1. Ensuring Life Safety in Fire Scenarios
Fire-rated ducting is critical in maintaining life safety during a fire by:
- Preventing the spread of flames, smoke, and toxic gases through air distribution systems.
- Ensuring that smoke extraction systems and pressurization ducts function as intended during emergencies.
- Preserving the integrity of escape routes, such as stairwells and protected lobbies, allowing occupants to evacuate safely.
Without fire-rated ductwork, a fire could quickly spread between compartments, compromising escape paths and increasing the risk to life and property.
2. Compliance with SCDF Fire Code and SS Standards
Under the SCDF Fire Code and associated Singapore Standards (SS 550 and SS 333):
- Ducts serving smoke extraction systems, fire-rated compartments, or passing through fire-rated walls or floors must comply with fire resistance requirements.
- Fire-rated ducts must typically provide 1 to 2 hours of fire resistance, depending on their function and building type.
- Ducting must pass fire performance tests (e.g., BS 476 Part 24 or ISO 6944) and be installed according to manufacturer’s tested assembly.
This is legally required to obtain FSSD approval and the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP).
3. Protecting Critical Fire Safety Systems
Fire-rated ducting is often part of systems that operate during fires, such as:
- Smoke spill/extract systems in basements, malls, and atriums.
- Staircase pressurization ducts, which maintain positive pressure to block smoke.
- Carpark ventilation systems designed to exhaust hot smoke during a fire.
These systems must remain operational during fire conditions, and regular ducting would fail structurally or allow smoke breakthrough without proper fire resistance.
4. Legal and Insurance Requirements
Installing non-compliant ductwork in critical fire zones:
- Can result in FSSD rejection during inspection.
- May delay project TOP clearance.
- Could lead to insurance claim rejections if a fire occurs and systems are found non-compliant.
Ensuring that all relevant ductwork is fire-rated and SCDF-approved protects all stakeholders, from developers and engineers to end users.
Conclusion
Fire-rated ductwork is not just a code requirement, it is a critical safety measure that protects lives, property, and ensures legal compliance with SCDF and Singapore Standards. Proper selection, certification, and installation of fire-rated ducts must be integrated early in the design process and strictly adhered to during construction.
