Singapore legislation
Clause 10
Clause 10
Repeal and re-enactment of section 20 and new section 20A
Section 20 of the principal Act is repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:“Fire certificate20.—
This section applies only to buildings or classes of buildings that the Minister, by notification in the Gazette, designates.(2) A person must not —
occupy or use a building; or
permit a building owned or managed by the person to be occupied or used, unless there is a fire certificate authorising the occupation or use.(3) An application for a fire certificate for a building must be made in accordance with regulations made under this Act.(4) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence.(5) In a prosecution for an offence under subsection (4) in relation to the use or occupation of a building, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the defendant knew that there was no fire certificate authorising the use or occupation of the building.(6) The offence under subsection (4) is a strict liability offence.Order to install fire safety measures20A.—
Where the Commissioner is of the view that the provision or installation of a fire safety measure in any building is necessary for public safety, the Commissioner may, by written order given to the owner of the building, require the owner to provide or install, at the owner’s expense, the fire safety measure within the time specified in the written order. (2) To avoid doubt, a requirement may be given under subsection (1) whether or not the owner is carrying out or proposing to carry out any fire safety works in relation to that building.(3) Any owner of a building who fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.(4) The offence under subsection (3) is a strict liability offence.(5) Any owner of a building who is aggrieved by the Commissioner’s requirement under subsection (1) may, within 14 days after being notified of the written order, appeal to the Minister.”.