Does a condo renovation need SCDF approval?
Usually not for ordinary internal works. The Fire Safety (Exemption) Order exempts alterations in existing residential flats that do not increase floor area and do not affect common areas, the unit's entrance or exit doors, the walls separating the unit from common areas, or the roofing. Works touching any of those, or the building's sprinkler or alarm systems, fall outside the exemption, so a Qualified Person should advise before they start.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Condo Renovation in Singapore: MCST Approval, By-Laws, Deposits and Prohibited Works. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
Condo renovations need MCST approval under the development's by-laws, and MCST authorisation under section 37 of the Building (Strata Management) Act for anything that affects the building's appearance or structure. Works adding floor area need a 90% resolution and URA permission. Structural works need a PE and BCA approval; household shelters, façades and balconies are tightly restricted.
More questions on this topic
- Is there a prescribed by-law on renovation in Singapore condos?
- Can my MCST stop me from installing window grilles?
- Can I enclose my condo balcony with glass?
- Can I hack a wall in my condo unit?
- How much is a typical condo renovation deposit?
- Who is responsible for waterproofing in my condo bathroom?
- What can I do if the MCST unreasonably rejects my renovation?