Proposed Enhancements to the Builders’ Licensing Scheme for Specialist Builders

Building and Construction Authority

Consultation Period: 20 Aug 2024 - 20 Oct 2024

Status: Closed

Detailed Description

1. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is inviting feedback on enhancements to the builders’ licensing scheme for Specialist Builders.

Background

2. The Builders’ Licensing Scheme (“BLS”) was introduced in 2009 to ensure that builders have the required capabilities to undertake the building works safely.  The scheme requires builders to be equipped with qualified personnel and with sound financial health (in the form of paid-up capital).

3. Currently, there are two types of licences, the General Builder (“GB”) licence and Specialist Builder (“SB”) licence. The SB licences are required for builders undertaking any of the following 6 types of specialist building works: (i) piling works; (ii) ground support and stabilization works; (iii) instrumentation and monitoring works ; (iv) structural steelwork; (v) precast concrete work; and (vi) in-situ post-tensioning work.

4. BLS requirements have largely remained unchanged since its inception in 2009. However, the conditions in the building industry have since evolved, with builders embarking on works that are increasingly complex and larger in scale over time. These complex building works would involve a high proportion of specialist building works, which have a high impact on public safety and require additional expertise, skills and resources for their proper execution. As such, it is important for these works to be carried by competent builders, including the SB sub-contractors carrying out the specialist building works.

5. We seek the public’s feedback on the following enhancements to the builders’ licensing scheme for Specialist Builders:

   1. to require Specialist Builders’ licences for all sub-contractors of Specialist Builders who are carrying out specialist building works;

   2. to regulate any person who supplies any structural pre-cast concrete and structural steelwork used in building works in Singapore; and

   3. to impose accreditation/ certification of Specialist Builders by a professional or technical body or organisation as part of licensing requirements.

Public Consultation Paper

6. The public consultation paper can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

Invitation to Provide Feedback

7. Please submit your feedback by 20 October 2024 via FormSG using the following button / link: 

https://go.gov.sg/feedbackonspecialistbuilderslicence

8. Your feedback is important to us. All comments received will be considered. However, we seek your understanding that we will not be able to individually acknowledge or address every comment. To maintain confidentiality, we will anonymise and aggregate the results of this engagement exercise in any public disclosure.

9. Thank you.

Public Consultation Paper - Specialist Builder Licensing Scheme v2 [PDF, 698 KB]