Seminar on Uniform Building

By-Laws 1984 (Amendments)

2021

Amendments to Part VIII

Fire Alarm System and Fire
Extinguishment System

Ir. Wong See Foong/Ir. Au Chong Hun/Ir.

TL Chen
UBBL Cl. 226A. Hose reel systems.
UBBL Cl. 227. Portable extinguishers
UBBL Cl. 228. Sprinkler systems
UBBL Cl. 228A. Automatic fire monitoring
system
UBBL Cl. 230. Dry riser systems
UBBL Cl. 231. Wet riser systems
UBBL Cl. 237. Fire alarm systems
UBBL Cl. 238. Fire Command Centre
UBBL Cl. 239. Voice communication
system
UBBL Cl. 240. Electrical isolating
switch
OLD 226A. -None-

226A. Hose reel systems.

A hose reel system shall be provided in

NEW accordance with the Tenth Schedule and MS
1489.
Hose Reel and Nozzle
 HOSE REEL COVERAGE
R = 30m
D = 48m 48m 48m 48m 48m

30m 30m 30m 30m 30m

NEW 48m 48m

30m 30m 30m 30m

48m 48m

30m 30m 30m 30m 30m

48m 48m 48m 48m

 227. Portable extinguishers

Portable extinguisher shall be provided in

OLD accordance with the relevant codes of practice and
shall be sited in prominent positions on exit routes
to be visible from all directions and similar
extinguishers in a building shall be of the same
method of operation.

227. Portable extinguishers.

A portable fire extinguisher shall be provided in

NEW all buildings in accordance with MS 1539.
Fire Extinguishers
 228. Sprinkler valves

OLD (1) Sprinkler valves shall be located in a safe

and enclosed position on the exterior wall and
shall be readily accessible to the Fire Authority.

228. Sprinkler systems.

A sprinkler system shall be provided in

NEW accordance with the Tenth Schedule and MS
1910.
 228. Sprinkler valves

OLD (2) All sprinkler systems shall be electricity

connected to the nearest fire station to provide
immediate and automatic relay of the alarm
when activated.

228. Sprinkler systems.

(2) - Deleted -
NEW
OLD 228A. -None-

228A. Automatic fire monitoring system.

An automatic fire monitoring system shall be

NEW provided in accordance with the Tenth
Schedule.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.

OLD (1) Dry riser systems shall be provided in every

building in which the topmost floor is more
than 18.3 metres but less than 30.5 metres
above fire appliance access level.

230. Dry riser systems.

(1) A dry riser systems shall be provided in

NEW every building in which the topmost occupied
floor is more than 18 metres but less than 30
metres above fire appliance access level.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.
OLD
(2) A hose connection shall be provided in each
fire fighting access lobby.

230. Dry riser systems.

(2) The dry riser systems shall be designed and

NEW installed in accordance with MS 1489.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.
OLD
(3) Dry risers shall be of minimum "Class C"
pipes with fittings and connections of sufficient
strength to withstand 21 bars water pressure.

230. Dry riser systems..

(3) Hose connection shall be provided in each

NEW fire fighting access lobby or adjacent to a fire
fighting staircase on every floor.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.

OLD (4) Dry risers shall be tested hydrostatically to

withstand not less than 14 bars of pressure for
two hours in the presence of the Fire Authority
before acceptance.

230. Dry riser systems..

(4) - Deleted -
NEW
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.
OLD
(5) All horizontal runs of the dry rising systems
shall be pitched at the rate of 6.35 millimetres
in 3.05 metres.

230. Dry riser systems..

(5) - Deleted -
NEW
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.

(6) The dry riser shall be not less than 102 millimetres in
OLD diameter in buildings in which the highest outlet is 22.875
metres or less above the fire brigade pumping inlet and not
less than 152.4 millimetres diameter where the highest
outlet is higher than 22.875 metres above the pumping
inlet.

230. Dry riser systems..

(6) - Deleted -
NEW
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.

OLD (7) 102 millimetres diameter dry risers shall be

equipped with a two-way pumping inlet and
152.4 millimetres dry risers shall be equipped
with a four-way pumping inlet.

230. Dry riser systems..

(7) - Deleted -
NEW
2-Way and 4-Way Breeching Inlet
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.

OLD (1) Wet rising systems shall be provided in

every building in which the topmost floor is
more than 30.5 metres above fire appliance
access level.

231. Wet riser systems.

(1) A wet riser system shall be provided in

NEW every building in which the topmost occupied
floor is more than 30 metres above fire
appliance access level.
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD
(2) A hose connection shall be provided in each
fire fighting access lobby.

231. Wet riser systems.

(2) The wet riser systems shall be designed

NEW and installed in accordance with M.S. 1489.
Landing Valve – Pressure Reducing Type
 WET RISER COVERAGE
R = 45m
D = 60m 60m 60m 60m 60m

45m 45m 45m 45m 45m

NEW 60m 60m

45m 45m 45m 45m

60m 60m

45m 45m 45m 45m 45m

60m 60m 60m 60m

 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.

OLD (3) Wet risers shall be of minimum 152.4 millimetres

diameter and shall be hydrostatically tested at a
pressure 50% above the working pressure required
and not less than 14 bars for at least twenty-four
hours.

231. Wet riser systems.

(3) Hose connection shall be provided in each

NEW fire fighting access lobby or adjacent to a fire
fighting staircase on every floor.
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.

OLD (4) Each wet riser outlet shall comprise standard 63.5
millimetres instantaneous coupling fitted with a hose
of not less than 38.1 millimetres diameter equipped
with an approved typed cradle and a variable fog
nozzle.

231. Wet riser systems.

(4) Each stage of the wet riser shall not exceed 150
NEW metres in height and the pressure for each stage
shall not exceed 20 bars and in each stage of the
wet riser, the height between the topmost and
lowest landing valves shall not exceed 75 metres
and be provided with its own pumpset.
 Multi-stage
Wet Riser
60 m
System

60 m

OLD
60 m
60 m

60 m
 2-Stage Wet
75 m max
Riser System

150 m max.

NEW
75 m max.
 4-Stage Wet
Riser System

NEW
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.

OLD (5) A wet riser shall be provided in every staircase

which extends from the ground floor level to the
roof and shall be equipped with a three-way 63.5
millimetres outlet above the roof line.

231. Wet riser systems.

(5) - Deleted -
NEW
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD
(6) Each stage of the wet riser shall not exceed
61 metres, unless expressly permitted by
D.G.F.S but in no case exceeding 70.15 metres.

231. Wet riser systems.

(6) - Deleted -
NEW
 237. Fire Alarms
OLD
(1) Fire alarms shall be provided in accordance
with the Tenth Schedule to these By-laws.

237. Fire alarm systems

A fire alarm system shall be provided in

NEW accordance with the Tenth Schedule and MS
1745.
 237. Fire Alarms

(2) All premises and buildings with gross floor area

excluding car park and storage areas exceeding 9290
OLD square metres or exceeding 30.5 metres in height shall
be provided with a two-stage alarm system with
evacuation (continuous signal) to be given immediately in
the affected section of the premises while an alert
(intermittent signal) be given in adjoining section.

237. Fire Detection and Fire Alarm

Systems

NEW (2) - Deleted -

 237. Fire Alarms

OLD (3) Provision shall be made for the general

evacuation of the premises by action of a
master control.

237. Fire Detection and Fire Alarm

Systems

NEW (3) - Deleted -

 238. Command and control centre

Every large premises or building exceeding 30.5 metres in

height shall be provided with a command and control centre
OLD located on the designated floor and shall contain a panel to
monitor the public address, fire brigade communication,
sprinkler, waterflow detectors, fire detection and alarm
systems and with a direct telephone connection to the
appropriate fire station by-passing the switchboard.

238. Fire Command Centre

(1) A fire command centre shall be provided in

NEW accordance with the Tenth Schedule, located on the
fire appliances access level and shall contain a
panel to monitor the public address system,
fireman intercom, sprinkler system, water flow
detectors, fire detection and alarm system and with
an automatic fire monitoring system connected to
 238. Command and control centre
OLD
(2) -None-

238. Fire Command Centre

(2) A fire command centre shall be separated from

NEW other parts of the same building by a compartment
wall or compartment floor which is having at least 2
hours fire resistance period, is readily accessible,
preferably directly from the open air, and unless
inapplicable, a route to the fire command centre
shall be provided.
 239. Voice communication system

There shall be two separate approved continuously

OLD electrically supervised voice communication
systems including a fire brigade communication
system and the other a public address system
between the central control station and the
following areas:

239. Voice communication system

There shall be two separate approved

NEW
continuously electrically supervised voice
communication systems including a firemen
intercom system and a public address system
in the following areas:
 239. Voice communication system
OLD
(a) lifts, lit lobbies, corridors and staircases;

239. Voice communication system

(a) the fireman intercom shall be provided in

NEW
every fire fighting access lobby or adjacent to
a fire fighting staircase and shall also be
provided in a refuge area, lift motor room, fire
pump room, generator room and fire command
centre in accordance with the Tenth Schedule;
 239. Voice communication system

(b) in every office area exceeding 92.9 square metres in

OLD area;

(c) in each dwelling unit and each hotel guest room where
the fire brigade system may be combined with the public
address system,

239. Voice communication system

(b) The public address system shall be

NEW
provided in accordance with the Tenth
Schedule;

(c) –Deleted -
 240. Electrical isolating switch

(1) Every floor or zone of any floor with a net area

OLD exceeding 929 square metres shall be provided with
an electrical isolation switch located within a
staircase enclosure to permit the disconnection of
electrical power supply to the relevant floor or zone
served.

240. Electrical isolating switch

(1) Any building which is having a floor area of

NEW
exceeding 1000 square metres per floor shall
be provided with an electrical isolation switch
complying with IEC 60947-3 to permit the
disconnection of an electrical power supply to
the relevant floor.
Electrical Isolation Switch
 240. Electrical isolating switch

OLD (2) The switch shall be of a type similar to the

fireman's switch specified in the Institution of
Electrical Engineers Regulations then in force.

240. Electrical isolating switch

(2) The electrical isolation switch shall be

NEW
located in a fire fighting access lobby, adjacent
to a fire fighting staircase or at the exit door.
 240. Electrical isolating switch
OLD
(3) –None -

240. Electrical isolating switch

(3) For purpose for this by-law, “IEC” means

NEW
the latest published edition of the International
Electrotechnical Commission Standard.
QUESTION
AND
ANSWER