SCDF seeks powers to take action against suppliers of non-compliant bomb shelter products

FIRE SAFETY

The Bill also proposes amendments to the Fire Safety Act 1993, which include introducing a class licensing regime for lower-risk petroleum and flammable material activities.

This will reduce regulatory burden on businesses while maintaining robust fire safety standards, said MHA.

Anyone who intends to import, transport or store petroleum or flammable materials beyond stipulated exemption quantities is required to obtain a licence from SCDF.

SCDF issues more than 6,500 individual licences for petroleum and flammable material activities every year.

For a start, this proposed class licensing regime will apply to activities such as storing of petroleum and flammable materials at construction sites, petrol stations, certain laboratories and buildings storing diesel solely for their emergency generators.

Where applicable, class licensees such as petrol stations will also be permitted to dispense petroleum and flammable materials stored on their premises, as per the conditions of their licence.

Owners of eligible premises will no longer need individual licence approvals from SCDF, but they must meet the requirements of their class licence, including the prescribed fire safety and regulatory requirements.

These premises will also be subject to SCDF’s routine inspections, audits and enforcement checks.

“Where non-compliance or breaches are detected, SCDF may take enforcement action for offences under the class licence regulations or revoke the class licence,” said the ministry.

Companies whose class licences have been revoked will be required to meet conditions such as submitting plans to rectify the breach and ensure future compliance, before they are allowed to re-register.

Higher-risk activities involving petroleum and flammable materials will continue to be licensed individually, said MHA.

To reduce compliance burden on businesses, the maximum validity of licences or permits issued under the Fire Safety Act will be extended from three years to five years. This does not include class licences, which are not time bound.

The SCDF currently deploys supplementary enforcement officers to conduct standard fire safety enforcement checks and building inspections. If the Bill is passed, their roles can be expanded to conduct compliance checks on the transport of petroleum and flammable materials to ensure they are moved safely.

“This allows SCDF officers to dedicate their expertise to more complex investigations and petroleum and flammable materials incidents,” said MHA.

Other proposed amendments include providing the Minister of Home Affairs with the flexibility to determine the tenure of two inquiry panels – the Fire Safety Engineers Inquiry Panel and the Registered Inspectors Inquiry Panel – which is currently fixed at two years.

This will align with similar bodies under the Fire Safety Act.

The Bill also seeks to repeal the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition)(Amendment) Act which is no longer required, said MHA. Subsidiary legislations in other Acts have already been amended to ensure safe transport of the relevant scheduled chemicals by road within Singapore, it added.

The ministry said: “The Bill strengthens SCDF’s regulatory framework by streamlining and reducing licensing processes, enhancing enforcement capabilities and improving regulatory oversight.

“This maintains Singapore’s robust civil defence preparedness and fire safety standards while supporting a pro-enterprise and business-friendly environment.”

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