Criteria

The FC Scheme ensures the proper maintenance and good working condition of fire safety systems. These systems should be tested in accordance with the relevant codes of practice.

The Section 35 of the Fire Safety Act 1993 contains the following definitions:

1. Public Building¹ (except for a residential building) that has an occupant load of more than 200 persons, other than
   • a serviced apartment with external corridors that comply with the requirements specified in Chapter 2 of the Fire Code;
   • a standalone carpark that complies with the requirements specified in Chapter 2 of the Fire Code; and
   • a hawker centre or wet market that is not fully enclosed on all sides.

    

2. An industrial building that
   • Has an occupant load of 1,000 persons or more;
   • Has a floor area of site area² of 5,000 square metres or more; or
   • Has a habitable height of more than 24 metres.

    

3. A foreign dormitory that
   • Has an occupant load of 1,000 persons or more;
   • Has a floor area of site area² of 5,000 square metres or more; or
   • Has a habitable height of more than 24 metres.

    

4. A hospital

 

5. A residential building that
   • Has a habitable height of more than 24 metres;
   • Is installed with
     • An automatic fire alarm system;
     • A sprinkler system; or
     • A wet riser system; and
   • Is not used or intended to be used as an HDB flat

    

6. An engineered timber building (except a building that is used or intended to be used as an HDB flat) that is installed with any of the following:
   • An automatic fire alarm system;
   • An automatic sprinkler system;
   • An automatic smoke control system;
   • Any other automatic fire detection or suppression system intended to detect or control a fire automatically.

    

7. A fully automated mechanized car park that is installed with a fire protection system and meets any of the following conditions:
   • The total floor area of the car parking decks in the fully automated mechanized car park is more than 200 square metres;
   • The cubical extent of the fully automated mechanized car park (calculated in the manner prescribed in Chapter 9 of the Fire Code) is more than 1,400 cubic metres;
   • The parking height of the fully automated mechanized car park above ground (measured in the manner prescribed in Chapter 9 of the Fire Code) is more than 10 metres;
   • Where any part of the parking levels is below ground, the total parking height of the fully automated mechanized car park (measured in the manner prescribed in Chapter 9 of the Fire Code) is more than 14 metres;
   • There are more than 2 parking levels below ground.
     

Application

The application for the issuance of the Fire Certificate (FC) must be submitted within twelve (12) months from the date of the Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) or Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP), whichever comes first.

For new FC applications, owners or occupiers must complete the following items and submit them directly via the GoBusiness Portal:

• Building Information
• Fire Certificate Application Form
• Guide to submit the first Fire Certificate application via the GoBusiness Portal

For premises renewing their FC, applications must be submitted at least two months before the existing FC expires.

To download the FC submission guide or access the e-services portal for electronic submission, please refer to the provided links above.

For technical difficulties in GoBusiness, please contact 6336 3373 or email askgobiz@crimsonlogic.com.sg during the specified helpdesk operating hours.

For technical difficulties in CorpPass, please contact 6335 3530 or 6031 3197 or email support@corppass.gov.sg during the specified helpdesk operating hours.

Applicants may access the GoBusiness Dashboard to check the FC status and update contact, address, and point of contact information after the FC has been approved.

Validity

 The FC is valid for a period of 12 months, unless otherwise stated.

Fee

Inspections

SCDF will make an appointment with the owner or occupier of a premises for an inspection if required. The owner or occupier will have to arrange for a Professional Engineer and contractor to carry out the pre-testing. All relevant reports and documents must be submitted to SCDF before the inspection date.

Categories of Professional Engineers for Fire Protection Systems

Please refer to this document for more information.

Building Inspections

Every building has to be inspected annually to maintain the integrity of its fire protection systems. Examples of the items to be inspected are:

Stages of Site Inspections

 The site inspection is conducted in three stages:

• Stage 1
  • System operation test during a simulated fire alarm activation
• Stage 2
  • System operation test under secondary power supply by generator.
• Stage 3
  • Testing of individual installations or fire protection systems throughout the building.

If the fire protection systems are in order, the FC will be issued to the applicant. If non-compliances were observed, SCDF will issue a written direction which lists the fire protection systems that needs to be rectified prior to obtaining the FC. Please click here to go to our downloads page for a reference on what we test during inspections.

The building owner or occupier needs to resolve the matter promptly, as they may render themselves liable to prosecution for occupying a designated building without a valid fire certificate. A follow-up inspection may be arranged to confirm that all the outstanding defects have been rectified.

Revocation

The Commissioner of SCDF may revoke any Fire Certificate where there is:

• a breach of any of the terms and conditions of the certificate;
• any misrepresentation of a material fact in the application for the fire certificate or accompanying plans or documents upon the basis of which the certificate was issued or renewed; or
• knowledge that the fire hazards within the building or part thereof, for which the fire certificate was issued or renewed, have increased without adequate fire safety measures being taken to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.

Penalty

Under the Fire Safety (Building and Pipeline Fire Safety) Regulations, any person who

• without lawful excuse refuses or neglects to do anything which he is required to do;
• without lawful excuse fails to comply with the requirements of any notice served on him under these Regulations; or
• without lawful excuse acts in contravention of any provision of these Regulations,
• shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.