Page 1 Singapore Branch Newsletter Executive Council INSIDE THIS ISSUE: President Tan Jin Thong PGP, BBM, FIFireE, MIAAI (US) Vice President Honorary Secretary Azmi b Adam FIFireE Yeow Mei Leng FIFireE Seminar Conference Exhibition SCDF FSSD Course Honorary Treasurer K Ramanathan GIFireE Council Members Koh Soon Chuang MIFireE Chairman of Examination Committee Vijay Rajaram MIFireE Chairman of Education Committee Ivan Sin Siang Meng MIFireE Chairman of Membership Committee K Ramanathan GIFireE Chairman of Social Committee Chiam Boon Hui MIFireE Chairman of Publication Committee Vincent Leong Kuan Yu MIFireE Webmaster Dan Chong Kok Hoe MIFireE 39 th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 28 th MARCH 2013 The Institution of Fire Engineers (Singapore Branch) had its 39 th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, 28 th March 2012 at Park Royal Hotel, Kitchener Road. Mr Gilbert Ho Tee Yong receiving his IFE Membership Certificate from IFE Singapore President Mr Tan Jin Thong Michael Mok Aik Chin AFFireE David Goh King Siang AFFireE Executive Council Members Chairing the AGM Members Enjoying the Buffer Dinner
Page 2 April - June, 2013 New sletter President s Address: Distinguished Guests, Fellow IFE Members, Ladies and Gentlemen A very good evening to all of you and I thank you for taking your valuable time off to attend our 39 th AGM. I am going to make my address very short as we have an important item in the agenda to discuss and that is the review of our Branch Constitution. The constitution had never been reviewed since IFE Singapore was inaugurated in 1975. There are certain articles that need to be updated and some of which are quite straight forward. Our Hon Secretary Ms Yeow Mei Leng will take us through and I hope we don t have to waste too much time on the review of the constitution. As for the activities of our Branch (past and present) they are reflected in the annual report which had been forwarded to you earlier. I would just highlight a couple of the latest activity i.e. early this month we had our usual friendly visit to IFEM followed by a game of golf. We met half way through in Malacca. The visit certainly had strengthened the bond between the 2 institutions. The Director General of Malaysian Fire and Rescue Service (President IFEM) and the Hon-Sec and the Hon Treasurer (IFEM) also took the trouble to come down and meet up with us. Conference and Exhibition Management Services (CEMS) will be organising the Fire & Disaster Asia 2013 Exhibition & Conference in Marina Bay Sands from 7 May to 9 May. IFES is organising a one-day seminar on Update of the Fire Code and Singapore Standard to support the event. I urge our members to support the seminar by registering early. The brochures will be out soon. Our Finance appears to be sound as you can see from the audited statement of account. This is attributed to the prudency in spending exercised by the council. Your council members have been working relentlessly to keep the IFES busy with a number of planned activities in the pipeline. You will be kept informed through our newsletter. I would like to thank all our members for the support given to IFES all these years and I look forward to your continued support. Thank you and have a nice evening.
Page 3 April - June, 2013 New sletter SCDF FIRE SAFTEY ENGINEERING DIALOGUE SESSION The annual SCDF Fire Safety Engineering Dialogue Session was held at HQ SCDF on 18 Feb 2013. At the dialogue session, the participants were updated on the number of Fire Safety Engineers (FSEs) who were registered with SCDF and the number of performancebased plan submissions. A briefing was conducted on the Society of Fire Protection Engineer (SFPE) local chapter by Mr Bryan Chin. SCDF FSSD also shared with participants on the two research projects undertaken by the SCDF in collaboration with the building industry. For members who are interested to find out more on the dialogue session, the summary of the discussion and presentation slides are available for download at SCDF website. 24 TH FIRE EXTINGUISHER SERVICING & MAINTENANCE COURSE IFE will be conducting the 24 th run Fire Extinguisher Servicing & Maintenance Course. The course is designed to enable participants to qualify as operators in the inspection, maintenance and recharging of fire extinguishers. Each participant who passes the examination at the end of the course will receive a certificate of competency. This will enable them to be qualified operators in the maintenance of fire extinguishers in Singapore. The course will be conducted on 15 th, 16 th, 18 th, 19 th, 22 nd and 23 rd April 2013, over 6 (six) evening from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. For members who are interested and want to know the details and cost of the course, you can access IFE Singapore webpage to view or download the full brochure. FIRE & DISASTER 2013, 7-9 MAY 2013, MARINA BAY SANDS, SINGAPORE IFE (Singapore) is the supporting organisation of the Fire & Disaster Asia Exhibition 2013, the following are the co-current events that will be held during the 3 days: IFE Singapore Seminar@ MBS Safety & Security Asia 2013 Workplace Safety & Health Asia 2013 International Facility Management Expo 2013 LEDTEC Asia 2013 Merlion Awards 2013
Page 4 April - June, 2013 New sletter IFE SINGAPORE SEMINAR @ MBS Objectives of Seminar In conjunction with Fire & Disaster Asia Exhibition 2013, IFE Singapore will be conducting a seminar to provide an update on the latest Fire Code 2013 and an overview of Singapore Standards SS578, SS575 and SS333. The seminar will be held on 7 May 2013 at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre T Who Should Attend Professional Engineers, Registered Architects, Fire Safety Engineers, Fire Safety Managers, Safety Officers, Officers from Relevant Government Agencies, Suppliers of Fire Products, Contractors, Facility Management and Maintenance Personnel etc For members who are interested in attending the seminars and want to know the details and cost of the seminars, you can access IFE Singapore webpage to view or download the full brochure. NFPA SEMINAR, 30 TH MAY TO 7 TH JUNE 2013 Many Architects and Engineers in the region are engaging in new overseas projects, particularly in Middle East and India where the AHJs there are adopting NFPA Standards as the local Fire Standards. Compliance with NFPA Standards is also made mandatory by MNC Clients and their Insurers for significant projects in Singapore and regional countries. Once again, IFE, Singapore and NFPA are working together to bring the NFPA training to your doorsteps. The requirements of the latest NFPA Standards NFPA 101, NFPA 13, NFPA 20 and NFPA 73 will be covered in these seminars. Who Should Attend NFPA 101 - Anyone concerned with life safety compliance including facility managers, inspectors, safety directors, engineers, architects, designers, risk managers, facility consultants, insurance underwriters and project managers. NFPA 13 & 20 Anyone who designs, reviews, or evaluates sprinkler systems and anyone who are involved with the specification, design, installation, maintenance, or approval of fire pumps including: engineers, plan reviewers, designers, installers, maintenance personnel, inspectors, manufacturers, insurance underwriters, contractors, facilities professionals, and project managers. NFPA 72 - Anyone concerned with Fire Alarm Code compliance including facility managers, inspectors, safety directors, engineers, architects, designers, risk managers, facility consultants, insurance underwriters, project managers and the local authority. For members who are interested in attending the seminars and want to know the details and cost of the seminars, you can access IFE Singapore webpage to view or download the full brochure.
Page 5 April - June, 2013 New sletter AMENDMENT TO FIRE CODE RELEASE OF THE FIRE CODE 2013 EDITION SCDF releases the 7th edition of the Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Building 2013 (also commonly referred to as Fire Code). The code serves as an authoritative source on fire safety standards for local buildings and is used by the industry in designing fire safety works in buildings. The review of the code was conducted by the Fire Code Review Committee, which is chaired by SCDF and comprises representatives from the building industry, government agencies and academic institutions. Its primary objective is to ensure fire safety standards keep pace with the changing building development trends and reflect the needs of the building industry. The code was thus largely shaped by the industry s practices and experiences through feedback gathered at SCDF s many consultation sessions, seminars and workshops with the industry. The Fire Code 2013 edition has incorporated changes that were previously disseminated via circulars and their implementation dates shall remain as that reflected in these circulars. There are also other changes made to the code and these changes shall take effect on 15 July 2013. The grace period is to give the building industry sufficient lead time to plan ahead for any new building projects. Any building projects that are submitted to SCDF for approval on or after the effective date will be subjected to the new code. Unlike previous editions of the Fire Code, this latest edition comes in a single volume as preferred by majority of the Fire Code Review members. The code is priced at $96.50 (inclusive of GST) and can be purchased at SCDF Headquarters, Customers Service Counter at 1st storey from 15 January 2013. Its electronic version is also made available at no charge at SCDF s website at www.scdf.gov.sg. IMPLEMENTATION OF SS 578:2012 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR USE AND MAINTENANCE OF PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SS 575:2012 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FIRE HYDRANT, RISING MAINS AND HOSEREEL SYSTEMS The SS 578:2012 Code of Practice for Use and Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers, formerly known as CP 55, was officially launched by SPRING on 2 November 2012. This standard specifies the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers within premises. The SS 575:2012 Code of Practice for Fire Hydrant, Rising Mains and Hosereel Systems, formerly known as CP 29, was officially launched by SPRING on 2 November 2012. This standard specifies the design, installation, testing, and upkeep of fire hydrant, wet and dry rising mains and hose reel systems on building premises. These two standards shall be applicable to all building plans that are submitted to SCDF for approval from 01 May 2013. This grace period is given to the building industry to plan ahead for any new building projects.
Page 96 THE INSTITUTION OF OF FIRE ENGINEERS April - June, 2013 New sletter Our Ref. : CD/FSSD/12/02/03/01 Tel : 68481466 Date : 7 Feb 2013 Fax : 68481490 Registrar, Board of Architects (BOA) Registrar, Professional Engineers Board (PEB) President, Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) President, Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) President, Association of Consulting Engineers, Singapore (ACES) Dear Sir/Mdm, USE OF PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR IN-FILL IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION - FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS SCDF has received several feedback on common construction practices since the circular on the use of plastic materials for in-fill in building construction dated 21 Aug 12 has been issued. SCDF would like to clarify the requirements for these common construction practices as follows: a) Plastic pipes which are embedded in concrete structure for M&E services are permitted provided there is a minimum 30mm concrete cover. b) Plastic-based water-proofing membrane that is laid onto the concrete roof / planter boxes that is open to sky is permitted. The membrane may or may not be covered with cement screed. However, membrane that is embedded in the concrete is not permitted. c) When a room is subsequently built on top of the concrete roof which was previously open to sky, plastic-based water-proofing membrane shall be removed as it is considered an embedded membrane in the concrete which is not permitted if not removed. d) Plastic-based water-proofing membrane of thickness not more than 3mm, that is used indoor for the purpose of water-proofing of floors and walls e.g. toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. is permitted provided there is a minimum protection cement screed or plaster/render of 25mm. However, membrane that is embedded in the concrete floor or wall is not permitted e) Plastic in-fills in RC slab/wall are not permitted, including but not limited to the following types of construction: i. Pre-cast / cast-in-situ end wall panels ii. Pre-cast / cast-in-situ façade panels iii. Topping up of floor level f) Roof insulation materials with plastic content that are laid on top of the concrete slab (and not light-weight/ metal roof construction), which is open to the sky is permitted (See attached diagrams 1 3 on roof insulation construction details depicting what is acceptable / unacceptable.)
Page 7 April - June, 2013 New sletter 2. Please convey the contents of this circular to members of your Institution/ Association / Board. The circular is also available in CORENET-e-Info: http://www.corenet.gov.sg/einfo. 3. For any inquiry or clarification on this subject, please contact Mr Pang Tong Teck at DID: 6848 1403, E-mail: Pang_Tong_Teck@scdf.gov.sg Yours faithfully, CPT Lim Boon Hsing Secretary, FSSD Standing Committee for Commissioner, Singapore Civil Defence Force For members who are interested in diagrams 1 3 (3 pages), you can access CORENET-e-Info: http://www.corenet.gov.sg/einfo or IFE Singapore webpage to view or download the full circular.
Page 4 8 April - June, 2013 New sletter The President and Council Members Wish all IFE Members a Happy Labour Day Institution of Fire Engineers Singapore 32, Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2, #07-06 Sing Industrial Complex, Singapore 569510 Phone: 6338 9274 Fax: 6481 4066 E-Mail: ifespore@singnet.com.sg We re on the Web! See us at: www.ife-singapore.org IFE SINGAPORE AND IFE MALAYSIA COUNCILS NETWORKING SESSION IFE Singapore and IFE Malaysia met up in Malacca in early March 13 for the yearly meeting followed by a golf game and dinner. The meeting, golf game and dinner not only allow members to interact with each other but had strengthened the bond between the 2 institutions. IFE Singapore President Mr Tan Jin Thong and IFE Malaysia President Dato Wan Mohd Nor Bin Hj. Ibrahim Group Photo at the Dinner