Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Regulatory Requirements on Owners of Shopping Malls and Other Public Buildings Which Regularly Attract Large Crowds

Question:

Mr Murali Pillai: To ask 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.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.   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.

2.   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.

3.   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.

4.   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 (CCTV) and vehicle barriers, upfront in the design of such new buildings before they are constructed, or for existing buildings, when they undergo certain works.