Seminar on Uniform Building

By-Laws 1984 (Amendments)

2021
Amendments to Part
VIII Fire Alarm System
and Fire
Extinguishment System
UBBL Cl. 226A. Hose reel
systems. UBBL Cl. 227. Portable
extinguishers UBBL Cl. 228.
Sprinkler systems
UBBL Cl. 228A. Automatic fire monitoring
system UBBL Cl. 230. D ry riser systems
UBBL Cl. 231.W et riser systems
UBBL C l. 237. Fire alarm systems
UBBL C l. 238. Fire C ommand
Centre
UBBL C l. 239.Voice communication
system UBBL Cl. 240. Electrical isolating
switch
OLD 226A. -None-

226A . H ose reel

system s.
A hose reel system shall be provided in
NEW accordance with the Tenth Schedule and MS 1489.
 HOSE REEL
R= COVERAGE
30m
D = 48m 48m 48m 48m
48m

30m 30m 30m 30m 30m

NEW 48m 48m

30m 30m 30m 30m

48m 48m

30m 30m 30m 30m 30m

48m 48m 48m 48m

 227. Portable
extinguishers
Portable extinguisher shall be provided in accordance with the r
OLD codes of practice and shall be sited in prominent positions on e
routes to be visible from all directions and similar extinguishers
building shall be of the same method of operation.

227. Portable
extinguishers.
A portable fire extinguisher shall be provided
NEW in all buildings in accordance with MS 1539.
 228. Sprinkler
valves
OLD (1) Sprinkler valves shall be located in a safe and
enclosed position on the exterior wall and shall be
readily accessible to the Fire Authority.

228. Sprinkler
system s.
A sprinkler system shall be provided in accordance
NEW with the Tenth Schedule and MS 1910.
 228. Sprinkler
valves
OLD (2) All sprinkler systems shall be electricity
connected to the nearest fire station to provide
immediate and automatic relay of the alarm when
activated.

228. Sprinkler
system s.

(2) - D eleted -
NEW
OLD 228A. -None-

228A . A utom atic fire m onitoring

system .
An automatic fire monitoring system shall be provided
NEW in accordance with the Tenth Schedule.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.
OLD (1) D ry riser systems shall be provided in every
building in which the topmost floor is more than 18.3
metres but less than 30.5 metres above fire
appliance access level.

230. D ry riser
system s.
(1) A dry riser systems shall be provided in every
NEW building in which the topmost occupied floor is more
than 18 metres but less than 30 metres above fire
appliance access level.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
OLD
system.
(2) A hose connection shall be provided in each
fire fighting access lobby.

230. D ry riser
system s.
(2) The dry riser systems shall be designed and installed
NEW in accordance with MS 1489.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising system.

OLD (3) D ry risers shall be of minimum "C lass C " pipes

with fittings and connections of sufficient strength
to withstand 21 bars water pressure.

230. D ry riser
system s..
(3) Hose connection shall be provided in each fire
NEW fighting access lobby or adjacent to a fire fighting
staircase on every floor.
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising system.

OLD (4) Dry risers shall be tested hydrostatically to

withstand not less than 14 bars of pressure for two
hours in the presence of the Fire Authority before
acceptance.

230. D ry riser
system s..

(4) - D eleted -
NEW
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
OLD
system.
(5) All horizontal runs of the dry rising systems
shall be pitched at the rate of 6.35 millimetres in
3.05 metres.

230. D ry riser
system s..

(5) - D eleted -
NEW
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising
system.
(6) The dry riser shall be not less than 102 millimetres in diametre in
OLD in which the highest outlet is 22.875 metres or less above the fire brig
pumping inlet and not less than 152.4 millimetres diametre where the
outlet is higher than 22.875 metres above the pumping inlet.

230. D ry riser
system s..

(6) - D eleted -
NEW
 230. Installation and testing of dry rising system.

OLD (7) 102 millimetres diameter dry risers shall be

equipped with a two-way pumping inlet and 152.4
millimetres dry risers shall be equipped with a four-
way pumping inlet.

230. D ry riser
system s..

(7) - D eleted -
NEW
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD (1) W et rising systems shall be provided in every
building in which the topmost floor is more than 30.5
metres above fire appliance access level.

231.Wet riser systems.

(1) A wet riser system shall be provided in every

NEW building in which the topmost occupied floor is more
than 30 metres above fire appliance access level.
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
OLD
system.
(2) A hose connection shall be provided in each
fire fighting access lobby.

231.Wet riser systems.

(2) The wet riser systems shall be designed and installed

NEW in accordance with M.S. 1489.
 WET RISER COVERAGE
R=
45m
D = 60m 60m 60m 60m
60m

45m 45m 45m 45m 45m

NEW 60m 60m

45m 45m 45m 45m

60m 60m

45m 45m 45m 45m 45m

60m 60m 60m 60m

 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD
(3) W et risers shall be of minimum 152.4
millimetres diameter and shall be hydrostatically
tested at a pressure 50% above the working
pressure required and not less than 14 bars for at
least twenty-four hours.

231.Wet riser systems.

(3) Hose connection shall be provided in each fire

NEW fighting access lobby or adjacent to a fire fighting
staircase on every floor.
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD (4) Each wet riser outlet shall comprise standard 63.5
millimetres instantaneous coupling fitted with a hose of not
less than 38.1 millimetres diameter equipped with an
approved typed cradle and a variable fog nozzle.

231.Wet riser systems.

(4) Each stage of the wet riser shall not exceed 150 metres
NEW in height and the pressure for each stage shall not exceed 20
bars and in each stage of the wet riser, the height between
the topmost and lowest landing valves shall not exceed 75
metres and be provided with its own pumpset.
 60
m

60
m

OLD
60
m60
m

60
m
 150 m
max.
NEW
75 m
max.
NEW
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD
(5) A wet riser shall be provided in every staircase
which extends from the ground floor level to the roof
and shall be equipped with a three-way 63.5
millimetres outlet above the roof line.

231.Wet riser systems.

(5) - D eleted -
NEW
 231. Installation and testing of wet rising
system.
OLD (6) Each stage of the wet riser shall not exceed 61
metres, unless expressly permitted by D.G.F.S but in no
case exceeding 70.15 metres.

231.Wet riser systems.

(6) - D eleted -
NEW
 237. Fire
OLD
A larm s
(1) Fire alarms shall be provided in accordance with
the Tenth Schedule to these By-laws.

237. Fire alarm

system s
A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance
NEW with the Tenth Schedule and MS 1745.
 A larms
(2) All premises and buildings with gross floor area
excluding car park and storage areas exceeding 9290
OLD square metres or exceeding 30.5 metres in height shall
be provided with a two-stage alarm system with
evacuation (continuous signal) to be given immediately
in the affected section of the premises while an alert
(intermittent signal) be given in adjoining section.

237. Fire Detection and Fire Alarm

Systems

(2) - D eleted -
NEW
 237. Fire
OLD
A larm s
(3) Provision shall be made for the general evacuation
of the premises by action of a master control.

237. Fire Detection and Fire Alarm

Systems

(3) - D eleted -
NEW
 238. C omm and and control
centre
Every large premises or building exceeding 30.5 metres in
height shall be provided with a command and control centre
OLD located on the designated floor and shall contain a panel to
monitor the public address, fire brigade communication,
sprinkler, waterflow detectors, fire detection and alarm
systems and with a direct telephone connection to the
appropriate fire station by-passing the switchboard.

238. Fire C omm and

C entre
(1) A fire command centre shall be provided in accordance
NEW with the Tenth Schedule, located on the fire appliances access
level and shall contain a panel to monitor the public address
system, fireman intercom, sprinkler system, water flow
detectors, fire detection and alarm system and with an
automatic fire monitoring system connected to the
 238. C ommand and control
OLD centre
(2)

-None-

238. Fire C omm and

C entre
(2) A fire command centre shall be separated from other
NEW parts of the same building by a compartment wall or
compartment floor which is having at least 2 hours fire
resistance period, is readily accessible, preferably directly
from the open air, and unless inapplicable, a route to the fire
command centre shall be provided.
 239.Voice communication system

There shall be two separate approved continuously electrically

OLD supervised voice communication systems including a fire brigade
communication system and the other a public address system be
the central control station and the following areas:

239.Voice communication system

There shall be two separate approved continuously

NEW
electrically supervised voice communication systems
including a firemen intercom system and a public
address system in the following areas:
 239.Voice communication system
OLD
(a) lifts, lit lobbies, corridors and staircases;

239.Voice communication system

(a) the fireman intercom shall be provided in every

NEW
fire fighting access lobby or adjacent to a fire fighting
staircase and shall also be provided in a refuge area, lift
motor room, fire pump room, generator room and fire
command centre in accordance with the Tenth
 239.Voice communication system

(b) in every office area exceeding 92.9 square metres in area;

OLD

(c) in each dwelling unit and each hotel guest room where the
fire brigade system may be combined with the public address
system,

239.Voice communication system

(b) The public address system shall be provided

NEW
in accordance with the Tenth Schedule;

(c) – D eleted
-
 240. Electrical isolating
switch
(1) Every floor or zone of any floor with a net area
OLD exceeding 929 square metres shall be provided with an
electrical isolation switch located within a staircase
enclosure to permit the disconnection of electrical
power supply to the relevant floor or zone served.

240. Electrical isolating

switch
(1) Any building which is having a floor area of
NEW
exceeding 1000 square metres per floor shall be
provided with an electrical isolation switch complying
with IEC 60947-3 to permit the disconnection of an
electrical power supply to the relevant floor.
 240. Electrical isolating
switch
OLD (2) The switch shall be of a type similar to the
fireman's switch specified in the Institution of
Electrical Engineers Regulations then in force.

240. Electrical isolating

switch
(2) The electrical isolation switch shall be located in a
NEW
fire fighting access lobby, adjacent to a fire fighting
staircase or at the exit door.
 240. Electrical isolating
OLD switch
(3) – N one
-

240. Electrical isolating

switch
(3) For purpose for this by-law,“IEC ” means the
NEW
latest published edition of the International
Electrotechnical Commission Standard.
Q UESTIO
N AND
ANSWER