Scaffold netting outside buildings must be fire-retardant from March 2027

Earlier this year, the Singapore government said it was reviewing the early observations from Hong Kong's investigation into the Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 161 people.

Workers construct a high-rise office building in Singapore on Jul 3, 2024. (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)

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SINGAPORE: Scaffold netting used outside buildings will have to meet fire-retardant specifications from Mar 1, 2027, as part of new measures to reduce the risk of fires spreading at worksites, said Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash on Thursday (Sep 24).

This requirement will apply to construction projects awarded on or after Mar 1, 2027, regardless of the scaffold material, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a separate factsheet.

Manufacturers, suppliers, scaffold contractors and occupiers of the workplace will be responsible for ensuring that the netting meets the required specifications.

The Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health will accept netting that meets specified fire-test standards under the British Standards, Japanese Industrial Standards or the National Fire Protection Association of the United States. This is based on a joint review conducted by MOM and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Speaking at the annual Workplace Safety and Health Awards ceremony, Mr Dinesh said Singapore's safety standards must keep pace with emerging risks and lessons around the world. "MOM will issue a circular setting out the scope of the new requirements, acceptable fire test standards and compliance measures, including labelling and certification requirements," he said. "The details will also be made available on MOM’s website. We will work closely with industry stakeholders to support a smooth transition ahead of Mar 1, 2027." In addition, from Mar 1, 2028, fire-retardant scaffold netting must also be certified by certification bodies accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council, abiding by specifications set by the Commissioner. "This will provide independent third-party verification of product compliance," said MOM, adding that more details will be shared before implementation. Earlier this year, the Singapore government said it was reviewing the early observations from Hong Kong's investigation into the Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 161 people. In January, then-Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said in parliament that the government was also looking at whether there is a need to strengthen regulations for works during the construction and maintenance of residential buildings. Separately, the permissible duration for the use of timber scaffolds will be cut from nine months to three months from Jan 1, 2027, a move that had been announced previously. MOM said the shorter period was intended to mitigate fire risks from the prolonged presence of combustible timber materials. Exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, such as when there are extenuating circumstances including technical constraints that prevent the use of other types of scaffolds. MOM advised employers and industry stakeholders to review their project schedules, procurement arrangements and contractual obligations early so they can comply with the new requirements. "They should remain vigilant against scaffold fire risks by maintaining fire safety systems, keeping firefighting provisions and access routes unobstructed, and keeping combustible materials and potential ignition sources away from scaffolding and netting." It added that it will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure effective implementation of the new rules for workplace safety.

Speaking at the annual Workplace Safety and Health Awards ceremony, Mr Dinesh said Singapore's safety standards must keep pace with emerging risks and lessons around the world.

"MOM will issue a circular setting out the scope of the new requirements, acceptable fire test standards and compliance measures, including labelling and certification requirements," he said.

"The details will also be made available on MOM’s website. We will work closely with industry stakeholders to support a smooth transition ahead of Mar 1, 2027."

In addition, from Mar 1, 2028, fire-retardant scaffold netting must also be certified by certification bodies accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council, abiding by specifications set by the Commissioner.

"This will provide independent third-party verification of product compliance," said MOM, adding that more details will be shared before implementation.

In January, then-Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said in parliament that the government was also looking at whether there is a need to strengthen regulations for works during the construction and maintenance of residential buildings.

Separately, the permissible duration for the use of timber scaffolds will be cut from nine months to three months from Jan 1, 2027, a move that had been announced previously.

MOM said the shorter period was intended to mitigate fire risks from the prolonged presence of combustible timber materials.

Exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, such as when there are extenuating circumstances including technical constraints that prevent the use of other types of scaffolds.

MOM advised employers and industry stakeholders to review their project schedules, procurement arrangements and contractual obligations early so they can comply with the new requirements.

"They should remain vigilant against scaffold fire risks by maintaining fire safety systems, keeping firefighting provisions and access routes unobstructed, and keeping combustible materials and potential ignition sources away from scaffolding and netting."

It added that it will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure effective implementation of the new rules for workplace safety.

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今年早些时候，新加坡政府表示正在审查香港对王福苑火灾（造成 161 人死亡）的初步调查结果。

2024年7月3日，工人们在新加坡建造一座高层办公楼。（资料照片：法新社/罗斯兰·拉赫曼）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：人力部政务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什周四（9月24日）表示，从2027年3月1日起，建筑物外使用的脚手架网必须符合阻燃规范，这是为降低工地火灾蔓延风险而采取的新措施之一。

人力部在另一份情况说明书中表示，无论脚手架材料如何，这项要求都将适用于 2027 年 3 月 1 日或之后授予的建筑项目。

制造商、供应商、脚手架承包商和工作场所的占用者将负责确保防护网符合所需规格。

工作场所安全与健康专员将接受符合英国标准、日本工业标准或美国国家消防协会特定防火测试标准的防护网。这是人力部和新加坡民防部队联合审查的结果。

CNA游戏猜词游戏：逐行破解单词；流行词游戏：用给定的字母组成单词；迷你数独：小巧的谜题，强大的脑力挑战；迷你填字游戏：小网格，大挑战；单词搜索：尽可能多地找出单词。显示更多 显示更少 在年度工作场所安全与健康奖颁奖典礼上，迪内什先生表示，新加坡的安全标准必须与时俱进，应对世界各地不断涌现的风险和经验教训。“人力部将发布一份通告，阐明新要求的范围、可接受的防火测试标准和合规措施，包括标签和认证要求，”他说。“详细信息也将在人力部的网站上公布。我们将与行业利益相关者密切合作，以确保在2027年3月1日之前顺利过渡。”此外，从2028年3月1日起，阻燃脚手架网也必须由新加坡认证委员会认可的认证机构进行认证，并遵守专员制定的规范。人力部表示：“这将提供独立的第三方产品合规性验证。”并补充说，实施前将公布更多细节。今年早些时候，新加坡政府表示正在审查香港对王福苑火灾（造成161人死亡）的初步调查结果。今年1月，时任内政部政务部长吴佩铭在国会表示，政府也在考虑是否有必要加强住宅楼宇建造和维护工程的监管。此外，此前已宣布，自2027年1月1日起，木制脚手架的使用期限将从9个月缩短至3个月。人力部表示，缩短期限旨在降低易燃木材材料长期存在造成的火灾风险。特殊情况下，例如存在技术限制导致无法使用其他类型脚手架等特殊情况时，可酌情豁免。人力部建议雇主和行业利益相关者尽早审查项目进度、采购安排和合同义务，以便符合新规。“他们应时刻警惕脚手架火灾风险，维护消防安全系统，保持消防设施和通道畅通，并使易燃材料和潜在火源远离脚手架和安全网。” 人力部还表示，将继续与业界密切合作，确保有效实施新的工作场所安全规则。

迪内什先生在年度工作场所安全与健康奖颁奖典礼上发表讲话时表示，新加坡的安全标准必须与世界各地新出现的风险和经验教训保持同步。

“人力部将发布通告，阐明新要求的范围、可接受的防火测试标准和合规措施，包括标签和认证要求，”他说。

“具体细节也将在人力部网站上公布。我们将与业界利益相关者密切合作，以确保在2027年3月1日之前顺利过渡。”

此外，自 2028 年 3 月 1 日起，阻燃脚手架网还必须由新加坡认证委员会认可的认证机构进行认证，并遵守专员制定的规范。

“这将提供独立的第三方产品合规性验证，”人力部表示，并补充说，实施前将公布更多细节。

今年1月，时任内政部政务部长吴佩明在国会表示，政府也在考虑是否有必要加强住宅楼宇建造和维护工程的规章制度。

另外，从 2027 年 1 月 1 日起，木制脚手架的使用期限将从九个月缩短至三个月，这一举措此前已经宣布过。

人力部表示，缩短存放期限是为了降低可燃木材材料长期存放带来的火灾风险。

特殊情况下，例如存在技术限制等特殊情况，导致无法使用其他类型的脚手架时，可以酌情给予豁免。

人力部建议雇主和行业利益相关者尽早审查其项目进度、采购安排和合同义务，以便能够遵守新要求。

“他们应该通过维护消防安全系统、保持消防设施和通道畅通无阻，以及使易燃材料和潜在火源远离脚手架和安全网，来保持对脚手架火灾风险的警惕。”

该公司还表示，将继续与业界密切合作，确保有效实施新的工作场所安全规则。

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