Enhancing the fire protection system in our estate

While the number of fire incidents that occurred in residential premises – both private and public – have decreased 9.8% to 1,054 incidents last year, it is important that the fire protection systems in our estate are checked and processes are audited regularly.

Jurong-Clementi Town Council (JRTC) has a Fire Safety Committee that comprises town councillors and Town Council staff to ensure that updated fire safety systems are in place, as well as to disseminate timely fire safety information to residents. Independent safety consultants are also engaged to visually inspect and assess the existing fire protection system and equipment. In addition to the regular maintenance and checks, the consultants also identify areas for improvement, and review the existing service and maintenance reports submitted by the fire protection term contractor.

Modification of existing panels 

JRTC has installed an additional monitoring buzzer on the fire alarm control panel, which will help to remind the maintenance personnel to switch back the system to automatic mode after the servicing, ensuring that the fire protection system is able to detect potential fire issues and is functioning properly.

Replacement of the fire hose reel cabinets

For faster access to emergency water during a fire incident, the hose reel cabinets in Jurong-Clementi estate that use a break glass point to retrieve the key – and those that use a thumb knob to open the cabinet – have been replaced. Instead, new models that have easier-to-open break glass points to access the spring lock have been installed. Altogether, 122 panels have been replaced.

Get to know the fire protection system in your estate

In general, the fire protection system at each Housing and Development Board block’s common corridor and stairwell comprises the following items:

Dry riser

It consists of a vertical pipe with a water inlet on ground level, which is located on an external wall, and outlets known as landing valves. Dry risers are used when the water pressure of a building is not enough to suppress a fire. It allows firefighters to easily access water from each floor of the building. Firefighters will fill the dry riser pipe with pressurised water by connecting the fire-engine hose to the inlet.  They can then connect the hose directly to the water supply on the floor nearest to the fire using the outlet valves connected to the dry riser.

The annual servicing of the dry rising main involves charging it hydrostatically to 21 bars measured at the inlet for 30 minutes with water, followed by checking for leakage of the system. The maintenance personnel also check the air-release valves and drain valves of the system to ensure that they are in serviceable condition.

Wet riser

Permanently charged with water, wet risers are used to supply water within buildings for firefighting purposes. The permanent water supply in wet risers allows higher floors, which require greater pressure to supply water, to have immediate access to water supply during fire-related emergencies. The provision of this built-in water distribution system also eliminates the need for firefighters to create their own water distribution to fight a fire.

Breeching inlet

Located within a dry riser system, this inlet is normally dry and is used by firefighters to access water from the water pump. Breeching inlets are usually installed in an easily accessible area in the building for them to access the inlet.

Fire alarm panel

This panel is meant to enable early fire detection so that people who are at risk can be kept safe by escaping from the fire. The panel will indicate which zone the fire issue is located.

Fire hose reel

Fire hose reels are used to fight fires such as those involving solid combustible materials like wood, paper, cloth and some plastics.  Its main function is to supply a continuous and controllable supply of water for firefighting purposes.