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a. This set of fire safety requirements applies to ESS which supply electrical energy at a future time to the local power loads, to the utility grid, or for grid support. It shall apply to ESS installations where the total stored energy exceeds the Threshold Stored Energy listed in Table 10.3.1 below.

b. All Energy Storage System installations shall be located at the same storey as the fire engine accessway/ fire engine access road.

c. The allowable Maximum Stored Energy for the various battery technologies in each compartment shall be as listed in Table 10.3.1.

ESS installation on construction sites shall be located outdoors and comply with all the following requirements:

(a) Cl.10.3.1d. on compartmentation shall be applicable; 

(b) All ESS installations shall be located at the ground level and sited close to the boundary line adjacent to any public road or any internal driveway that is accessible by firefighting appliances. If the ESS is sited more than 100m away from the public road, a private hydrant shall be provided; 

(c) ESS installation shall be protected and locked against tampering and accidental damage by non-combustible fencing of height not less than 1.8m; 

(d) Setback distance of 3m measured between the ESS installation and the fencing shall be provided. No combustible items shall be located within this 3m separation space;

(e) Approved types of fire extinguishers of at least 2 numbers of 55A shall be provided;  

(f) An approved fire extinguishing system effective against ESS fire, shall be provided; and

(g) Ventilation requirement for ESS installation shall be in accordance with Cl.7.1.15.

Basement ESS installation shall be subdivided into two categories as follows:

a. Category 1: Small underground ESS installation having the following requirements:

(1) Cl.10.3.1a. on capacity shall not be applicable.

(2) Cl.10.3.1b. on location shall not be applicable. ESS units is permitted to be located in basement not exceeding a depth of 9m below the fire engine accessway/ fire engine access road level.

(3) The requirements of compartmentation shall apply to any room that is designated as a battery room or of Threshold Stored Energy exceeding the limits stated in Cl.10.3.1d..

(4) Each compartmented ESS room shall not exceed 25m².

(5) Maximum Stored Energy in Table 10.3.1 shall not be applicable. Instead, the following shall apply:

(a) Batteries forming an ESS unit of up to 50kWh is permitted. 

(b)   Aggregate maximum stored energy of 250kWh comprising multiple ESS units within a single compartment room is permitted provided each ESS unit is spaced a minimum of 1m apart from each other, 1m from walls within the compartmented room and other fire hazards. Where the stored energy capacity or separation distance of the unit exceed the limit, it shall be subjected to the fire and explosion testing specified under UL 9540A and together with the NFPA 855 Hazard Mitigation Analysis report to be submitted to SCDF for approval.

(c) Aggregate maximum stored energy of 500kWh comprising multiple compartment rooms is permitted.

(6)    Fire protection system

(a)   Each compartmented ESS room shall be protected by a sprinkler system classified under high hazard occupancy with a minimum discharge density of 12.2mm/min and areas of operation of 230m² in accordance with the SS CP 52.

(b) All ESS units shall be housed in open rack under direct and full coverage of sprinklers.

(c) Each compartmented ESS room shall be provided with smoke detectors in accordance with SS 645 and smoke purging system shall be activated upon detections. 

(7)    A dedicated flammable gas detection system shall be provided for each compartmented ESS room to continuously monitor the flammable gases concentration and upon activation of the ventilation system, to limit the maximum concentration of the flammable gases to below 25% lower explosion limit (LEL) within the compartmented ESS room. Smoke purging system shall be activated upon detection.

(8)    A display panel  showing the location, temperature and flammable gases reading status of the affected ESS unit shall be located at the main entrance of each compartmented ESS room. It shall be connected to the SCDF Operations Centre through an approved alarm monitoring company. Thermocouple reading for each compartmented ESS room shall be provided as a means for firefighters to identify if the fire has been effectively extinguished. No point in the compartmented ESS room shall exceed 10m from a thermocouple. 

(9)    CCTV cameras with thermal imaging capabilities and full coverage of the entire compartmented ESS room shall be installed to facilitate situational awareness for the authorised personnel overseeing the situation. It shall be connected to the SCDF Operations Centre through an approved alarm monitoring company. Alarm signals and live video images of fire and/ or smoke captured shall be transmitted to the approved alarm monitoring company upon activation of the building fire alarm system.

(10)   Pressure relief provision

Each compartmented ESS room shall be designed with pressure relief vent to avoid any excessive built-up of pressure due to the spontaneous ignition of combustible gases. Either one of the following shall be provided:

(a)    Explosion prevention systems designed, installed, operated, maintained, and tested in accordance with NFPA 69.

(b)    Deflagration venting installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 68.

(11)  Smoke purging system

The smoke purging system to be provided for the compartmented ESS room shall be in accordance with Cl.7.4.3. 

(12)  Battery management system

Battery management system (BMS) shall be provided for monitoring operating conditions and maintaining voltages, currents, and temperatures within the manufacturer's specifications. The BMS shall remotely isolate the ESS or affected components of the ESS or place the system in a safe condition if potentially hazardous conditions are detected. BMS shall be evaluated for functional safety performance according to relevant internationally recognized standards such as UL 1973 or equivalent standards approved by the SCDF.

(13)  Emergency main isolation switch

(a) A clearly identified and easily accessible switch or circuit breaker (main isolation shut-off switch) shall be provided to cut-off the power supply of individual ESS unit.

(b) An emergency main isolation shut-off switch shall be provided outside the entrance of the compartmented ESS room, to cut-off power supply of all the ESS units of the affected compartmented ESS room.

(14)  Firefighting access

To facilitate the deployment of unmanned firefighting equipment, exit staircase with at least 1.2m clear width and located within 10m measured from the nearest edge of the compartmented ESS room exit access door to the exit staircase door shall be provided. For any change of direction along the access path from the exit staircase to the compartmented ESS room, directional signages shall be provided with a letter height of at least 50mm.

b.   Category 2: Large underground ESS installation shall be in accordance with Cl.10.3.3a. unless otherwise stated below: 

(1) Premises with public accommodation purpose shall not be sited above ESS premises. Premises with ESS installation shall be segregated from other usage. For any routes linking to the ESS installation shall be through:

(a) an external corridor complying with Cl.2.3.10, or

(b) a protected lobby separated from the adjoining areas of the building by a wall and door of at least 1-hr fire resistance rating. The protected lobby shall have a minimum size of 4m (length) x 2m (width) and ventilated in accordance with Cl.2.2.13b.(7)(a) or (b).

(2) For ESS unit with stored energy capacity exceeding 50kWh, it shall be housed within a 2-hr fire-rated containerised compartment except the deflagration opening(s) located at least 2m above finished floor level. 

(3) Containerised ESS units shall be housed within a compartmented ESS room with a minimum 2-hr fire resistance rating and area not exceeding 100m².

(4) Aggregate maximum stored energy of 600kWh comprising multiple containerised ESS units within a single compartment room is permitted provided each containerised ESS unit is spaced a minimum of 3m apart from each other, 1m from walls within the compartmented room and other fire hazards.

(5) There shall not be more than 2 compartmented ESS rooms, unless otherwise permitted under Cl.10.3.3b.(11).

(6) Each containerised ESS unit shall be subjected to the fire and explosion testing specified under UL 9540A and together with the NFPA 855 Hazard Mitigation Analysis report to be submitted to SCDF for approval.

(7) Fire protection system

(a) Each compartmented ESS room shall be protected by a zoned wet deluge system with a minimum discharge density of 7.5mm/min and areas of operation of 230m² in accordance with the SS CP 52.

(b) Each containerised ESS unit shall be served by an independent wet deluge system with a minimum discharge density of 12.2mm/min and provided with a breeching inlet to allow direct charging of water supply to the main control valve. 

(8) Ventilation and detection system

(a) A dedicated flammable gas detection system shall be provided for each containerised ESS unit to monitor the flammable gases concentration and upon activation of the ventilation system, to limit the maximum concentration of the flammable gases to below 25% lower explosion limit (LEL) within the ESS installation. 

(b) Upon activation of flammable gas detection system, a dedicated mechanical ventilation system with air circulation of at least 9 air changes per hour or higher shall be provided for each containerised ESS unit based on the worst-case scenario specified under UL 9540A test and subjected to SCDF’s approval. 

(c) The smoke purging system to be provided for the compartmented ESS room shall be in accordance with Cl.7.4.3. 

(d) Each compartmented ESS room shall be provided with smoke detectors in accordance with SS 645 and smoke purging system shall be activated upon detection. 

(9) A display panel showing the location, temperature and flammable gases reading status of the affected containerised ESS unit shall be located at the main entrance of each compartmented ESS room. It shall be connected to the SCDF Operations Centre through an approved alarm monitoring company. Thermocouple reading for each compartmented ESS room shall be provided as a means for firefighters to identify if the fire has been effectively extinguished. No point in the compartmented ESS room shall exceed 10m from a thermocouple. 

(10) Firefighting access

(a) For compartmented ESS room, the following shall be provided:

(i) The fire lift shall be contained within a protected shaft, constructed to comply with the relevant requirements under Cl.3.8.

(ii) The fire lift car specifications: 

• Minimum clear platform size of 3m (depth) x 3m (width).
• Minimum loading capacity of 3 tonnes.

(iii) Each fire lift shall be served by a fire lift lobby with a minimum size of at least 4m (length) x 5m (width). 

(iv) Corridors and door openings serving the fire lift lobby, firefighter staging lobby and compartmented ESS rooms shall be at least 3m in clear width.

(v) An access path of minimum width of 3m to every ESS unit shall be provided and the maximum distance measured from the door to the most remote ESS unit shall not exceed 8m.

(vi) Firefighter staging lobby shall not serve more than 2 compartmented ESS rooms.

(vii) Any entrance to the compartmented ESS room shall be served by a firefighter staging lobby and shall comply with the following requirements: 

• at least 12m² working space and with minimum clear width of 4m.
• fire lift lobbies in accordance with Cl.2.2.13b.(1) to (3), (5) to (6) and (7)(b).
• installed with designated rising mains.
• provided with two nos. of standby fire hoses.
• provided with portable 50kg AB (foam or chemical powder) type fire extinguishers having minimum 6m throw and discharge hose length of minimum 6m shall be provided.

(11) Prior approval from the SCDF is required in situations where the number of compartmented ESS room exceeds 2, in addition to the following:

(a) Comply with the requirements in accordance with Cl.10.3.3b.(6).

(b) Provision of on-site Unmanned Firefighting Machine (UFM) within the fire lift lobby. The UFM shall comply with the following general specifications and subjected to the SCDF’s approval:

• Minimum dimensions: 2m x 1.1m x 2m
• Minimum weight: 1.75 tonnes
• Design flow rate for monitor: 1800L/min
• Monitor throw distance: up to 60m in length
• Wireless transmission: range of up to 300m
• Ventilation capacity: 90000m³/h

(c) A holding area of 2m x 3m for UFM shall be provided in addition to the fire lift lobby of area 20m².

a. General

Battery Swap Station (BSS) is a facility where swappable detachable batteries of motor vehicles are available for motorists to exchange their depleted batteries.  Battery charge and swap stations are EV chargers that are used for charging and exchanging depleted swappable detachable batteries, while battery store and swap stations only contain stored detachable batteries.

b. Aboveground installations 

(1) BSS installations shall be located at the same storey as the fire engine accessway/ fire engine access road. 

(2) BSS shall be located at vehicle parking areas that are naturally ventilated in accordance with Cl.3.2.8, or provided with mechanical ventilation in accordance with Cl.6.4.5.

Exception:

(a) BSS that abuts an external wall of building and is installed away from any unprotected openings, exits or combustible material/ construction within 1.5m horizontally or within 3m vertically, or adjacent to or facing it.

c. Underground installations

(1)  BSS is allowed to be located within basement carparks protected by mechanical ventilation in accordance with Cl.6.4.5 and automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Cl.6.4.1d..

(2) The maximum allowable depth shall not exceed 9m below the average grade level, and not more than one level below grade level.

d. Aggregate stored energy capacity

(1) Aboveground installations

Aggregate stored energy capacity of each BSS unit shall not exceed 20kWh. Where more than 1 BSS unit is installed, a minimum separation distance of 3m between BSS units shall be provided and the total aggregate stored energy capacity of all BSS units shall not exceed 100kWh.

(2)  Underground installations

Aggregate stored energy capacity of BSS within basement carparks shall not exceed 10kWh. 

e. Fire safety requirements

(1) BSS units shall be located at least 6m away from the nearest edge of exit staircase/ fire lift lobby/ smoke-free lobby.

(2) BSS units shall be located at least 1m away from:

(a) Non-essential equipment rooms; and 

(b) Parking lots (excluding the lots used for swapping of batteries).

(3) Approved types of fire extinguishers of at least 2 numbers of 55A shall be provided.

(4) Emergency isolation shut-off switch shall be provided at each BSS unit.

(5) BSS installation at petrol service stations shall comply with specifications stipulated under Cl.9.6.2v.(3).