Fire Services Regulations prescribe eligibility criteria for categories of persons required to be registered under the amended Fire Services Act 1998

04 March 2026

Three pieces of subsidiary legislation were gazetted on 29 January 2026 under the Fire Services Act 1998¹ to establish mandatory registration frameworks and standards for specified categories of persons, namely fire safety consultants, fire safety consultant firms, competent persons, fire safety contractors, training providers and instructors. The three pieces of subsidiary legislation are: 

1. Fire Services (Fire Safety Consultant and Fire Safety Consultant Firm) Regulations 2026;
2. Fire Services (Competent Person and Fire Safety Contractor) Regulations 2026; and
3. Fire Services (Training Provider and Instructor) Regulations 2026, 

(collectively, the “Fire Services Regulations”).
 
The Fire Services Regulations came into operation on 3 February 2026 and set out the eligibility criteria for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of registration.
 
Under the amendments made to the Fire Services Act 1998 which came into force on 1 January 2026²: 

1. The registration of fire safety consultant and fire safety consultant firm is required for the preparation of a fire risk analysis report.³ 
2. The registration of competent person and fire safety contractor is required for the installation, testing, servicing, recharging or repairing of any fire-fighting equipment or fire safety installation prescribed to be registered.⁴ 
3. The registration of a training provider or instructor is required for carrying out any training in relation to: (i) the operation of extinguishing, fighting, preventing and controlling fires; (ii) the installation, use, maintenance, and regulation of fire-fighting equipment or fire safety installation; (iii) the investigation into the cause, origin and circumstances of fires; and (iv) the protection of life and property in fire or calamity.⁵ 

In establishing mandatory registration requirements, the Fire Services Regulations emphasises competence by requiring recognised technical or professional qualifications relevant to fire safety, documented professional experience, and in the case of companies, limited liability partnership and partnerships, employment or engagement of appropriately registered individuals. In addition, the Fire Services Regulations set out the relevant procedures as well as the fees payable for such registration and renewal.
 
The amended Fire Services Act 1998 makes it an offence to operate without registration, and non-compliance may attract fines and/or imprisonment.
 
 
Alert by Tatvaruban Subramaniam (Partner) and Laarnia Rajandran (Senior Associate)
 
 
This article/alert contains general information only. It does not constitute legal advice nor an expression of legal opinion and should not be relied upon as such. For further information, kindly contact skrine@skrine.com.