Tag Archives: Building and Construction Authority

Two GLS sites to adopt PPVC

Posted on 13 Nov 2014 | Comments Off on Two GLS sites to adopt PPVC

Two upcoming Government Land Sales (GLS) sites at Yishun Avenue 4 and Jurong West Street 41 will need to adopt Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC), an advanced technology in construction.

These sites are scheduled to be released for sale in November and December 2014 respectively.

This is in line with the revised Building Control (Buildability and Productivity) Regulations announced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), which now requires using labour-efficient construction methods and building design to improve construction productivity.

From 1 November 2014, projects are required to use prefabricated and standardised components. Specifically, all non-landed residential developments are required to adopt drywall as internal partitions for dry areas. New projects will also have to be built based on standardised floor heights and building components (such as precast staircases, precast refuse chutes and doors).

Next, they have to meet higher minimum Buildable Design and Constructability standards to make buildings easier to construct and encourage the use of efficient construction methods and processes.

Lastly, residential non-landed sites, including Executive Condominiums (EC), and the residential component of mixed-use sites sold under the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme will have to adopt productive technologies for projects, such as using Prefabricated Bathroom Units (PBUs, pictured).

The adoption of PPVC will also be imposed on selected GLS site.

PPVC involves assembling whole rooms or apartment units complete which are produced off-site and installed on site in a Lego-like manner. PPVC also enhances worksite safety as prefabrication of the building modules are done in factories.

Other projects which have adopted PPVC include a student hostel at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and a building extension to the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel.

An upcoming Executive Condominium (EC) in Sembawang by City Developments Limited (CDL) will also be built using PPVC, making CDL the first developer in Asia to adopt PPVC for a large-scale residential project.

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BCA recognises individuals for contributing to sustainable design

Posted on 26 May 2013 | Comments Off on BCA recognises individuals for contributing to sustainable design

Several individuals have been recognised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for bringing Singapore’s standard of sustainable design to greener heights. They were awarded the Green Building Individual Award at the annual BCA Awards on May 16.

In 2013, a new award — the Young Green Building Individual Award — recognises young individuals under the age of 40 who have made outstanding personal contributions in the field.

A “green” hospital

One example of sustainable design can be seen in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. With space at a premium, plants are stacked vertically — from planter boxes hanging outside wards, to a central courtyard growing in the basement, and a community garden on the roof.

The hospital’s design also takes advantage of the neighbouring Yishun Pond and other water features to make for a healing environment. The courtyard also acts as the hospital’s heart — as it is designed to be the point of reference for visitors and patients to orientate themselves around the hospital ground.

With 35 per cent of the building being naturally ventilated, it leaves the hospital vulnerable to the elements.

Jerry Ong, a commendation award winner at the BCA Awards and principal architect at CPG Consultants, said: “In Singapore context, the rain can come suddenly, the rain can come in horizontally and there’s no way you can protect against the rain. So through a period of about three months, we explored various options — we did mock-ups.

“In the end, we decided to opt for automated blinds. Six months after the (hospital’s) opening, they are all already in place.”

“Recycled” roads

In the research lab of building material company Samwoh, waste material comprising of asphalt, rubber, concrete and bitumen are given a new lease of life — as recycled materials that can used to pave the roads.

The company runs tests that include running a weighted wheel over slabs of asphalt mixes to test for durability.

Dr Kelvin Lee, the winner of the Young Green Building Individual Award and technical manager at Samwoh Corporation, said: “Over the years, we have developed a number of recycled materials that have been accepted by the authorities — namely the recycled concrete aggregate which is derived from demolishing buildings or even reclaimed asphalt pavement from asphalt pavement waste.

“Recycling provides an option whereby we do not need to rely on others and we can be self-sufficient.”

In Singapore, recycled concrete aggregate for example has been used to pave parts of Changi Airport’s airfield. The company also used recycled concrete in its buildings.

Source CNA – 26 May 2013

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