PART 1 | 1. This Act is the Fire Safety Act 1993. |
2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“alternative solution”, in relation to any fire safety works, means an engineering solution for the fire safety works to satisfy any fire performance requirements in the Fire Code, being a solution that is based on —| (a) | a deterministic or probabilistic analysis of fire scenarios or both types of analysis; or | | (b) | a quantitative or qualitative assessment of design alternatives or both against the fire performance requirements in the Fire Code, |
| using engineering tools, methodologies and performance criteria as may be acceptable to the Commissioner, but does not include engineered smoke control systems where the usage and design are in accordance with the Fire Code; |
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| “authorised officer”, in relation to any power conferred or duties imposed on the Commissioner by or under this Act, means a person authorised under section 3 to exercise that power or to carry out that duty; |
| “building” has the meaning given by the Building Control Act 1989; |
| “building works” has the meaning given by the Building Control Act 1989; |
| “class of petroleum” means any petroleum prescribed to be a class of petroleum for the purposes of this Act; |
| “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Civil Defence appointed under section 6 of the Civil Defence Act 1986; |
| “Fire Code” means the Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings published by the Commissioner on the website maintained by the Force, as amended or remade from time to time, and includes any code, standard, rule, specification or provision adopted under section 106; |
| “fire forensic specialist” means an individual who is appointed under section 20 as a fire forensic specialist; |
“fire hazard” means any matter or circumstance which materially increases the likelihood of fire or the danger to life or property that would result from the outbreak of fire and includes —| (a) | any alteration to any building in contravention of any law relating to building works or fire safety works such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; | | (b) | any removal from any building of any fire safety measure which was provided in such building in accordance with plans approved by the Commissioner under section 55; | | (c) | any specified fire hazard; and | | (d) | any other matter or circumstance which would materially hamper the Force in the discharge of its duties in the event of fire; |
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| “fire hazard abatement notice” means a written notice issued by the Commissioner under section 28(1); |
| “fire performance requirements” means the objectives specified in the Fire Code in respect of fire safety works; |
“fire protection system” includes any installation, equipment or works manufactured, used or designed to be used for the purposes of —| (a) | extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire and its by‑product; or | | (b) | giving warning of a fire; |
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| “fire protection works” means the provision, extension or alteration of any fire protection system; |
| “fire safety engineer” means a person who is registered as a fire safety engineer under this Act; |
“fire safety measures” includes any installation, equipment or works manufactured, used or designed to be used for the purposes of —| (a) | extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire and controlling the spread of smoke resulting from the fire; | | (b) | giving warning of a fire; | | (c) | providing access to any premises or place for the purpose of extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire; | | (d) | providing means of escape; or | | (e) | providing a means of communication to facilitate firefighting operations or the evacuation of persons in the event of fire; |
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“fire safety works” means —| (a) | any fire protection works; | | (b) | the installation, provision or removal of, or addition or alteration to, any fire safety measure; | | (c) | any relevant pipeline works; or | | (d) | any relevant works; |
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| “flammable material” means any substance prescribed to be a flammable material for the purposes of this Act; |
| “Force” has the meaning given by the Civil Defence Act 1986; |
| “install”, in relation to a regulated fire safety product, includes the use of the regulated fire safety product in the construction of a building; |
| “member” has the meaning given by the Civil Defence Act 1986 and includes any public officer serving in the Force as engineering or technical staff; |
| “occupier”, in relation to any premises, means the person in occupation of the premises or having the charge, management or control thereof and, in relation to any part of any premises different parts of which are occupied by different persons, means the person in occupation or having the charge, management or control of that part; |
| “officer” has the meaning given by the Civil Defence Act 1986 and includes any public officer serving in the Force as engineering or technical officer; |
“owner” —| (a) | in relation to any premises, includes any mortgagee in possession and any person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises whether on the person’s own account or as agent or trustee or as receiver, or who would receive the same if the premises were let to a tenant, and any person whose name is entered in the Valuation List prepared under section 10 of the Property Tax Act 1960 as the owner of the premises; | | (b) | in relation to the common property of any building erected on land comprised in a strata subdivision plan approved by the competent authority, means the management corporation having control of the building; | | (c) | in relation to the limited common property of any building erected on land comprised in a strata subdivision plan approved by the competent authority, means the subsidiary management corporation having control of that limited common property; | | (d) | in respect of any fire safety measure, includes the occupier or the owner of the premises in or on which the fire safety measure is installed or kept; | | (e) | in relation to an aircraft or a vessel, includes the charterer of the aircraft or vessel, as the case may be; and | | (f) | in relation to a vehicle, means the registered owner of the vehicle; |
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| “peer reviewer” means a fire safety engineer who is appointed to review and assess whether any alternative solution in plans for any fire safety works that is prepared or proposed by another person satisfies any fire performance requirements; |
| “petroleum” includes crude petroleum, liquefied petroleum gas and other naturally occurring hydrocarbon liquid derived from crude petroleum, coal, shale, peat or other bituminous substances; |
| “pipeline” includes any section of a pipeline; |
“pipeline owner”, in relation to any section of a relevant pipeline, means —| (a) | if the section of the relevant pipeline is entirely or partially on a piperack or pipetrack — the person who owns or leases, and has management and control, of the piperack or pipetrack; or | | (b) | if the entire section of the relevant pipeline is not on a piperack or pipetrack — a person who owns or leases that section of the relevant pipeline and uses that section of the relevant pipeline for the conveyance of any class of petroleum or any flammable material; |
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| “piperack” means a multi-tiered rack supporting one or more pipelines above the ground; |
| “pipetrack” means an area where one or more pipelines are supported on sleepers on the ground; |
| “premises” includes messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, easements and hereditaments of any tenure, whether open or enclosed, whether built or not, whether public or private, and whether or not maintained under statutory authority; |
| “public authority” means a body established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function, but does not include a Town Council; |
| “public building” means a building to which the public or a section of the public has access as of right, or by virtue of express or implied permission with or without payment of a fee; |
“qualified person” means a person who is registered as —| (a) | an architect under the Architects Act 1991 and has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act; or | | (b) | a professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 and has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act; |
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| “register of registered inspectors” means the register kept and maintained under section 5(1); |
| “registered inspector” means a person who is registered as a registered inspector under section 6; |
| “regulated fire safety product” means any material or product prescribed under section 113(1) to be such; |
| “relevant pipeline” means a pipeline used, or to be used, for the conveyance of any class of petroleum or any flammable material, and includes the piperack or pipetrack (if any) for the management of the pipeline but does not include such a pipeline located in licensed premises; |
| “relevant pipeline works” means the construction, alteration or repair of a relevant pipeline commenced or carried out on or after 1 September 2013; |
“relevant works” means —| (a) | the erection, extension, alteration, addition or repair of a building —| (i) | that involves the use of combustible materials; or | | (ii) | that affects the means of escape from the building or the effectiveness of fire safety measures; |
| | (b) | the provision, extension or alteration of any air‑conditioning service or ventilating system in or in connection with a building; or | | (c) | the provision, extension or alteration of any system for the delivery of liquefied petroleum gas from a cylinder to the point of use, in or in connection with any building that is used for a non‑residential purpose; |
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“specified fire hazard”, in relation to a building, means —| (a) | the overcrowding of a building that is a public building such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; | | (b) | any fire safety measure in the building that is not in proper working order, whether because of lack of proper maintenance or for any other reason; or | | (c) | the obstruction of escape routes, passageways, common property or limited common property of the building such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; |
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| “street” has the meaning given by the Street Works Act 1995; |
“vessel” includes —| (a) | any ship or boat or air-cushioned vehicle; and | | (b) | any rig or platform, whether floating at sea or fixed to the sea bed, used in any form of operations at sea. [7/2004; 47/2004; 14/2013; 10/2015; 31/2016; 22/2019] |
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| (2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to premises or building includes a reference to a part of such premises or building, as the case may be. [14/2013] |
| (3) For the purposes of the definition of “pipeline owner” in subsection (1), the owner of the land on which any piperack, pipetrack or pipeline is located is not to be regarded as the person who owns or leases the piperack, pipetrack or pipeline (as the case may be) by reason only that the piperack, pipetrack or pipeline is a fixture annexed to that land. [14/2013] |
(4) Where —| (a) | by or under any provision of this Act, an act or a thing is required or directed to be done within a particular period or before a particular time; | | (b) | failure to do that act or thing within the period or before the time mentioned in paragraph (a) constitutes an offence; and | | (c) | that act or thing is not done within the period or before the time mentioned in paragraph (a), |
| the obligation to do that act or thing continues, despite that the period or time mentioned in paragraph (a) has expired or passed, until that act or thing is done; and a person shall be guilty of a separate offence in respect of each day or part of a day after that period or time has expired or passed, during which the person continues to refuse or fail to comply with that requirement or direction. |
[22/2019] |
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3.—(1) The powers conferred and the duties imposed on the Commissioner under this Act, except sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 96, may be exercised and carried out by any of the following persons generally or specially authorised by name or office by the Commissioner and subject to the Commissioner’s directions:| (a) | any member of the Force; | | (b) | any qualified person in the employment of the Government. [14/2013] |
(2) Subject to the directions of the Commissioner, the powers conferred and the duties imposed on the Commissioner under the provisions of Part 4 relating to the approving of plans of fire safety works and any regulations made under this Act necessary for carrying out or giving effect to those provisions may also be exercised and carried out by any qualified person who is —| (a) | in the employment of the Housing and Development Board, the Jurong Town Corporation or such other public authority constituted by any written law as the Minister may approve for the purpose; and | | (b) | generally or specially authorised by name or office by the Commissioner. |
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| (3) The Commissioner may authorise any qualified person in writing to carry out the duties and responsibilities or exercise all or any of the powers of the Commissioner under this Act, subject to subsection (4) and such conditions or limitations as the Commissioner may specify. [14/2013] |
| (4) The duties, responsibilities and powers which the Commissioner may authorise any qualified person to carry out or exercise under subsection (3) are those approved by the Minister in writing. |
(5) Any qualified person who is generally or specially authorised under subsection (2) or (3) to carry out the duties and responsibilities or exercise all or any of the powers of the Commissioner under this Act is deemed to be —| (a) | a public officer for the purposes of this Act; and | | (b) | a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871. [14/2013] |
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| Registration required to act as registered inspector |
4. A person commits an offence if —| (a) | the person is not a registered inspector; and | | (b) | the person, knowing that he or she is not a registered inspector, intentionally does any of the following, whether or not for reward:| (i) | certify that any completed fire safety works have been carried out in accordance with the approved plans of fire safety works, the Fire Code, and the provisions of this Act, for the purposes of section 60(5); | | (ii) | inspect any fire safety works for the purpose of making a certification mentioned in sub‑paragraph (i); | | (iii) | advertise or otherwise hold out that the person is willing to do (whether or not for reward) anything in sub‑paragraph (i) or (ii). [3A [22/2019] |
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| Register of registered inspectors |
5.—(1) The Commissioner must keep and maintain a register in which must be entered the names and prescribed particulars of all persons registered under section 6 as registered inspectors.| (2) The register of registered inspectors must be kept and maintained at the office of the Commissioner and must be available for inspection by any person without charge at such time as that office is open for business. [4 |
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| Registration of registered inspectors |
6.—(1) An application for registration as a registered inspector must be made in such manner and must be accompanied by such documents and particulars as may be prescribed.| (2) No person may be registered as a registered inspector unless he or she can satisfy the Commissioner that he or she possesses the prescribed qualifications and practical experience. |
| (3) Without prejudice to subsection (2), the Commissioner may refuse to register as a registered inspector an applicant who, in the Commissioner’s opinion, is not of good character and reputation or unable to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a registered inspector under this Act. [14/2013] |
| (4) The Commissioner may appoint a committee of persons to assist the Commissioner in considering applications for registration as registered inspectors. |
| (5) Where the Commissioner has registered a person as a registered inspector, the Commissioner must issue to the person a certificate of registration. [5 |
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| Cancellation of registration and suspension from practice |
7.—(1) Without prejudice to section 11(7), the Commissioner may by order cancel the registration of any registered inspector or suspend him or her from practice for a period not exceeding 12 months under any of the following circumstances:| (a) | if he or she is deceased; | | (b) | if he or she has contravened or failed to comply with section 8(1); | | (c) | if he or she is convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty or an offence under this Act; | | (d) | if it appears to the Commissioner that he or she is no longer in the position to carry out the duties or responsibilities of a registered inspector under this Act; | | (e) | if he or she has procured his or her registration by fraud or misrepresentation; or | | (f) | if he or she is a qualified person or a fire safety engineer, his or her registration as such is revoked or cancelled or he or she is suspended from practising as such under this Act or any other relevant written law. [7/2004; 14/2013] |
| (2) The Commissioner may, if the Commissioner considers that no cause of sufficient gravity for cancellation of registration or suspension from practice exists, by writing censure the registered inspector. |
| (3) The Commissioner must not exercise the Commissioner’s powers under subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) or (2) unless an opportunity of being heard has been given to the registered inspector against whom the Commissioner intends to exercise his or her powers. [7/2004] |
| (4) Where a registered inspector has been suspended from practice under subsection (1), the Commissioner must, within 7 days of the expiry of such suspension, restore the name and particulars of that registered inspector to the register of registered inspectors and issue to him or her a fresh certificate of registration. [7/2004] |
| (5) Any person whose application for registration as a registered inspector is refused, or who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Commissioner under subsection (1), may, within 14 days of being notified in writing of the refusal or the decision, appeal to the Minister. [22/2019] |
(6) Where an order made by the Commissioner to cancel the registration of a registered inspector or suspend the registered inspector from practice has taken effect, the Commissioner must —| (a) | remove the name and particulars of the inspector concerned from the register of registered inspectors; | | (b) | cancel any certificate of registration issued to the inspector concerned under section 6(5); and | | (c) | notify the inspector concerned accordingly. |
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| (7) The inspector concerned must, within 14 days of being notified of the removal of his or her name and particulars from the register of registered inspectors, surrender to the Commissioner the certificate of registration issued to him or her. |
| (8) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (7) shall be guilty of an offence. |
| (9) Any person whose name has been removed from the register of registered inspectors under subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) must, if his or her appeal to the Minister is allowed, have his or her name reinstated as soon as may be practicable. [5A [7/2004; 14/2013] |
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| Independence of registered inspectors |
| 8.—(1) At the time of carrying out his or her duties and responsibilities or exercising his or her powers as a registered inspector under this Act, a registered inspector must not have a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works in respect of which the duties and responsibilities or powers are to be carried out or exercised. [7/2004; 14/2013] (2) A registered inspector is regarded as having a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works if —| (a) | he or she is or has been responsible for or acting as consultant to the design or construction of the building or relevant pipeline, or any of the fire safety works in any capacity; | | (b) | he or she or any nominee of his or hers is a member, officer or employee of a company or other body which has a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works; or | | (c) | he or she is a partner or is in the employment of a person who has a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works. [14/2013] |
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(3) For the purposes of this Act —| (a) | a person is to be treated as having a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works even if the person has that interest only as trustee for the benefit of some other person; and | | (b) | in the case of a husband and wife living together, the interest of one spouse is, if known to the other, deemed to be also an interest of the other. [14/2013] |
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(4) For the purposes of this Act —| (a) | involvement in the fire safety works as a registered inspector; and | | (b) | entitlement to any fee paid for his or her function as a registered inspector, |
| is not regarded as constituting a professional or financial interest. |
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| (5) Any person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence. [6 |
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| Appointment of Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel, etc. |
9.—(1) For the purpose of enabling an Inquiry Committee to be constituted in accordance with this section, the Minister must appoint a panel (called in this Act the Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel) consisting of such numbers of —| (a) | qualified persons who are not members of the Force; and | | (b) | members of the Force, |
| as the Commissioner may determine. |
[7/2004; 14/2013] | (2) A member of the Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel is appointed for a term of 2 years and is eligible for re‑appointment. [14/2013] |
| (3) Where any complaint against a registered inspector relating to his or her conduct or the discharge of his or her duties or responsibilities is received by the Commissioner, the Commissioner may constitute an Inquiry Committee consisting of 5 members of the Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel, for the purposes of inquiring into the complaint. [14/2013] |
(4) An Inquiry Committee must consist of —| (a) | a Chairperson appointed by the Commissioner; | | (b) | 2 qualified persons who are not members of the Force; and | | (c) | 2 members of the Force. |
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| (5) The Commissioner may, on the Commissioner’s own motion, constitute an Inquiry Committee for the purposes of inquiring into the conduct of any registered inspector or the discharge of a registered inspector’s duties or responsibilities if it appears to the Commissioner that the registered inspector has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of the prescribed code of professional conduct and ethics. |
| (6) The Chairperson of an Inquiry Committee presides at every meeting of the Inquiry Committee. |
| (7) In the absence of the Chairperson of an Inquiry Committee, the Commissioner must appoint an acting Chairperson who has and may exercise all the powers of the Chairperson. |
| (8) The Minister may at any time remove any member of an Inquiry Committee or fill any vacancy in its membership. [6A [7/2004] |
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| Proceedings of Inquiry Committee |
10.—(1) An Inquiry Committee may meet for the purposes of its inquiry, adjourn and otherwise regulate the conduct of its inquiry as the members may think fit.| (2) The Chairperson of an Inquiry Committee may at any time summon a meeting of the Inquiry Committee. |
| (3) All the members of an Inquiry Committee must be present to constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Inquiry Committee. |
| (4) Any decision to be made at any meeting of the Inquiry Committee is to be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Inquiry Committee and, in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson of the Inquiry Committee has a second or casting vote. |
| (5) A member of an Inquiry Committee is, notwithstanding that he or she has ceased to be a member of the Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel on the expiry of his or her term of office, deemed to be a member of the Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel until such time as the Commissioner has decided that the Inquiry Committee of which he or she is a member has completed its work. [6B [14/2013] |
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| Commencement of inquiry, etc. |
11.—(1) An Inquiry Committee must, within a reasonable time of its constitution, commence its inquiry and, subject to subsection (2), submit a written report of its findings (called in this section the written report) to the Commissioner not later than 6 months after its constitution.| (2) The Commissioner may grant an extension of time to an Inquiry Committee to submit the written report to the Commissioner if he or she is satisfied that the circumstances of the case justify the grant of an extension of time. |
| (3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Inquiry Committee may determine its own procedure. [14/2013] |
(4) Where an Inquiry Committee is of the opinion that a registered inspector should be called upon to answer any allegation made against him or her, the Inquiry Committee must —| (a) | post or deliver to the registered inspector concerned —| (i) | copies of any complaint made against him or her; and | | (ii) | a notice inviting him or her to give, within such period (being at least 14 days) as may be specified in the notice, to the Inquiry Committee any written explanation he or she may wish to offer and to advise the Inquiry Committee if he or she wishes to be heard by the Committee; |
| | (b) | allow the time specified in the notice to elapse; | | (c) | give the registered inspector concerned reasonable opportunity to be heard if he or she so desires; and | | (d) | give due consideration to any explanation (if any) given by the registered inspector concerned. |
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| (5) Where the complainant withdraws the complaint before the Inquiry Committee is constituted or before the inquiry by the Committee is concluded, the Commissioner may, despite such withdrawal, constitute an Inquiry Committee and direct it to inquire, or may direct the Inquiry Committee to continue with its inquiry, into the matter, and the Inquiry Committee must comply with that direction. [7/2004] |
| (6) An Inquiry Committee must, in its written report, make such recommendation as it thinks fit. |
(7) The Commissioner must consider the written report submitted by an Inquiry Committee and may —| (a) | dismiss the complaint; | | (b) | by order cancel the registration of the registered inspector concerned; | | (c) | by order suspend the registered inspector concerned from practice for a period not exceeding 12 months; | | (d) | by order impose a penalty not exceeding $5,000; | | (e) | in writing censure the registered inspector concerned; or | | (f) | make such other order as the Commissioner thinks fit. |
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| (8) The Commissioner is not bound by any recommendation made by an Inquiry Committee in its written report. |
| (9) The Commissioner must in writing notify the registered inspector concerned of the Commissioner’s decision or any order made against the registered inspector concerned under subsection (7). |
| (10) A registered inspector who is aggrieved by a decision of or an order made by the Commissioner under subsection (7)(b), (c), (d) or (f) may, within 14 days of the receipt of the written notification, appeal to the Minister. [22/2019] |
| (11) Any penalty imposed by the Commissioner in exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (7) is recoverable as a judgment debt from the registered inspector ordered to pay the penalty. [6C |
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| Powers of Inquiry Committee |
12.—(1) For the purposes of any inquiry conducted by an Inquiry Committee, the Inquiry Committee may —| (a) | require evidence to be given on oath and for that purpose the Chairperson of the Inquiry Committee may administer an oath; and | | (b) | require any person to attend and give evidence before it and to produce all plans, books, documents and papers in the custody of, or under the control of, that person relating to the subject matter of the inquiry. |
(2) Every person who, without lawful excuse, refuses or fails to —| (a) | attend and give evidence when required to do so by the Inquiry Committee; | | (b) | answer truly and fully any question put to the person by a member of the Inquiry Committee; or | | (c) | produce to the Inquiry Committee any plans, book, document or paper required to be produced by the person, |
| shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000. |
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| (3) For the purposes of conducting an inquiry, an Inquiry Committee may appoint any person to make or assist in the making of whatever preliminary inquiries it thinks necessary. [6D |
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13.—(1) The Commissioner or any member of the Force authorised by the Commissioner may, in the event of a fire or a suspected fire, by himself or herself or with other members under his or her command —| (a) | enter, break into or through and take possession of or demolish or cause to be taken possession of or demolished any premises or structure for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire; | | (b) | enter, break into, take possession of, remove or destroy, or cause to be taken possession of, removed or destroyed, any aircraft, vehicle, vessel or thing for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire; | | (c) | take any equipment required to be used into, through or upon any premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel where he or she thinks it necessary for the purpose of carrying out his or her duties; | | (d) | remove from any building, structure, aircraft, vehicle or vessel which is on fire or is in the vicinity of the fire, any flammable, combustible, explosive or dangerous material found therein without responsibility for any consequent loss or damage; | | (e) | for the purpose of extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire, cause any building or structure which is on fire, or which is adjacent to or in the vicinity of any building or structure which is on fire, to be pulled down, either wholly or partially, or otherwise destroyed or damaged; | | (f) | cause water to be shut off from, or turned into, any main or pipe in order to obtain a greater pressure and supply of water for the purpose of extinguishing the fire in consultation with the Public Utilities Board; | | (g) | shut off or disconnect, or order any person having the control thereof to shut off or disconnect, the supply of gas, petroleum, flammable material or electricity to any premises which are on fire or which are in the vicinity of the fire; | | (h) | close or cause to be closed any street in the vicinity of the fire or calamity; | | (i) | remove any aircraft, vehicle, vessel or thing impeding the operation of the Force and, where reasonably necessary for that purpose, he or she may use force or break into any such aircraft, vehicle, vessel or thing; | | (j) | remove, using reasonable force if necessary, any person who, by that person’s presence or otherwise, interferes with the firefighting operations or who is, in his or her opinion, endangered by the fire; | | (k) | control and direct all operations for the extinguishing of the fire and all fire services present and all persons there who place their services at his or her disposal; | | (l) | use any convenient supply of water; and | | (m) | generally do all other things that are reasonably necessary for protecting life or property or for extinguishing the fire or for preventing the spread of the fire. [7/2004; 14/2013] |
| (2) No person or body (including the Government) shall be liable to any action, penalty or claim by reason of any action under subsection (1)(f). [7 |
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| Power to enter premises for various purposes |
14.—(1) The Commissioner or any member of the Force authorised by the Commissioner in writing on producing (if so required) an authenticated document showing his or her authority has a right to enter any premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of —| (a) | ascertaining whether there is or has been, on or in connection with the premises, any contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, or any contravention of or failure to comply with a licence condition imposed under section 51 or 52; | | (b) | obtaining information required for firefighting purposes with respect to the character of the premises, the availability of water supplies and the means of access thereto and other material circumstances relating to firefighting purposes; | | (c) | conducting fire drills and exercises, provided prior reasonable written notice is given to the owner or occupier of such premises; | | (d) | ascertaining whether there exists in the premises any fire hazard; | | (e) | obtaining any evidence of the commission of any offence under this Act or contravention of or failure to comply with any licence condition imposed under section 51 or 52 in the premises, where there is reason to suspect that there is such evidence; | | (f) | ascertaining whether or not any place of public assembly or premises used for purposes of entertainment or recreation are being used to accommodate a larger number of persons than is permitted under any regulations made under this Act; | | (g) | checking and testing fire safety measures; and | | (h) | performance by the Commissioner or the Force of his or her or its powers under this or any other written law. [14/2013; 10/2015; 22/2019] |
| (2) Subject to subsection (3), the Commissioner or any member of the Force authorised under subsection (1) must not exercise the right of entry conferred by subsection (1) unless 24 hours’ notice in writing of the intended entry has been given to the occupier. [14/2013] |
| (3) Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of entry into a place of public entertainment or public assembly, factory, workshop or workplace or premises otherwise used for business purposes. [8 [14/2013; 10/2015] |
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| Power to board vessel for various purposes |
15.—(1) The Commissioner or any member of the Force authorised by the Commissioner in writing on producing (if so required) an authenticated document showing his or her authority has a right to board any vessel at all reasonable hours for all or any of the following purposes:| (a) | obtaining information required for firefighting purposes with respect to the character of the vessel, the availability of water supplies and the means of access thereto and other material circumstances relating to firefighting purposes; | | (b) | conducting fire drills and exercises; | | (c) | performance by the Commissioner or the Force of his or her or its powers under this Act or any other written law. [14/2013; 10/2015] |
| (2) The Commissioner or any member of the Force authorised under subsection (1) must not exercise the right to board any vessel conferred by subsection (1) unless prior reasonable written notice has been given to the owner of the vessel. [8A [14/2013; 10/2015] |
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| Power to enter premises, etc., up to 48 hours after fire |
16.—(1) For the purposes of investigating the cause or origin of any fire which has occurred in or on any aircraft, vessel or vehicle, or in or on any premises, the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised by the Commissioner in writing —| (a) | may enter and inspect those premises or any adjacent premises, or may board the aircraft, vessel or vehicle, as the case may be; and | | (b) | may seize or detain the aircraft or vehicle. [10/2015] |
(2) The power conferred under subsection (1)(a) on the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised by the Commissioner, may be exercised —| (a) | without notice within a period of 48 hours after the fire on the premises, aircraft, vessel or vehicle (as the case may be) has been put out; and | | (b) | in any other case, only after giving written notice of the intended entry to the occupier of the premises or intended boarding to the owner of the aircraft, vessel or vehicle, as the case may be. [10/2015] |
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| (3) However, this section does not authorise the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist, to enter any part of any premises, or to board any part of an aircraft, vessel or vehicle (as the case may be), without first producing (if so required) an authenticated document showing his or her authority to so enter or board. [10/2015] |
| (4) To avoid doubt, nothing in this section limits the powers of any authority to investigate accidents under any written law for the time being in force relating to air navigation or merchant shipping. [8B [10/2015] |
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| Powers ancillary to sections 14, 15 or 16 |
17.—(1) The Commissioner or any member of the Force or fire forensic specialist exercising the powers under section 14, 15 or 16 may (so far as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose to which his or her exercise of the powers relates) do all or any of the following in the premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel, as the case may be:| (a) | take with him or her any assistance or equipment; | | (b) | search the premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel; | | (c) | take photographs or video recordings of and conduct any inspection, measurement or test on the premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel or any thing found therein; | | (d) | take, without payment, for the purpose of examination reasonable samples of any description from the premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel; | | (e) | seize or detain any thing found in the premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel that he or she believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the commission of any offence under this Act or to be otherwise relevant to the administration or enforcement of this Act; | | (f) | do any other thing reasonably necessary for carrying out the purpose to which his or her exercise of the powers relates. [14/2013; 10/2015] |
(2) For the purposes of section 14, 15 or 16 or subsection (1)(b), the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised under section 14, 15 or 16 (as the case may be), may —| (a) | require the owner or occupier of the premises, or the owner or person having charge of the aircraft, vehicle or vessel (as the case may be), to provide all reasonable assistance to the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised under section 14, 15 or 16, as the case may be; and | | (b) | if the circumstances so warrant, with such assistance as he or she thinks necessary, break open any door, window, lock, fastener, hold, compartment, box, container, receptacle or any other thing. [14/2013; 10/2015] |
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| (3) Any person who fails to comply with any requirement made under subsection (2)(a) shall be guilty of an offence. [14/2013] |
(4) Where the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist seizes any thing under subsection (1)(e), he or she must —| (a) | immediately give written notice of the seizure to the owner of the thing seized or to the agent of such owner; or | | (b) | if the name and address of the owner or agent of the thing seized are not known, affix a notice prominently at the place where the thing was seized. [14/2013; 10/2015] |
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| (5) Any person aggrieved by the seizure of any thing under subsection (1)(e) may, within 48 hours after the seizure, complain thereof to a Magistrate’s Court. [14/2013] |
(6) Upon hearing such complaint, the Magistrate’s Court may —| (a) | confirm the seizure wholly or in part; | | (b) | disallow the seizure wholly or in part; | | (c) | order that any thing seized be restored to its owner, subject to any condition which the Court may think fit to impose to ensure that the thing is preserved for any purpose for which it may subsequently be required; or | | (d) | order payment to be made to the owner of the thing seized of such amount as the Court considers will compensate the owner for any loss or depreciation resulting from the seizure. [14/2013] |
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| (7) Any thing seized under subsection (1)(e) may be kept or stored at the place where it was seized or may, at the direction of the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised under section 14, 15 or 16, be removed to any other place to be kept or stored thereat. [14/2013; 10/2015] |
| (8) The Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised under section 14, 15 or 16 may mark, seal or label any thing being detained under subsection (1)(e) in such manner as he or she thinks fit for the purpose of indicating that the thing is under detention and may lock or seal the place (or any part thereof) in which the thing is being detained. [14/2013; 10/2015] |
(9) Any person who, without the authority of the Commissioner, or a member of the Force or a fire forensic specialist authorised under section 14, 15 or 16, as the case may be —| (a) | interferes with, removes or otherwise disposes of any thing seized or detained under section 14, 15 or 16 or tampers with, alters or removes any mark, seal or label placed under subsection (8); or | | (b) | opens, breaks or otherwise tampers with the lock or seal placed under subsection (8), |
| 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 6 months or to both. |
[14/2013; 10/2015] |
| (10) Subsections (4) to (9) apply to any aircraft or vehicle seized under section 16 as if they were seized or detained under subsection (1)(e). [14/2013] |
| (11) Nothing in this section is to be taken to prejudice any right to retain or dispose of property which may exist in law apart from this section. [8C [14/2013] |
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| Power to examine persons and secure attendance, etc. |
18.—(1) Where the Commissioner, or any member of the Force authorised by the Commissioner in writing, reasonably suspects that an offence has been committed under this Act, the Commissioner or the authorised member may do all or any of the following:| (a) | examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with matters related to the offence; | | (b) | require, by written notice, any person within Singapore who appears to be acquainted with matters related to the offence, to attend before the Commissioner or the authorised member; | | (c) | require any person to provide any information, produce any book or document related to the offence in the possession of that person, or provide a copy of the book or document; | | (d) | without payment, inspect, take or retain copies of, or extracts from, any book, document or copy mentioned in paragraph (c). [22/2019] |
| (2) A person is not excused from making an oral statement under subsection (1)(a) on the ground that the statement might tend to incriminate the person but, where the person claims before making the statement that the statement might tend to incriminate the person, that statement is not admissible in evidence against that person in criminal proceedings other than proceedings for an offence under subsection (4)(c) or (d). [22/2019] |
(3) A statement made by any person examined under this section must —| (a) | be in writing; | | (b) | be read over to the person; | | (c) | if the person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the person understands; and | | (d) | after correction (if necessary), be signed by the person. [22/2019] |
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(4) A person commits an offence if the person —| (a) | without reasonable excuse, neglects or refuses to provide any information or produce any book or document, or any copy of the book or document, required under this section; | | (b) | without reasonable excuse, neglects or refuses to attend before the Commissioner or the authorised member as required under this section; | | (c) | provides any information or produces any book or document, or any copy of the book or document, required under this section that is false in a material particular and that the person knows to be false or does not believe to be true; or | | (d) | by the intentional suppression of any material fact, provides information required under this section that is misleading. [22/2019] |
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| (5) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (4)(a) or (b) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both. [22/2019] |
| (6) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (4)(c) or (d) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. [8CA [22/2019] |
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| Exemption of Singapore Armed Forces |
| 19. Sections 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 do not apply to any aircraft, vehicle or vessel belonging to or exclusively employed in the service of the Singapore Armed Forces or of any visiting force lawfully present in Singapore. [8D [14/2013] |
| Fire forensic specialists |
20.—(1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint any of the following individuals to be fire forensic specialists to assist the Commissioner, or any member of the Force authorised by the Commissioner under section 16, exercising in Singapore a power under that section or section 17:| (a) | a public officer (except an operations support officer at grade III, IV or V or other public officer at equivalent grade) who is not a member of the Force but is employed in the offices of the Force; | | (b) | an individual (who is not a public officer) with suitable qualifications or experience to properly exercise the powers of a fire forensic specialist. [10/2015; 5/2018] |
| (2) A fire forensic specialist’s appointment is to be for such period as the Minister decides and, for an individual mentioned in subsection (1)(b), is to be on such terms and conditions (including remuneration) as the Minister decides from time to time. [10/2015] |
| (3) The Minister may, for any reason that appears to the Minister to be sufficient, at any time revoke an individual’s appointment as a fire forensic specialist. [10/2015] |
| (4) The Commissioner must issue to each fire forensic specialist an identification card, which must be carried at all times by the fire forensic specialist when exercising powers under any provision in this Act. [10/2015] |
| (5) A fire forensic specialist whose appointment as such ceases must return any identification card issued to him or her under subsection (4) to the Commissioner. [10/2015] |
| (6) A fire forensic specialist is not a member of the Force, and an individual mentioned in subsection (1)(b) who is appointed as a fire forensic specialist under that subsection does not, by virtue only of that appointment, become an employee or agent of the Government. [10/2015] |
| (7) A fire forensic specialist is to be issued with such equipment, or such description of equipment, as the Commissioner may determine. [10/2015] |
| (8) The Commissioner may, in writing, authorise a fire forensic specialist to exercise any of the powers in sections 16 and 17 in aid of any member of the Force or class of such members, as the Commissioner may specify in that authorisation, but the Commissioner cannot authorise under this subsection any fire forensic specialist to arrest any individual. [10/2015] |
(9) The Commissioner’s authorisation under subsection (8) for a fire forensic specialist may do any or all of the following:| (a) | limit the powers in sections 16 and 17 that the fire forensic specialist may exercise; | | (b) | limit when the fire forensic specialist may exercise his or her powers in sections 16 and 17 or any of them; | | (c) | limit where in Singapore the fire forensic specialist may exercise his or her powers in sections 16 and 17 or any of them; | | (d) | limit the circumstances in which the fire forensic specialist may exercise his or her powers in sections 16 and 17 or any of them; | | (e) | limit the purposes for which the fire forensic specialist may exercise his or her powers in sections 16 and 17 or any of them. [10/2015] |
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(10) A fire forensic specialist who under this section is authorised by the Commissioner to exercise any power under section 16 or 17 to assist the Commissioner or a member of the Force —| (a) | must obey all lawful directions (general or specific) of the Commissioner and the member of the Force when exercising such power; and | | (b) | is deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871 when exercising such power. [10/2015] |
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| (11) Without prejudice to subsection (10), where any law or written law protects a member of the Force from liability for the member’s acts or omissions, that law or written law is taken to operate as if those acts or omissions included the fire forensic specialist’s acts or omissions when acting in the course of his or her duty as a fire forensic specialist in accordance with the written authorisation of the Commissioner under this Part and the lawful directions of the member of the Force he or she assists. [10/2015] |
| (12) To avoid doubt, a fire forensic specialist does not cease to be acting on the direction of a member of the Force by reason only that that member of the Force is not present at all times when the fire forensic specialist exercises any power under section 16 or 17. [8E [10/2015] |
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| Appointment of supplementary enforcement officers |
21.—(1) The Commissioner may appoint an individual (including an employee of a public authority) as a supplementary enforcement officer to do all or any of the following, if the individual is suitably trained to do so:| (a) | to exercise the power in section 14(1)(a), (d), (f) or (g); | | (b) | to do anything authorised in section 17(1)(a), (b), (c) or (f) or (2)(a) when exercising any power or doing anything mentioned in paragraph (a); | | (c) | to exercise the power or do anything authorised in section 28(1), 101(1) or 108(1) or (2) in relation to an offence under this Act that is prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph. [22/2019] |
| (2) An appointment under subsection (1) is subject to the provisions of this Act and any conditions or limitations specified by the Commissioner. [22/2019] |
(3) Section 14, 17, 28(1), 101(1) or 108 applies to an individual appointed under subsection (1) as if the individual were —| (a) | in the case of section 14 or 17 — a member of the Force authorised by the Commissioner; | | (b) | in the case of section 28 or 101(1) — the Commissioner; and | | (c) | in the case of section 108 — an authorised officer. [22/2019] |
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| (4) An individual appointed under subsection (1) who, in the course of duty as an individual so appointed, exercises any power mentioned in subsection (1), is deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871 when exercising such power. [8F [22/2019] |
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| Power to fix plate showing position of fire hydrant |
22.—(1) Upon giving 7 days’ notice in writing to the owner or occupier of any property situate in the vicinity of a fire hydrant or water supply, the Commissioner may thereafter cause a plate indicating the location of such fire hydrant or water supply to be fixed to any part of the property as may, in the opinion of the Commissioner, be best suited to indicate such location.| (2) Any person who refuses to allow the fixing of any plate mentioned in subsection (1), or obstructs any person in the course of the fixing thereof or removes or defaces any such plate after it has been so fixed shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. [9 |
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| Power to install fire hydrants |
| 23. The Commissioner may place or cause to be placed fire hydrants as the Commissioner may think necessary at convenient places in streets or roads. [10 |
| Damaging, etc., of fire hydrants |
24.—(1) Any person who —| (a) | not being a member of the Force takes water from a fire hydrant other than for the extinguishment of a fire without the consent of the Commissioner or the Public Utilities Board, as the case may be; or | | (b) | wilfully damages a fire hydrant, |
| shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
| (2) Any person convicted of an offence under subsection (1)(b) shall, in addition to the fine imposed on the person under that subsection, also be liable to pay compensation to the Public Utilities Board for any expenses reasonably incurred in repairing or replacing such fire hydrant. [11 |
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25.—(1) Any person who knowingly gives or causes to be given a false alarm of fire to the Force or to the police shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.| (2) For the purposes of this section, “false alarm of fire” includes a false call for the ambulance or other services provided by the Force. [12 |
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