SONDAY, JUL 11, 1982
UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, CODE OF PRACTICE (MINIMUM FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS AND EQUIPMENT), SPRINKLER INSTALLATIONS MUST BE PROVIDED, WITH TWO SEPARATE AND ADEQUATE SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY ALWAYS AVAILABLE. AMONG THE ACCEPTABLE SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY ARE: TOWN'S MAIN, ELEVATED TANKS, PRESSURE TANKS, PUMPS, ELEVATED PRIVATE RESERVOIRS AND APPROVED SALT WATER MAINS.
AN ELEVATED PRIVATE RESERVOIR MUST HAVE A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 1 000 000 LITRES (1 000 CUBIC METRES) IF PROPOSED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR TOWN'S MAIN, BUT RESERVOIRS OF SOMEWHAT LESS CAPACITY MAY BE APPROVED IF CONDITIONS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY FAVOURABLE.
THE CODE OF PRACTICE, HOWEVER, IS INTENDED ONLY AS A GENERAL GUIDE AND NOT TO LAY DOWN HARD AND FAST RULES, AS SPECIAL FACTORS OF CIRCUMSTANCES MAY ARISE IN PARTICULAR CASES WHICH NECESSITATE THE PROVISION OF FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS OR EQUIPMENT NOT
INDICATED IN THE CODE.
MR LO SAID: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BUSINESS PROPRIETORS. FACTORY OPERATORS AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CODE, AS IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. BY KNOWING WHAT IS REQUIRED, THEY WOULD ALSO KNOW WHETHER THEIR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS INSTALLED BY REGISTERED FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS ARE UP TO THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARD AND WHETHER ANY STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING MAY AFFECT THEIR SPRINKLER INSTALLATIONS.+
THERE ARE AT PRESENT 137 REGISTERED CLASS 2 FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS (PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN, REPAIR AND INSPECT ANY FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION OR EQUIPMENT (OTHER THAN PORTABLE EQUIPMENT) WHICH CONTAINS 1-
(A) PIPES AND FITTINGS DESIGNED OR ADAPTED TO CARRY WATER
OR SOME OTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIUM- OR
(B) ANY TYPE OF ELECTRICAL APPARATUS OTHER THAN THOSE
SPECIFIED IN CLASS 1.
IN 1947, THERE WERE ONLY TWO SUCH CONTRACTORS.
ASIDE FROM CARRYING OUT NEW INSTALLATIONS, THESE CONTRACTORS PROVIDE THE MANDATORY ANNUAL MAINTENANCE, UPON WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF MAINTENANCE UNDER THE FIRE SERVICE (INSTALLATIONS AND EQUIPMENT) REGULATIONS, CAP. 95, LAWS OF HONG KONG.
MR LO ADVISED THAT ANY DOUBTS WITH REGARD TO THE QUALITY OF SERVICE BY ANY OF THE CONTRACTORS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CONVEYED TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
TO TIGHTEN THE LAWS GOVERNING THE STANDARDS OF SUCH SERVICE, FINES FOR SIGNING A FALSE OR MISLEADING CERTIFICATE AND OTHER OFFENCES RELATING TO SALE, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF ANY FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE JUNE LAST YEAR FROM $2 000 TO $5 000.
Jaú