Mandatory smoke detectors for all new homes from June 2018
From June 2018, smoke detectors will be made mandatory for all new homes, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo on Thursday (16 November).
Existing homes that undergo fire safety works – such as renovation works involving a fire-rated door – will also be required to install the detectors, which are also known as Home Fire Alarm Devices (HFADs).
Teo announced the measure, part of the upcoming eighth edition of the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) Fire Code, while speaking at the Fire Safety Asia Conference Singapore 2017 event. She added that the move is aimed at helping to prevent residential fire injuries.
“Given our ageing population, where the elderly may take a longer time to evacuate, early warning from the HFADs will help them prevent injuries to themselves,” said Teo.
In a separate news release, the SCDF also noted that about 70 per cent of fire injuries reported in 2016 came from residential fires compared with 40 per cent a decade ago. “This necessitated the review of the Fire Code to enhance fire safety in homes,” it said.
It added that the upcoming changes to the Fire Code were based on two years of extensive consultation with public and private stakeholders, along with a detailed study that was done on the effectiveness of HFAD use in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Germany.
The new requirement will apply to building plans submitted after 1 June 2018 and HDB will be installing HFADs in many of its ongoing public housing projects, even those that have already had their plans submitted. Teo said she hoped that private developers and existing homeowners would do the same even though they are not required to do so.
For new residential premises – which include HDB flats, private apartments, condominiums and landed properties – one HFAD will be required for each storey of the home, said the SCDF.
“The HFAD is to be placed on the ceiling along escape routes, such as the living room, corridor or staircase area within the home, to enable early detection of smoke from a fire,” said the release. Battery-powered HFADs will also need to use batteries that have a lifespan of at least 10 years.
Help for rental flat tenants
Plans are also in place for the government and HDB to install HFADs in all public rental households at no additional cost to the tenants. Teo said that the installation exercises will take about three years to complete and will affect 50,000 homes.
This assistance scheme will also prioritise households that have at least one elderly person aged 60 and above, said the SCDF release.
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