Industry Players Support Move To Strengthen Building Control Rules

Source : Channel NewsAsia, Thursday, September 20, 2007

Construction industry players have expressed support for the government’s move to strengthen the building control regulatory framework, but they hope it will not stifle the buoyancy of the construction sector which has picked up in recent years.

While the licensing scheme will weed out fly-by-night companies and raise standards in the construction sector, contractors said the stringent criteria might make it difficult for smaller firms.

They are also concerned about the possible grounds for disciplinary action, which they hope will be more clearly defined.

Desmond Hill, president of Singapore Contractors Association, said: “The issue of revocation of licence or suspension should be more clearly defined and it should not be too wide and all-embracing that for anything and everything, you can be suspended. And I would like the connections to MOM’s (Ministry of Manpower’s) debarment scheme to be de-linked.”

“To me suspension of licence is a serious threat to the company’s operations because it means basically it can’t operate, it can’t construct. When it can’t construct, it can’t bid for jobs,” he added.

Engineers also backed the review on construction practices, and welcomed the involvement of geotechnical experts in the process.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said there are some 55 geotechnical engineers in Singapore, which should be enough to meet local demand.

Industry players said the changes will have an impact on construction cost and duration, even though the increase may be marginal.

However, one of their major concerns is the stiffer punishment that will be meted out for non-compliance.

The BCA said the penalties, which include fines and jail terms, will be doubled under the new legislation.

Chong Kee San, honorary secretary of Singapore’s Institution of Engineers, said: “Additional measures like increasing fines and jail term would not serve its purpose, because this would only deter talented individual from coming into the construction industry and making a career out of it.”

He added that the changes to the building regulations should be sufficient as most construction failures in Singapore arise out of mistakes in judgement rather than gross negligence. - CNA/ac