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SINGAPORE – Some shopping malls are struggling to comply with fire safety rules as they comply with Covid-19 safe handling measures.
Some have resorted to padlocking their entry and exit points to comply with occupancy limits imposed by the authorities.
In response to inquiries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) said that as of Aug. 31, 16 of the 200 shopping malls it inspected had breached fire safety requirements by locking some doors.
Malls received warnings, $ 300 fines, or both, and have since rectified the situation.
One of the shopping centers that violated fire safety rules was People’s Park Center, the SCDF said, although it declined to name the other 15 shopping centers.
The Straits Times team visited the mall last Thursday (September 3) and found all of its exits unlocked, with removable barricades placed in front of them.
Signs were posted on the barricades indicating that they were removable in the event of an emergency evacuation.
But a problem was noticed on the third floor of the building, where customers were seen circling these barriers to access the entrance and exit doors of the mall.
ST discovered that the door opened into a shopping aisle accessible only from outside the mall.
The corridor is linked to an elevated bridge that connects People’s Park Center with Chinatown Point.
Store owners along that row that ST spoke to said they have lost customers since entry restrictions were imposed to slow the spread of Covid-19, with one step reduced to almost zero.
Izat Norozad, 65, who owns the Muslim restaurant Warung Aneka Rasa, said the lunchtime crowd had dissipated since the breaker period and that regulars no longer frequent the restaurant as much because it is harder to get to now.
Customers and merchants can access the row of stores only via a flight of stairs located near a side entrance to the building.
“Many of my clients are older people and going up three flights of stairs is too exhausting, so they prefer to dine at the restaurants located on the lower levels,” Izat said. He added that the business is now 30 percent of what it used to be.
Another store owner who wanted to be known only as Mr. Tang, whose store is inside the mall but right next to the exit, said that he has been frequenting the food courts inside the mall instead of the restaurants to along that row after the doors were closed.
“On the one hand, keeping the door closed has affected all these businesses and is a fire safety hazard, but leaving it unlocked and unmanned could pose a public health hazard, especially if there are Covid-19 cases that they could go in and leave the mall untracked, “said the 70-year-old.
ST has contacted the mall’s management for comment.
Stratum Managers Association Chairman Chan Kok Hong said that many shopping malls have blocked their entrances as it would require much more security, manpower and equipment to ensure temperature verification and SafeEntry requirements are carried out. out at every entrance.
He added that the strata malls have been following the same practices as the large malls and using removable barricades.
Three other shopping centers ST visited in the vicinity appeared to be in compliance with fire safety regulations. Shopping centers like Funan and Raffles City Shopping Center have locked sliding doors, which can be opened automatically when the fire alarm is activated.
A spokesperson for Capitaland Malls said this is the case at all of its 19 malls and that it complies with fire safety regulations at all times.
The popular Nex mall has five of its 28 operational accesses, each with controlled access to comply with safe distancing measures.
Its spokesperson said: “The remaining access points that are not blocked during the mall’s operating hours are blocked with light barricades that can be easily pushed aside, and doors with electromagnetic locks will open automatically during emergencies.”
“The SCDF compliance team inspected the mall on August 7 and is satisfied with our fire safety compliance measures,” he added.
A spokesperson for Frasers Property Retail said its 14 shopping centers have implemented fire safety measures and comply with the guidelines set by the SCDF.
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Stopping the spread of Covid-19
Independent shopping centers, supermarkets, and stores must comply with safe management measures in light of Covid-19.
Included in a joint circular from Enterprise Singapore, the Housing Board, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority and effective June 19, these measures include:
OCCUPANCY LIMITS
All malls and freestanding stores larger than 930 square meters (gross floor area) must meet an occupancy limit of one person for every 10 square meters of gross floor area.
QUEUE MANAGEMENT
Stores are expected to demarcate waiting lines for customers and ensure compliance with the 1m space rule.
CONTACT TRACKING AND HEALTH CHECKS
All shopping malls, supermarkets, beauty service stores and large retail stores with gross floor space greater than 930 square meters must implement SafeEntry for customers to facilitate information gathering when contact tracing is required.
They must also carry out temperature controls and check for visible symptoms in customers who show up at their entrances and reject those who are not feeling well.
To ensure cleanliness and hygiene, product testers and samples should be removed, and common spaces such as counters and display shelves should be cleaned and sanitized frequently.
Clear signs should be posted to remind clients of safe management measures.
Government agencies will conduct inspections to ensure proper implementation of safe management measures.
Under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, first-time offenders who break the rules can face a fine of up to $ 10,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
Fire safety rules for buildings
Building owners and managers must ensure that buildings meet fire safety requirements, and that people can be evacuated quickly and safely during a fire emergency, even with Covid-19 safe handling measures. implemented, the SCDF said.
Fire safety measures include:
NO LOCKING OR CHAINING OUTPUTS
Buildings that have restricted access to entry and exit points should have doors that can be automatically unlocked to facilitate evacuation once the fire alarm system is activated.
If physical barricades are used to prevent access to entry and exit points, they should be easily removable.
CLEAR SIGNALING
Buildings should have signs posted at exits that clearly inform people that barriers can be removed during a fire emergency.
MAKE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AS NECESSARY
In the event of a fire, an immediate broadcast should be made over the building’s public announcement system to inform people that all exit doors can be used for evacuation.
These will be the additional duties required of the designated fire safety managers for each mall, according to an SCDF circular dated August 28 that was seen by ST.
He added that the notice takes effect immediately and that the SCDF will intensify compliance controls in buildings to ensure compliance with these measures.
Building owners or occupants must also provide fire safety managers with facilities, equipment, and information necessary to carry out their duties.
Violating the measures can result in penalties, including a fine of up to $ 10,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both.
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