Singapore legislation
Clause 2
Clause 2
Interpretation
(1)
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
Definition
“building” has the same meaning as in the Building Control Act [Cap. 29];
Definition
“building works” has the same meaning as in the Building Control Act;
Definition
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Civil Defence appointed under section 6 of the Civil Defence Act [Cap. 42];
Definition
“fire hazard” means any matter or circumstance which materially increases the likelihood of fire or the danger to life or property that would result from the outbreak of fire and includes —
any alteration to any building in contravention of any law relating to building works or fire safety works such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult;
the overcrowding of any place of public resort such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult;
any removal from any building of any fire safety measure which was provided in such building in accordance with plans approved by the Commissioner under section 23;
the presence in any building of any fire safety measure which from lack of proper maintenance or for any other reason is not in efficient working order;
the obstruction of escape routes, passageways or common property of any building such as might render escape in the event of fire more difficult; and
any other matter or circumstance which would materially hamper the Force in the discharge of its duties in the event of fire;
Definition
“fire protection system” includes any installation, equipment or works manufactured, used or designed to be used for the purposes of —
extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire and its by product; or
giving warning of a fire;
Definition
“fire protection works” means the provision, extension or alteration of any fire protection system;
Definition
“fire safety measures” includes any installation, equipment or works manufactured, used or designed to be used for the purposes of —
extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire and controlling the spread of smoke resulting from the fire;
giving warning of a fire;
providing access to any premises or place for the purpose of extinguishing, attacking, preventing or limiting a fire; or
providing means of escape;
Definition
“fire safety works” means any fire protection works, fire safety measures or minor works;
Definition
“Force” has the same meaning as in the Civil Defence Act [Cap. 42];
Definition
“member” has the same meaning as in the Civil Defence Act and includes any public officer serving in the Force as engineering or technical staff;
Definition
“minor works” means —
the addition, alteration or repair of a building that involves the use of combustible materials or that affects the means of escape or the effectiveness of fire safety measures; or
the provision, extension or alteration of any air-conditioning service, ventilating system in or in connection with a building;
Definition
“occupier”, in relation to any premises, means the person in occupation of any premises or having the charge, management or control thereof and, in relation to any part of any premises different parts of which are occupied by different persons, means the person in occupation or having the charge, management or control of that part;
Definition
“officer” has the same meaning as in the Civil Defence Act [Cap. 42] and includes any public officer serving in the Force as engineering or technical officer;
Definition
“owner” —
in relation to any premises, includes any mortgagee in possession and any person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises whether on his own account or as agent or trustee or as receiver, or who would receive the same if the premises were let to a tenant, and any person whose name is entered in the Valuation List authenticated under section 15 of the Property Tax Act [Cap. 254] as the owner of the premises;
in relation to the common property of any building erected on land comprised in a strata subdivision plan approved by the competent authority, means the management corporation having control of the building;
in respect of any fire safety measure, includes the occupier or the owner of the premises in or on which the fire safety measure is installed or kept;
Definition
“place of public resort” means a building or a defined or enclosed place used or constructed or adapted to be used either ordinarily or occasionally as a church, chapel, mosque, temple or other place where public worship is or religious ceremonies are performed, not being merely a dwelling-house so used, or as a cinema, theatre, public hall, public concert room, public ballroom, public lecture room, or public exhibition room, club, association, restaurant, hotel, coffee house, eating house or milk bar, or as a public place of assembly for persons admitted thereto by ticket or otherwise or used or constructed or adapted to be used either ordinarily or occasionally for any other public purpose;
Definition
“premises” includes messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, easements and hereditaments of any tenure, whether open or enclosed, whether built or not, whether public or private, and whether or not maintained under statutory authority;
Definition
“public building” means a building or part thereof used or constructed or adapted to be used as a shop, office, hospital or place of public resort, not being a church, chapel, mosque, temple or other place where public worship is or religious ceremonies are performed;
Definition
“qualified person” means a person who is registered as —
an architect under the Architects Act [Cap. 12] and has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act; or
a professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act [Cap. 253] and has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act;
Definition
“registered inspector” means a person who is registered as a registered inspector under section 5;
Definition
“street” has the same meaning as in the Local Government Integration Act [Cap. 166].
(2)
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a building includes a reference to a part of a building.