Regulatory Requirements on Owners of Shopping Malls and Public Buildings to Ensure Robust Security System in Place to Handle Security Emergency
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the regulatory requirements for owners of shopping malls and public buildings to ensure robust security systems and manage overcrowding effectively. Mr Murali Pillai inquired about proactive steps to handle emergencies, prompting Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam to highlight the enforcement of the Fire Code. The Singapore Civil Defence Force regulates occupancy loads and escape capacities, requiring larger buildings to appoint Fire Safety Managers for compliance and drills. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam noted that non-compliance is a punishable fire hazard offence and that owners must rectify breaches or face prosecution. Additionally, buildings designated under the Infrastructure Protection Act must incorporate specific security measures like surveillance and vehicle barriers into their infrastructure design.
Transcript
4 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there are regulatory requirements on owners of shopping malls and other public buildings which regularly attract large numbers of people to ensure that a sufficient robust security system is in place to handle any potential security or emergency situation that may arise and take proactive steps to prevent overcrowding at these locations.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) regularly reviews the Fire Code, which stipulates the fire safety requirements for buildings in Singapore, such as the maximum occupancy load based on the usage and size of spaces in the building. The Fire Code also requires sufficient escape capacity, through exit staircases and doors, to be provided. Non-compliance, which could lead to overcrowding in a public building that might render escape in the event of a fire difficult, is a fire hazard offence under the Fire Safety Act.
For larger buildings with a gross floor area of over 5,000 square metres or an occupancy load of more than 1,000 persons, the respective building owners are also required to appoint a Fire Safety Manager (FSM) under the Fire Safety (Fire Safety Manager) Regulations. The duties of the FSM include ensuring that the occupancy load in the building does not exceed the capacity prescribed under the Fire Code. The FSM also conducts fire drills for the occupants at least twice a year.
The SCDF takes enforcement action when building owners are found to have breached the Fire Safety Act and its regulations. It will require the owners to take rectification actions, failing which they may be prosecuted in Court.
In addition, some buildings which are iconic or have high public footfall are designated as Special Infrastructures, or Special Developments in the case of new buildings, under the Infrastructure Protection Act. The owners are then required to incorporate security measures, such as Closed-Circuit Televisions and vehicle barriers, upfront in the design of such new buildings before they are constructed, or for existing buildings, when they undergo certain works.