The government’s aim in setting stricter quality standards is to provide homebuyers with more assurance and confidence when purchasing private homes.
Real estate developers in Singapore will be required to adopt higher standards for the construction processes and quality of materials used in new private residential projects launched in the future.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will update its national standards for assessing construction quality, with a greater focus on issues such as water ponding, water seepage, and glass breakage.
Under the BCA’s Construction Quality Assessment System (CONQUAS), the most recent condominium project to achieve the highest quality standard is The Tapestry, located in Tampines.
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This includes using more durable materials such as engineered wood and carrying out off-site construction in a controlled environment before transporting components to the project site for assembly.
This framework helps to assess the quality of a building’s components, such as floors, walls, windows, and waterproofing works, as well as its external surfaces like the roof.
Overall, design and material sourcing are also part of the assessment.
Its purpose is to ensure that developers build to a standard that meets consumer expectations.
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The latest version of CONQUAS will apply to all projects for which construction tenders are called from this June, and the updated CONQUAS rating system will also check for issues such as water seepage, water ponding in common areas, and glass breakage.
Singapore’s Minister for National Development mentioned that CONQUAS will include tests for glass materials used in balconies or shower screens and will require project teams to provide a three-year warranty for these materials, which will offer greater assurance to homebuyers.
He also noted that additional checks for water seepage or ponding in common areas will be included. The aim is to prevent problems that could affect the hygiene of these areas and the health and well-being of residents.
In the future, residential projects, real estate developers, and builders will also be graded. This grading will not just be a score but will be based on their track record and feedback collected from the public. Its purpose is to make it easier for owners to assess the potential quality of a building before buying, while also motivating developers and builders to deliver better buildings.
This also helps to ensure that a similar incident involving Kingsford Development does not happen again.
In 2019, the developer’s project, Normanton Park, was issued a ”no-sale licence” because its two previous projects (Kingsford Hillview Peak and Kingsford Waterbay) had deviated from the requirements of the Building Control Act and Regulations.
The BCA stated that 95% of private residential projects use the CONQUAS rating, and over the past three decades, the average score for building projects has increased by 35%.
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