EXTRACT FROM THE COMPANIES ACT (CAP 50)
CHAPTER 2 SUPERVISION OF BUILDING
WORKS
Act S7
2.1 The provisions in the Act stress the importance of building works being carried out under the supervision of appropriately trained persons. Generally, it is an offence to carry out any building works unless the works are done under the supervision of an architect or a professional engineer. For the structural elements of building works, there are additional requirements for qualified site supervisors (QSS). This chapter summarizes the various requirements for supervision of building works.
Architectural Works Act S7(1)(a)
2.2 All architectural works must be carried out under the supervision of the qualified person appointed to supervise the architectural works. He has to sign all the required certificates and will be responsible for ensuring that all the works under his charge are done in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations.
2.3 Please note that there is no mandatory requirement for the Supervision QP(Arch) to employ supervisors to help him in his supervision duties. Supervisors employed to help the Supervision QP(Arch) are not the same as the qualified site supervisors or QSS required to be appointed mandatorily by the Supervision QP(Struct) or the Supervision QP(Geo). The QSS is required to carry out his duties in supervision of structural works or geotechnical aspects of underground building works under the direction and control of the Supervision QP(Struct) or Supervision QP(Geo) respectively.
Structural Works Act S7(1)(a) S7(2)(a)
2.4 All structural works must be carried out under the supervision of the qualified person appointed to supervise the structural works, i.e. the Supervision QP(Struct). Where there are underground building works, the geotechnical aspects must be carried out under the supervision of the qualified person appointed to supervise the geotechnical aspects of those underground building works, i.e. the Supervision QP(Geo).
2.5 In each case, the Supervision QP has to sign all the required certificates and will be responsible for ensuring that all the works under his charge are done in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. The Supervision QP is required to put in place a system that ensures compliance with the requirements.
Qualified Site Supervisors for Structural Works Act S7(1)(b) S7(2)(b)
2.6 Other than the qualified person, the Act also requires structural works and their geotechnical aspects to be carried out under the supervision of a qualified site supervisor (QSS). There are two classes of qualified site supervisors, namely:
a) Resident Engineer (RE)
b) Resident Technical Officer (RTO) Resident Engineer
BCR Reg24(4)
2.7 A Supervision QP can appoint a person as an RE for the purposes of section 10 (1) or (2) of the Act if that person meets any one of the following requirements —
a) is a professional engineer in the civil or structural engineering discipline registered under the Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253);
b) possesses a university degree or any other professional qualification recognised by the Professional Engineers Board for registration as a professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act in the civil or structural engineering discipline;
c) possesses a postgraduate master’s degree or doctoral
degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering from any university recognised by the Professional Engineers Board for registration as a professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act;
d) is a Chartered Engineer registered by the Engineering Council United Kingdom in the Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering discipline;
e) possesses a university degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering from any university that is specified by the Commissioner of Building Control in the list that is
i. obtainable from his office at the Building and Construction Authority, 5 Maxwell Road, #02-00 Tower Block MND Complex, Singapore 069110; and
ii. available in the Internet website of the Building and Construction Authority at http://www.bca.gov.sg,
and has at least one year of relevant postgraduate practical experience in design or construction of structural works as may be acceptable to the Commissioner of Building Control; or
f) possesses such other qualification and period of practical experience as the Commissioner of Building Control may determine, being a qualification and practical experience that is substantially equivalent to any qualification and practical experience referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e).
Resident Technical Officer BCR Reg24(4)
2.8 The RTO is previously called the “clerk-of-works”. A Supervision QP can appoint a person as an RTO for the purposes of section 10(1) or (2) of the Act if that person meets any one of the following requirements —
a) possesses a degree from any local university or a diploma from any local polytechnic in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering;
b) possesses a diploma in any construction-related field from any local polytechnic and has at least one year of such relevant practical experience in full-time supervision of structural works in construction sites in Singapore as may be acceptable to the Commissioner of Building Control;
c) possesses a diploma or higher certificate from any foreign polytechnic in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering and has at least one year of such relevant practical experience in full-time supervision of structural works in construction sites as may be acceptable to the Commissioner of Building Control;
d) possesses a diploma in any construction-related field from any foreign polytechnic and has at least 4 years of such relevant practical experience in full-time supervision of structural works in construction sites in Singapore as may be acceptable to the Commissioner of Building Control;
e) possesses a degree from any foreign university in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering and has at least one year of such relevant practical experience in full-time supervision of structural works in construction sites as may be acceptable to the Commissioner of Building Control;
f) possesses a degree related to Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering from any foreign university and has at least one year of such relevant practical experience in full-time supervision of structural works in construction sites in Singapore as may be acceptable to the Commissioner of Building Control; or
g) possesses such other qualification and period of postgraduate practical experience in full-time supervision of structural works in construction sites as the Commissioner of Building Control may determine, being a qualification and practical experience that is substantially equivalent to any qualification and practical experience referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f).
Accreditation of Qualified Site Supervisors BCR R24(3)
2.9 All QSS are required to be accredited by the Joint Accreditation Committee of the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) and the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES) from 15 February 2009 onwards.
Requirements for Appointment of Qualified Site Supervisors
2.10 The Supervision QP(Struct) who is supervising the carrying out of the structural works or the Supervision QP(Geo) who is supervising the carrying out of geotechnical aspects of underground building works has to appoint one or more QSS to
help him in the task. The requirements of such appointment depend on the scale of the building works.
2.11 Under the Act, building works are classified as either small-scale building works or large building works. The requirements of supervision of the structural elements for these two classes of works are as follows:
Small-Scale Building Works Act S7(1)(c)
2.12 Critical structural works like concreting, piling, pre-stressing, tightening of high-friction grip bolts or other critical structural works of small-scale building works shall be carried out under the immediate supervision of –
a) an appropriate qualified person; or
b) a QSS working under the Supervision QP’s control and direction.
Act S2(1)
2.13 The term "immediate supervision", in relation to any building works or part thereof, means personally and directly exercising oversight, control and inspection of the carrying out of the building works or part thereof. Where immediate supervision is required, the Supervision QP or the appointed QSS has to be present at the site to supervise the carrying out of critical structural works.
Act S10(2)
2.14 The Act requires the Supervision QP(Struct) appointed to supervise the carrying out of any small-scale building works to appoint at least one QSS to supervise the critical structural elements of the small-scale building works. Where appropriate, the Supervision QP(Struct) may personally carry out such supervision in the absence of a QSS. The details of this requirement are summarized as follows (next page):
TABLE 2.1
SITE SUPERVISORS REQUIRED FOR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION OF STRUCTURAL WORKS IN SMALL-SCALE BUILDING WORKS Act S7(1)(c)
Value of building works Site supervisor
Up to $7.5 million Appropriate qualified person or resident engineer or resident technical officer
Large Building Works Act S7(1)(b)
2.15 The structural elements or geotechnical aspects of all large building works shall be carried out under the full-time supervision of a QSS, or a team of QSS, working under the appropriate Supervision QP’s control and direction.
BCR R24(1)
2.16 The number of QSS required for each project depends on the value of the building works. More resources in terms of qualified site supervisors are required as the value of the building works increases. This is based on the rationale that the value would in most cases be a good and simple indicator of the scope or complexity of works. More resources for supervision would be required as scope or complexity increases. The details are provided in the Building Control Regulations, and are summarized as follows (next page):
TABLE 2.2
QUALIFIED SITE SUPERVISORS REQUIRED FOR FULL-TIME SUPERVISION OF STRUCTURAL WORKS OR GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS IN LARGE BUILDING WORKS
Value of building works Minimum number of QSS for full-time supervision of structural works or geotechnical aspects More than $7.5 million but
not exceeding $15 million
One (1) RTO
More than $15 million but not exceeding $30 million
One (1) RE
More than $30 million but not exceeding $75 million
One (1) RE and one (1) RTO
More than $75 million but not exceeding $150 million critical structural works like concreting, piling, pre-stressing, tightening of high-friction grip bolts and other critical structural works, and carry out any other supervision duties as directed by the Supervision QP who appointed him. Where there is more than one QSS in a project, the Supervision QP has to direct how and by who each supervision duty is to be carried out.
Site Records BCR R22
2.18 All Supervision QPs appointed to supervise any building works are required to keep and maintain at the premises on which the building works are carried out the following books and records:
a) for major building works, a schedule of the structural works to be carried out every 3 months, specifying, in particular, the excavation, installation, testing, removal, construction or fabrication of the key structural elements;
b) a record of attendance of the Supervision QP and QSS;
c) a site record book;
d) a copy of the approved structural plans including all amendments;
e) a record of all the departures or deviations relating to the structural elements of the building works as provided by the Design QP(Struct);
f) a record of inspection and approval for concreting;
g) a record of repairs to defective structural works;
h) a site investigation report;
i) a record of piles installed;
j) a record of pile load tests;
k) a record of tests on cement, sand and aggregates;
l) a record of concrete cube tests;
m) a record of tests on steel reinforcements;
n) a record of tests on pre-stressing steel;
o) a record of pre-stressing works;
p) a record of tests on welding works and all welders’
certificates;
q) a record of ground anchor, soil nails or rock bolt tests and, where applicable, stressing loads;
r) a record of inspection and approval at each of the following stages of the building works: excavation,
installation, construction and removal stage of the building works;
s) a record of inspection and approval for strut, soil nails, rock bolts, or anchor during installation and removal;
t) a record of instrumentation and monitoring reports;
u) a record of actions taken where monitoring results of earth-retaining wall deflection or adjacent ground
settlements exceed the allowable limits or where damages occur in the neighbouring properties;
v) a record and test results of earth or ground improvement or strengthening works;
w) a record of tests on fixings of external claddings and safety barriers against falling from a height;
x) the mill certificates and test results for structural steel sections, and
y) a record of all other tests of or in connection with the building works.
Submission of Progress Reports and Certificates BCR R23
2.19 The Act also requires all Supervision QPs appointed to supervise any building works to prepare and submit the following reports and certificates relating to the building works at the corresponding times or intervals, where applicable:
a) a notice of completion of all piling works carried out, a record plan showing full details of the piling works and a certificate of supervision of those piling works within 28 days of completion of those piling works;
b) on completion of all building works, his certificate stating that the building works have been carried out under his supervision, and
c) within 14 days of his ceasing to carry out his duties under the Act, a summary report of all those building works which have been carried out under his supervision and a certificate of such supervision.
Quarterly Structural Reports
2.20 With effect from 1 Feb 2008, there is no need for submission of three-monthly (quarterly) structural reports detailing the schedule and progress of structural works at the site. This requirement has been removed.
Tests of and in Connection with Building Works Act S7A
2.21 It is important to ensure that materials used for the building works comply with requirements. The Act therefore requires the Supervision QP to carry out or cause to be carried out all necessary and appropriate tests in connection with the building works as prescribed in any of the building regulations or required by the CBC. The tests have to be carried out in such manner and at such places and times as prescribed in the respective building regulations.
2.22 If a Supervision QP fails to comply with the above requirements, the CBC may serve an order in writing to any of the project parties to cease the building works until the order is withdrawn. For special cases, however, the CBC may, on application, waive a requirement to carry out a prescribed test if he is satisfied that carrying out the particular test would be unreasonable.
Builder’s Supervision Duty Act S11(1)(e)
2.23 The Act requires the builder to have an adequate number of construction supervisors working under his direction to help him ensure that the building works are carried out in compliance with all the requirements.
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