Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

This paper presents a case study of an investigation into the introduction of larger-scale commercial spaces (i.e. retail tenancies) into three existing underground mass rapid transit (MRT) stations in Singapore. The design was based on the performance objectives of the current Standard for Fire Safety in Rapid Transit Systems (SFSRTS) 2005 which specifies both the prescriptive requirements and performance objectives for fire safety of such facilities in Singapore. Historically, MRT stations in Singapore have been considered relatively sterile places, intended solely for transit purposes. This is reflected in the prescriptive requirements of the SFSRTS which limit the extent of commercial spaces within the underground station envelope to fire-separated individual commercial floors; or not more than one 15 m² kiosk and one 100 m² shop unit in the underground station concourse public areas. However, with increasing commercialization of rapid transit systems (RTS) operators, introduction of larger-scale commercial spaces into existing and future underground stations is inevitable. This paper will detail the challenges, both technical and operational, on the design and implementation of an alterative solution into the three existing underground MRT stations. It will describe in detail the process of implementation, responsibilities of different parties (station owner, authority having jurisdiction, fire safety engineer, operators and other stakeholders), and the formation of a design guidelines document to guide similar designs in future underground stations as well as other existing ones.