sheds, 20ft & 40ft containers used as storage/ office
Enforcement actions taken against operator

All the above fire safety issues added difficulty to effective

fire fighting and placed occupants at unnecessary risks.
CASE STUDY Fire at Tuas Avenue

Unfolding of Events
27 April 2014 ~1538hrs
16 SCDF appliances
Fire put out after 2.5hrs, 14 water & foam jets, 80 SCDF personnel
Affected area is approximately 50m x 50m

Enforcement actions taken against operator

CASE STUDY Fire at Tuas Avenue

Post fire investigation revealed fire safety non-compliances including

Storage of IBC along driveway
Unauthorised change of use from office to laboratory/ storerooms, server room to
director room
Erection of unauthorised fire safety works such as LPG manifold systems
Fire fighting operations hindered and occupants placed at unnecessary risks
CONCLUSION

Staff and public placed under added fire risks

Potential fire spread to neighbouring units
Operation halted and revenue losses
Inspections carried out at errant premises entails stern enforcement
actions
FSMs to assist building owners in policing fire safety
Building owners responsible in ensuring fire safety standards

Good Fire Safety

Standards

MCST
FSM
SCDF
THANK YOU