The Building Control Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament on Thursday. Laws will be amended to enhance the professionalism

The Building Control Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament on Thursday. Laws will be amended to enhance the professionalism, quality and safety standards in the construction industry.

There will be more stringent checks, licensing of builders and heavier penalties on those who flout the rules.

The collapse of Nicole Highway in 2004 prompted a review of the construction process.

After a two-year consultation with key stakeholders, more rigorous measures will be introduced to set things right.

Besides averting potential damage to properties and loss of lives, the new measures will upkeep the professionalism of the construction sector. This is important as demand is projected to reach between S$19 billion and S$22 billion this year.

One key amendment is to tighten checks related to underground building and tunnelling works.

In particular, temporary earth-retaining structures will be treated as permanent works, and they have to be designed by a registered professional engineer and reviewed by an accredited checker.

Temporary earth-retaining structures help support the earth while permanent structures are being constructed onsite.

In addition, for deeper excavation works and foundations for high-rise buildings that have 30 floors or more, specialists in geotechical engineering will have to assess the soil conditions.

Currently, these practices are only done on a voluntary basis.

A new licensing scheme will also be introduced for general builders and for specialist builders who carry out works like piling and site investigation. The licence will be valid for three years and is renewable.

To qualify, the firms must be financially sound, have good safety records and qualified key personnel to supervise projects.

A six-month grace period will be granted for builders to apply for a licence after the Bill comes into force.

The Minister of State for National Development, Grace Fu, said: “The Bill also sets out the circumstances under which the Commissioner of Building Control can revoke a builder’s licence. Nonetheless, the Commissioner must give the builder an opportunity to be heard before revoking the licence.

“The Bill will also allow the Commissioner to consider less severe actions such as a suspension or a fine, in place of revocation. In addition, there will be a provision for appeal to the minister.”

The penalties for offences under the Building Control Act will be aligned with those under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

There will also be stronger enforcement. Ms Fu said: “It makes clear that where it is an offence if any act or thing is not done by a particular time, the obligation to do so will continue, even after the stipulated time has passed.

“In this regard, the person shall be guilty of a separate offence for each day that he continues to refuse or fail to do that act or thing after the stipulated time.”

Separately, building owners and tenants will be required to ensure barrier-free facilities are not altered, removed or blocked.

In a push to have more green buildings, provision will also be made to set regulations on minimum standards of environmental sustainability, and this will apply to all new buildings and existing buildings that are undergoing major retrofitting works.

According to the Building and Construction Authority, over 66 buildings have been certified under its Green Mark Award scheme for being environmentally friendly and efficient, and another 25 buildings are ready to be certified.

The amendments are set to come into force next January and will apply to all new projects. - CNA/ac

Source : Channel NewAsia - 20 Sep 2007