Singapore commits S$112 million more to built environment R&D, sets new site supervision rules for large-scale projects

SINGAPORE: Singapore has committed another S$112 million (US$88 million) in research and innovation funding to improve the productivity and sustainability of its built environment, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said on Wednesday (Sep 2).This is part of a range of measures announced by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat at the opening ceremony of the International Built Environment Week to transform the sector. The event, held at Marina Bay Sands, runs from Wednesday to Friday. The extra S$112 million, under the next phase of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan, will go towards the Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme and the Built Environment Technology Alliance (BETA) Catalyst Programme.The latest round of funding will drive research and innovation in four key areas over the next five years, in line with Singapore's latest priorities:Promoting productive and safe demolition methods to meet urban rejuvenation needs, while enhancing productivity and minimising disamenities in built-up areasExpanding capabilities to model building lifespans, improve maintenance reliability and the timeliness of repairsReducing embodied carbon and improving energy efficiency towards achieving net zero carbon emissions in the built environment by 2050Turning research and innovation outcomes into industry applications through the BETA Catalyst Programme The investment is "in tandem with growing industry momentum and confidence", BCA said.It noted that more private-sector players are investing in research and innovation across successive RIE tranches, such as by co-developing innovations, taking part in pilot trials or adopting promising solutions in their projects.The funding initiatives aim to deepen such collaboration by bringing together built environment firms, researchers and institutes of higher learning to "translate promising research into practical solutions that address real-world challenges, which can be adopted by industry", it added.The Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme is a multi-agency effort led by the Ministry of National Development that uses research and innovation to support Singapore's development over the longer term. Under the previous RIE tranche, S$46 million was set aside in 2022 for research into advanced construction and facilities management.The BETA Catalyst Programme is an ongoing initiative that builds industry capabilities by encouraging stakeholders to share strengths and resources. It separately received an extra S$20 million in 2022 to support industry-led research and innovation.The first grant call for the Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme is expected to launch in October this year, with more details to be given closer to the launch.BCA said: "Keeping Singapore liveable and resilient over the long term requires sustained investment in research and innovation that will shape how Singapore builds, maintains and renews its built environment."REFRESHED GREEN MARK SCHEMESingapore's green building certification scheme will also be refreshed to accelerate decarbonisation and promote a greener built environment, in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.The BCA Green Mark Version 7 has three key objectives: greening more of Singapore's building stock, mainstreaming Super Low Energy buildings, and making sustainability more practical and achievable.The refreshed scheme will introduce a new rating focused solely on a building's energy performance, letting owners invest in energy-efficient improvements with a clear return on investment.It will include SLE70, a new Super Low Energy tier, achieved by delivering more than 70 per cent energy savings against a building typology's 2005 baseline. Alternative cooling technologies such as hybrid cooling, active chilled beams and passive displacement cooling will also be recognised under the Green Mark Version 7 scheme. BCA noted that these technologies can achieve up to 50 per cent energy savings compared to conventional air-conditioning systems.Owners with large portfolios of similar properties will also be able to re-certify multiple buildings at the same time, while buildings with sustained energy performance can extend their certification validity from three years to up to five.NEW SITE SUPERVISION ACCREDITATION SCHEMEFrom 2028, large-scale structural works projects valued above S$75 million will be required to appoint BCA-licensed firms to carry out site supervision services.BCA said that remote site supervision is increasingly being adopted, allowing firms to supervise multiple project sites virtually using digital tools such as data platforms, smart glasses and live-streaming devices.It added that engaging BCA-licensed firms for supervision would ensure that projects have the necessary resources, expertise and the latest technology to meet evolving demands.The Singapore Accreditation Council has launched the Site Supervision Firm Accreditation Scheme, under which firms must first be accredited before they can get a BCA licence to provide the mandatory services for large-scale structural works projects.To qualify, firms must meet requirements on competence, impartiality and consistent operations in accordance with specified standards. They must also demonstrate the necessary technical expertise, staffing and professional experience, and have structured training programmes in place.BCA encouraged developers and builders to engage accredited site supervision firms ahead of the new requirements in 2028.