Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
The main role of SCDF is to provide fire-fighting, rescue and emergency medical services; mitigating hazardous materials incidents, as well as formulate, implement and enforce regulations on fire safety and civil defence shelter matters.

Fire Safety and Shelter Department (FSSD)
FSSD is one of the departments in SCDF. Any person who wishes to commence or carry out any addition & alteration works in any building shall apply in accordance with the Regulations made under the Fire Safety Act to the FSSD for approval of plans d fire safety certificate of the fire safety works.

A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) provides for the safety of the building’s occupants. Therefore, owners and their Qualified Persons (QP) whom they have engaged for their fire safety works are required to apply and obtain the FSC before using or occupying the premises.

The FSC is only issued after full completion of all fire safety works in the project. Failure to comply with this is an offence under the Fire Safety Act and the owner is liable to court action.

A building owner may also obtain a Temporary Fire Permit (TFP) to use the premises for a limited period before obtaining the FSC.

The TFP is only issued if the fire safety works of the project have been satisfactorily completed with only very minor outstanding issues.

The timeframe to obtain the FSC after the TFP is issued depends on the size, type and complexity of the project.

You should only apply for an FSC/TFP after the following:

1. Plans for the fire safety works of the project have been approved.
2. Works have been fully completed in accordance to SCDF’s requirements.
3. An Inspection Certificate is issued by a Registered Inspector (RI)

Depending on the type of project, a RI (Architecture) and a RI (M & E) may be needed.

Owners must engage RIs to inspect and certify the fire safety works of their project before applying to SCDF for an FSC/TFP.

Yes, owners are required to engage a RI (Architecture) and/or a RI (M & E) to inspect and certify the fire safety works of their project before applying to SCDF for an FSC/TFP.

A RI is a person who is registered under the Fire Safety Act to be qualified and competent to inspect fire safety works in buildings to ascertain the degree of compliance of fire safety requirements e.g. provision of fire extinguishers, Exit signs, Exit/Emergency lightings, means of escape, etc are provided in accordance to the Fire Code.

Registered Inspectors are required for all types of projects which require a Temporary Fire Permit (TFP) / Fire Safety Certificate (FSC); so long as there are fire safety works involved in the project that need to be inspected and certified.

Depending on the type of fire safety works carried out for the project, both types of RIs, that is the RI(A) and RI(M & E) may be needed to inspect the project for the issuance of the Temporary Fire Permit / Fire Safety Certificate.

An Architectural RI known as RI(A) specialises on architectural / building aspects of fire safety provision. If a Fire Safety Engineer (FSE) is an RI (Architectural), he shall be responsible for both the fire safety works listed in Part I of the First Schedule and the fire safety engineering works of the project.

The RI (Architecture)’s scope of works is to ensure that fire precautions in the building works e.g. provision of fire extinguishers, Exit signs, Exit/Emergency lightings, means of escape, etc are provided in accordance to the Fire Code.

To appoint Registered Inspectors, a letter of appointment must be completed by the owner and RI. If the form is signed by a representative for the owner, a company stamp is also required.

If the owner ends the services of a RI and appoints another RI, then a letter of relinquishment of the first RI has to be submitted to SCDF as well as a new letter of appointment.

You need to provide the RI (Architecture) with the following documents:

1. A copy of the building plans approved by the Fire Safety & Shelter Department (FSSD); and
2. A copy of the Notice of Approval (NOA) from SCDF/FSSD

The work flow consists of 3 stages leading to the Fire Safety Certificate (FSC). Lee Consultant’s role is a RI (A).

STAGE 1 – APPOINTMENT 

1. Appointment of Qualified Persons (QPs)

• Architect, Professional Engineer (PE) *
• Registered Inspectors (RIs)

STAGE 2 – PLANS PREPARATION & SUBMISSION

2. QPs to prepare plans for FSSD submission.

• Building Plan (Architect)
• Fire Protection Plan (PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER)*
• Mechanical Ventilation Plan (PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER)*

3. QP (Architect) and QP (PE)* to submit plans to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for approval.

4. SCDF processes and issues Notice of Approvals  (NOA). (approx. 1 week)

STAGE 3 – INSPECTION & APPLICATION OF FSC
5. Upon completion of works on site, the Registered Inspectors (RI)s inspect the site to check that works done are in accordance to the approved drawings.

6. Upon satisfactory inspection, the RIs will issue  Form-1 certificate to the QP (Architect)

7. QP (Architect) applies to SCDF for Fire Safety Certificate (FSC).

8. Upon successful application, SCDF issues the Fire Safety Certificate (FSC). (approx. 1 week)