Oral Reply to Parliamentary Question on SCDF Audits on the Functionality of Fire Hose Points in Condominiums, by Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development

Question:

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the frequency of SCDF audits on the functionality of fire hose points in condominiums; and (b) in respect of inspection and testing conducted by a third party for the condominium, what liabilities do the condominium's Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) and managing agent bear should the points be found non-functional during emergencies.

Answer:

1. Under the Fire Safety Act, the MCST is responsible for ensuring that all fire safety measures in a condominium, including fire hose reels, are functional. For condominiums with higher fire safety risks, such as those with a habitable height of more than 24 metres and require certain fire protection systems, their MCSTs are required to appoint professional engineers to conduct an audit of the fire safety measures as part of the annual renewal of the building’s Fire Certificate. In addition, SCDF carries out inspections in response to feedback they receive.

2. If any fire safety measure is found to be non-functional, the MCST is responsible. Simply hiring a third party to inspect the fire safety measures does not absolve the MCST from liabilities.