Ever wondered why Fire Drill and Demonstration Exercises are necessary? Ever thought you had better things to do with your time? Well, such exercises are conducted to prepare us so that we can take better care of each other in times of crisis.
These drills and demonstrations fall under the Emergency Response Plan (ERP)—the updated plan that combines and covers the response measures for various kinds of fire and fire-related incidents in buildings.
What kind of establishments require an ERP?
Public buildings with an occupant load of more than 200 persons in which a Fire Certificate is issued. E.g. Office buildings, shopping centres, hotels, hospitals, places of public interest, etc.
Industrial premises which require a Fire Safety Manager (FSM) and satisfy any of these criteria: 1) floor area or site area of at least 5,000 square metres; 2) occupant load of at least 1,000 persons
Who is responsible for the ERP?
According to SCDF regulations, it is the duty of owners or occupiers of the specified building types to
Prepare the ERP within 6 months from the commencement of the Fire Safety Amendment Act
Prepare the ERP in accordance with the guidelines issued by SCDF
Form a Fire Safety Committee to plan and conduct fire safety programmes including fire evacuation drills and table-top exercises
Review and update the ERP annually
The parties involved are:
Building owner(s)
Facilities management agency personnel
Fire Safety Manager (where required by regulations for certain building premises)
Fire Contractors
How often are these exercises conducted?
According to SCDF regulations,
2 evacuation drills and 2 table-top exercises are required to be conducted annually
However, for those premises which do not require the appointment of Fire Safety Manager (FSM), only 2 evacuation drills will have to be conducted annually
ERP procedure
Fire Drill and Demonstration: Table-top exercise (TTE)
Scenario-driven exercise for participants to derive solutions to likely scenarios of emergencies in the building
Based on ERP of the building premises
BSE partners with the coordinating committee of the building premises to assist in
Managing the Fire Alarm System and other associated fire-fighting equipment and systems
Conducting a Fire Demonstration using common fire-fighting equipment
Call or email us today to arrange for a Fire Drill and Demonstration Exercise at your building premises!
References: https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/fire-safety/erp