1 S 250/2008
First published in the Government Gazette, Electronic Edition, on 5th May 2008 at 5:00 pm.
NO. S 250
BUILDING CONTROL ACT
(CHAPTER 29)
BUILDING CONTROL
(AMENDMENT NO. 2)
REGULATIONS 2008
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 49 of the Building
Control Act, the Minister for National Development hereby makes
the following Regulations:
Citation and commencement
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Building Control
(Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2008 and shall come into operation
on 1st October 2008.
Amendment of regulation 2
2. Regulation 2 of the Building Control Regulations 2003 (G.N. No.
S 666/2003)(referred to in these Regulations as the principal
Regulations) is amended by inserting, immediately after the definition
of ‘‘fresh air’’, the following definition:
‘‘ ‘‘geotechnical report’’ means calculations, plans or report
prepared in respect of underground building works by a
qualified person who is a geotechnical engineer showing —
(a) the results of the findings, evaluation and
interpretation of the site investigation and laboratory
tests;
(b) assessment of and recommendations on the
geotechnical aspects for the design and construction
of the underground building works; and
(c) plans showing those elements of building works
designed by the person who is a geotechnical
engineer;’’.
S 250/2008 2
New regulation 2A
3. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting, immediately
after regulation 2, the following regulation:
‘‘Underground building works
2A. For the purposes of paragraph (c) in the definition of
‘‘underground building works’’ in the Act, all types of foundation
works for buildings of 30 or more storeys are prescribed as
underground building works.’’.
Amendment of regulation 4
4. Regulation 4(1) of the principal Regulations is amended —
(a) by deleting the word ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-paragraph
(a)(iii);
(b) by inserting, at the end of sub-paragraph (a)(iv), the word
‘‘and’’; and
(c) by inserting, immediately after sub-paragraph (iv) of
sub-paragraph (a), the following sub-paragraph:
‘‘(v) where applicable, underground building works
plans;’’.
New regulation 10A
5. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting, immediately
after regulation 10, the following regulation:
‘‘Particulars to be shown in underground building works plans
10A.—(1) The underground building works plans referred to
in regulation 4(1)(a) shall consist of or contain the following,
where applicable:
(a) plans of any tunnelling support system;
(b) plans of any excavation and earth retaining structures;
(c) plans of the foundation;
(d) instrumentation and monitoring plans.
(2) Without prejudice to regulations 6, 7 and 8, all underground
building works plans shall —
(a) be in accordance with the provisions of the Act and
these Regulations and any other requirement of the
Commissioner of Building Control;
3 S 250/2008
(b) be signed and endorsed by the qualified person who
prepared the plans and calculations, and by the
appropriate accredited checker;
(c) bear a certificate by the qualified person who prepared
the plans on the first and last sheets of the calculations
stating that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the
design calculations have been prepared in accordance
with these Regulations and that he is the person who
prepared the design calculations;
(d) state on the first page of the certificate of the qualified
person referred to in sub-paragraph (c) the number of
pages per book and a numbering of every page in the
book;
(e) be accompanied by an Information Sheet giving a
summary of the key design and construction information
including, where applicable, load conditions, codes of
practice, assumptions, earth-retaining system, tunnel
support system, foundation system, and other information
relevant to the design and construction in question;
(f) be accompanied by an impact assessment report on
neighbouring structures and a site investigation report;
(g) be accompanied by a geotechnical report which shall
contain —
(i) a summary to highlight the key elements of the
design and the issues addressed;
(ii) evaluation and interpretation of existing
information and investigation and monitoring
results;
(iii) assessment of geotechnical parameters and
groundwater conditions;
(iv) geotechnical assumptions, analysis, design and
calculations;
(v) geotechnical requirements relating to the design
and construction of the underground building
works including testing, validating, controlling,
inspecting and monitoring;
(vi) geotechnical reviews; and
(vii) any other details as the Commissioner of Building
Control may require; and
S 250/2008 4
(h) be accompanied by such other reports as the
Commissioner of Building Control may require.
(3) The plans of a tunnel support system for the design and
construction of any tunnel with diameter, width or height of
more than 2 metres shall contain, where applicable —
(a) layout, sections and details of all excavation and tunnel
support works showing —
(i) subsurface information including plan showing
layout of investigation boreholes and subsurface
profile along each tunnel axis;
(ii) maximum depth, and extent of excavation at each
stage including heading, bench and invert;
(iii) face pressure and other key performance
indicators for ensuring stability of tunnel during
construction;
(iv) location of planned stoppages and necessary
ground improvement and monitoring details; and
(v) profile and the nature of the site and its surrounds
including ground topography, neighbouring
structures, subsurface geological and geotechnical
data, and groundwater conditions;
(b) layout, sections, details and material specifications of
tunnel support elements and structures, tunnel face
support system and overall tunnel support system and
other structural elements showing types, sizes and
material specifications of members to be used and the
connection details;
(c) layout, sections and details of earth or ground
strengthening, improvement or protection works
including layout, sections and sizes of all elements,
material specifications, details of inspections and tests
to be carried out;
(d) method and sequence of construction including duration
and spatial limits of critical activities;
(e) details of inspections and tests to be carried out;
(f) details of any special precautions, groundwater control
measures, control and protective measures required
5 S 250/2008
during excavation, installation and removal of any
tunnel support element;
(g) other specifications and relevant particulars; and
(h) such other details as the Commissioner of Building
Control may require.
(4) The excavation and earth retaining system plans for any
excavation or any building works for constructing, altering or
repairing any earth retaining structure (including slope) in or for
a caisson, cofferdam, trench, ditch, shaft or well for supporting
earth which has a depth of more than 6 metres shall contain,
where applicable —
(a) layout, sections and details of all excavation and earth
retaining works showing —
(i) subsurface information including plan showing
layout of investigation boreholes and surface
profile along and across the excavation boundary;
(ii) maximum depth, and extent of excavation at each
stage; and
(iii) profile and the nature of the site and its surrounds
including ground topography, neighbouring
structures, subsurface geological and geotechnical
data, and groundwater conditions;
(b) layout, sections, details and material specifications of
earth retaining elements and structures, wall elevation
showing the wall founding depth or penetration depth
or minimum wall embedment requirement, and overall
retaining system;
(c) layout, sections and details of struts, anchors, soil nails,
walers, king posts, bracings, corbels and other structural
elements showing types, sizes and material
specifications of members to be used, connection
details, and where appropriate, inspections and tests to
be carried out;
(d) layout and sections of earth berms or slope showing
type of soils, size and location of berms, internal and
external drainage provisions and protection measures
including against surface weathering;
S 250/2008 6
(e) layout, sections and details of earth or ground
strengthening, improvement or protection works
including layout, sections and sizes of all elements,
material specifications, details of inspections and tests
to be carried out;
(f) layout, sections and details of permanent support
system to the earth retaining system showing details of
lateral bracing element, and connection details;
(g) method and sequence of construction including duration
and spatial limits of critical activities;
(h) details of inspections and tests to be carried out;
(i) details of any special precautions, groundwater control
measures, control and protective measures required
during excavation, and installation and removal of any
earth retaining element;
(j) other specifications and relevant particulars; and
(k) such other details as the Commissioner of Building
Control may require.
(5) The foundation plans for the design and construction of
foundation for buildings of 30 or more storeys shall contain,
where applicable —
(a) the layout, sections and details of all foundation works
showing —
(i) types of piles or foundation and specification of
material to be used;
(ii) location of piles or foundation and site
investigation boreholes;
(iii) pile or foundation founding depth or pile
minimum embedment into competent stratum for
each pile or foundation;
(iv) unit shaft friction, pile base resistance or
foundation bearing pressure;
(v) allowable foundation capacity before and after
accounting for negative skin friction where
applicable, allowable tension, and lateral load;
(vi) details of pile reinforcements, pile joints,
connection with pilecap, pile shops;
7 S 250/2008
(vii) allowable total and differential foundation
movement; and
(viii) allowable vibration limit; and
(b) the number, type of pile or foundation tests, structural
integrity tests and location of preliminary test pile or
ultimate load tests and site investigation for the tests.
(6) The instrumentation and monitoring plans shall contain,
where applicable —
(a) layout and location of neighbouring structures in relation
to the underground building works;
(b) numbers, types, locations, details and other particulars
of instruments for monitoring forces and movement of
structural elements, building and ground movements,
and variations in the groundwater or piezometric levels;
(c) frequency and duration of monitoring;
(d) allowable ground or building movement limits;
(e) allowable vibration limits;
(f) where applicable, long-term instrumentation, monitoring
and maintenance requirements;
(g) other specifications and relevant particulars; and
(h) such other details as the Commissioner of Building
Control may require.’’.
New regulation 24A
6. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting,
immediately after regulation 24, the following regulation:
‘‘Duties of qualified persons regarding underground building
works
24A.—(1) Every qualified person appointed under section
8(1)(a) or 11(1)(d)(i) of the Act to prepare the plans of
geotechnical aspects of underground building works shall carry
out the tasks set out in Part I of the Eighth Schedule.
(2) Every supervising qualified person appointed in respect of
the geotechnical aspects of underground building works shall
carry out the tasks set out in Part II of the Eighth Schedule.’’.
S 250/2008 8
Amendment of regulation 50
7. Regulation 50 of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting
the words ‘‘regulation 25’’ and substituting the words ‘‘regulation 24A,
25’’.
Amendment of First Schedule
8. Paragraph 1 of the First Schedule to the principal Regulations is
amended by deleting sub-paragraph (q) and substituting the following
sub-paragraph:
‘‘(q) any retaining wall or earth retaining structure that is constructed
with structural steel or reinforced concrete and with a visible height
of not more than 1,500 millimetres, or any other retaining wall or
earth retaining structure with a visible height of not more than
1,000 millimetres.’’.
Amendment of Sixth Schedule
9. The Sixth Schedule to the principal Regulations is amended by
inserting, immediately after the words ‘‘for alkali-carbonate reaction’’
in paragraph (b), the words ‘‘or alkali-silica reaction’’.
New Eighth Schedule
10. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting,
immediately after the Seventh Schedule, the following Schedule:
‘‘EIGHTH SCHEDULE
Regulation 24A
PART I
DUTIES OF QUALIFIED PERSON APPOINTED TO
PREPARE THE PLANS OF GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF
UNDERGROUND BUILDING WORKS
1. In the preparation of plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of any
excavation or other building works to construct a tunnel with a diameter, width or
height of more than 2 metres, the qualified person shall —
(a) determine the site investigation, namely type, extent (which shall include
quantity, layout and depth), method of sampling, coring and laboratory
tests results for the design and construction of the tunnel;
(b) analyse the site investigation results and determine the geotechnical
parameters for the design, taking into consideration onerous water
conditions, seepage pressures, and surcharge, earth, water, construction
and accidental loadings;
9 S 250/2008
EIGHTH SCHEDULE — continued
(c) determine and adopt appropriate method or model for the analysis
and design including the consideration of drained, undrained and
consolidation analyses, and appropriate drainage conditions;
(d) determine suitability of tunnelling method, sequence of construction,
and tunnel support system including face pressures and ground support
system;
(e) determine allowable limits of ground deformation and changes in
groundwater and piezometric levels, and measures to control groundwater
where required;
(f) analyse the stability of excavation and determine the ground stabilisation
or improvement works as appropriate;
(g) design soil or rock reinforcement, where applicable, including the
consideration of the structural and geotechnical capacity;
(h) determine the instrumentation and monitoring of geotechnical
engineering parameters such as tunnel face pressures, pore pressures,
water table level, ground deformation and stresses including the
consideration of location, type and number of instruments, and
frequency of monitoring and reporting; and
(i) assess monitoring results and site conditions to ensure that the
geotechnical aspects during construction are within design assumptions
and parameters at every critical stage of construction, and review or
modify the design so as to ensure its adequacy as appropriate.
2. In the preparation of plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of any
excavation or any building works for constructing, altering or repairing any earth
retaining structure (including slope) in or for a caisson, cofferdam, trench, ditch,
shaft or well for supporting earth which has a depth of more than 6 metres, the
qualified person shall —
(a) determine the site investigation, namely type, extent (which shall include
quantity, layout and depth), method of sampling, coring and laboratory
tests results for the design and construction of the earth retaining
structure including earth slope;
(b) analyse the site investigation results and determine the geotechnical
parameters for the design of the earth retaining structure including
consideration of onerous water conditions, seepage pressures, and
surcharge, earth, water, construction and accidental loadings;
(c) determine and adopt appropriate method or model for the analysis and
design including the consideration of drained, undrained and
consolidation analyses, and appropriate drainage conditions;
(d) determine suitability of earth retaining structure types and scheme, and
the method and sequence of construction;
S 250/2008 10
EIGHTH SCHEDULE — continued
(e) analyse the stability of the excavation work, taking into consideration
groundwater, drainage and seepage conditions, basal heave, hydraulic
uplift and piping, and determine the ground stabilisation or improvement
works as appropriate;
(f) determine allowable limits of ground deformation and changes in
groundwater and piezometric levels, and measures to control groundwater
where required;
(g) design tie-backs, soil or rock reinforcement, where applicable, including
the consideration of the structural and geotechnical capacity;
(h) ensure that drawings of the earth retaining structure, including earth
slopes, are consistent with the calculations relating to the geotechnical
aspects;
(i) determine the instrumentation and monitoring of geotechnical engineering
parameters such as pore pressures, water table levels, ground deformation
and stresses including the consideration of location, type and number of
instruments, and frequency of monitoring and reporting; and
(j) assess monitoring results and site conditions to ensure that the
geotechnical aspects during construction are within design assumptions
and parameters at every critical stage of construction, and review or
modify the design so as to ensure its adequacy as appropriate.
3. In the preparation of plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of such
type of foundation works for buildings of 30 or more storeys, the qualified person
shall —
(a) where a caisson, raft or piled-raft foundation is adopted —
(i) determine the site investigation, namely type, extent (which shall
include quantity, layout and depth), method of sampling, coring
and laboratory tests results for the design and construction of the
caisson, raft or piled-raft foundation;
(ii) analyse the site investigation results and determine the
geotechnical parameters, such as soil strength and deformation
characteristics, pile shaft friction, downdrag, pile base resistance
or bearing pressures and pile lateral geotechnical capacity, for the
design of the foundation taking into consideration the onerous
water conditions, seepage pressures, and loads from surcharge,
earth, water and construction;
(iii) determine and adopt appropriate method or model for the analysis
and design including the consideration of drained, undrained and
consolidation analyses, and appropriate drainage conditions;
(iv) determine suitability of the foundation type and the method of
construction;
(v) where applicable, determine and analyse the negative shaft friction;
11 S 250/2008
EIGHTH SCHEDULE — continued
(vi) ensure that the drawings of the foundation are consistent with
the calculations relating to the geotechnical aspects;
(vii) analyse the stability of excavation for the caisson or raft during
construction taking into consideration groundwater, drainage and
seepage conditions, basal heave, hydraulic uplift and piping, and
determine the ground stabilisation or improvement works as
appropriate;
(viii) analyse the forces and deformation of the raft or pile-raft
foundation and stability of the foundation including the
consideration of short-term and long-term conditions;
(ix) determine the number, location and types of load tests, analyse
the results of load tests; or
(b) where a caisson, raft or piled-raft foundation is adopted —
(i) determine the site investigation including the extent (which shall
include the quantity, layout and depth), method of sampling,
coring and laboratory tests results for the design and construction
of the piled foundation;
(ii) analyse the site investigation results and determine the geotechnical
parameters such as soil strength and deformation characteristics,
negative skin friction or downdrag, pile shaft friction, founding
depth, pile base resistance, pile group effects, settlement, bearing
capacity, and where applicable, lateral geotechnical capacity; and
(iii) determine the load tests and analyse results of load tests to ensure
that the pile shaft friction, founding depth, base resistance, pile
movement, and other appropriate geotechnical parameters are
within the design, and as appropriate, review or modify the design
so as to ensure its adequacy.
PART II
DUTIES OF SUPERVISING QUALIFIED PERSON
FOR THE GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF
UNDERGROUND BUILDING WORKS
1. In the supervision of geotechnical aspects of any excavation or other
building works to make a tunnel with a diameter, width or height of more than
2 metres, the supervising qualified person shall —
(a) supervise the implementation of instrumentation and monitoring of
geotechnical parameters in accordance with the instrumentation and
monitoring plan; and
(b) assess the ground conditions at the site and construction of the tunnel in
relation to its impact on the geotechnical aspect of the design and review
S 250/2008 12
EIGHTH SCHEDULE — continued
the performance and results of instrumentation and monitoring of the
tunnelling works such that the geotechnical aspects are within the design
at every critical stage.
2. In the supervision of geotechnical aspects of any excavation or any
building works for constructing, altering or repairing any earth retaining structure
including slope, in or for a caisson, trench, ditch, shaft or well with a depth or height
of more than 6 metres, the supervising qualified person shall —
(a) supervise the implementation of instrumentation and monitoring
of geotechnical engineering parameters in accordance with the
instrumentation and monitoring plan;
(b) determine adequacy of the founding or penetration depth of embedded
earth-retaining wall on site; and
(c) assess the ground conditions at the site and construction of the earth
retaining structure (including earth slope) in relation to its impact on the
geotechnical aspect of the design and review the performance and results
of instrumentation and monitoring of the earth retaining structure
including earth slope such that the geotechnical aspects are within the
design at every critical stage.
3. In the supervision of geotechnical aspects of such type of foundation works
for buildings of 30 or more storeys, the supervising qualified person shall —
(a) where a caisson, raft or piled-raft foundation is adopted —
(i) determine the founding or penetration depth of the caisson, raft
or piles on site; and
(ii) assess the ground conditions at the site and construction of the
caisson, raft or piled-raft foundation in relation to its impact on
the geotechnical aspect of the design, analyse the results of load
tests, and review the performance and results of instrumentation
and monitoring of the caisson, raft or piled-raft foundation to
verify that the geotechnical aspects are within the design at every
critical stage; or
(b) where jacked-in piles or driven piles or bored cast in-place piles or
barrettes are adopted —
(i) determine the founding or penetration depth of the piles on site;
and
(ii) assess the ground conditions at the site, analyse the results of load
tests, and review the performance and results of instrumentation
and monitoring of the piles to verify that the geotechnical aspects
are within the design at every critical stage.’’.
13 S 250/2008
Saving
11. Notwithstanding anything in these Regulations, the principal
Regulations in force immediately before 1st October 2008 shall
continue to apply to underground building works which started before
1st October 2008 as if these Regulations have not been enacted.
[G.N. Nos. S 598/2004; S 549/2005; S 478/2007; S 495/2007; S 54/2008]
Made this 5th day of May 2008.
TAN TEE HOW
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of National Development,
Singapore.
[eReg; AG/LEG/SL/29/2002/1 Vol. 6]
(To be presented to Parliament under section 52 of the Building
Control Act).
