Building Products in Building Codes and Inspections
Singapore’s experience
IRCC Workshop, May 2010, Tokyo, Japan
Overview• Almost all construction products are imported
– Labour– Raw materials e.g. aggregates– Partially-finished products e.g. steel– Finished products & equipment
• Standards based mainly on British, moving towards Eurocodes
• Regulators depend on qualified professionals and their supervisors to check for code compliance
• Deterrence against non-compliance• Some examples
Statutory responsibilities of professional engineer
Professional engineer:• To supervise construction of structural elements• To be assisted by qualified site supervisors• Carry out tests
• Material tests – concrete, steel etc• Site tests – pile capacity, welding etc
• Tests to be done by accredited laboratories or testing agencies
• Provides a Certificate of Supervision after completion of structural works
Licensed Builder:
• To carry out works according to approved plans
• Builder submits a Builder Certificate after completion before occupancy permit is issued
Statutory responsibilities of builder
Statutory responsibilities of Fire Safety professionals
• Material to be selected from approved listof fire safety products/materials
• Tests to show compliance by accepted Certification Bodies/Labs
• Where Fire Safety Professional or his SS has doubts about a product’s authenticity that has been delivered to site, he can require samples to be taken and sent for testing at “accepted labs”
• Fire safety works to be inspected by Registered Inspector before occupancy permits can be granted
deterrence against non-compliance
Penalty for not supervising according to approved plans (Site Supervision Team)
• (a) S$20,000 fine; or • (b) imprisonment for 2 years; or• both (a) and (b) above
Penalty for not carrying out construction tests (QP)
• (a) S$50,000 fine; or • (b) imprisonment for 1 year; or• both (a) and (b) above
Penalty for (QP) not supervising and for (Builder) not constructing according to approved plans:
• (a) S$200,000 fine; or • (b) imprisonment for 2 years; or• both (a) and (b) above
Penalty for carrying out fire safety works without plan approval
• (a) S$50,000 fine; or • (b) imprisonment for 1 year; or• both (a) and (b) above
Some examples - import of aggregates for concrete
• Need to control alkali-silica reactivity (ASR)(low alkali cement, total alkalinity limit)
• 3-stage (S1, S2 & S3) quality screening checks on chemical properties of imported aggregates for new sources/suppliers
• Complemented with tests to be done by RMC• RMC to be accredited to ensure tests are
properly carried out (mandatory from Oct 2010)
IRCC Workshop, May 2010, Tokyo, Japan
Product Certification for Structural Steel
Structural steelMills supplying structural steel should have Factory Production Control Certificates (FPC) issued by an independent third-party international certification agency*
*The agency must be acceptable to BCA,for e.g. Bureau Veritas, TUV Rheinland,
Det Norske Veritas (DnV), Lloyd’s Register,Germanischer Lloyd (GL), ABS, Moodyand other recognized notified bodies.
FPC
?
What’s BC1?
• Design Guide on Use of Alternative Steelmaterials to British Standard (BS) 5950
• “Alternative” Steel >> manufactured to non-BS/EN Standards
stockists or mills supply steel with marking of heat number on them along with the
mill test certificate & FPC.
IRCC Workshop, May 2010, Tokyo, Japan
what happens if the heat number marking drop off or become
unreadable?
It is possible !!! • For major projects in Singapore, QPs
are advised to engage Independent Testing Agencies (ITAs).
• ITAs check material traceability, testing regime, fabrication process etc in ensuring the steel material and workmanship meet design intent.
material traceabilityStructural steel from mills with valid FPC (audited mills) with reliable traceability = Class 1Steel from mills without FPC = Class 2 (i.e 10% reduction in strength) + tests in accredited labs by batch/heat number
BC1 moving forward…BC1 quality assurance requirement in terms of factory production control (FPC) certification can also be extended to steel specialist builders who are producing steel components and carrying out erection of steel works.
Such FPC system already exists in BS EN1090 execution standards for steel structures. We are studying this at present for implementation.
Re-use of steel struts in ERSS• struts used to brace ERSS are re-used• how to ensure they are of good quality and in workable condition?
solutiona quality assurance system for re-use of steel struts developed with following key features:
• BC1 based approach to provide a measure of quality control
• “third-party” independent audits by Inspection Bodies
Mechanical & chemical composition test for all struts (100%)
No Yes
CLASS 3
CLASS 1
No
Mechanical & chemical composition test per batch/lot or every 200T whichever more
frequent
Batch/lot known?Mechanical & chemical composition test for every 200T
BC1 certified material?
CLASS 2
Valid FPC & MTC @ time of delivery?
material re-usability
Yes
NoUse in earth retaining or stabilizing structures for excavation works
Yes No
Every steel section with unique marking that makes reference to a “birth-cert” containing its essential properties and information
Upon return from site
Re-conditioning
Can be reconditioned?
Quality test regime which include at least the following inspection checks:•Corrosion (rate and adequate corrosion protection i.e. blasting & painting, etc.)
•Condition of bolt, bolted and welded connections
•Section dimension [thickness on flange (6 spots) & web (3 spots) to BS EN 10034]
•Straightness (verticality of web plane to BS 5950‐2)
Rejected & cannot be re-used
IRCC Workshop, May 2010, Tokyo, Japan
Steel rebars• Importers have to produce mill certificates for rebars. • QPs have to ensure samples are taken of rebars delivered to site to carry out tests at accredited labs. Sampling rate of about 25~45 t for testing.• After switch-over to Eurocode, FPC for rebars will be introduced as well !
Concluding remarks . . .• QPs, Site Supervision Teams and builders have key role to play in ensuring that code compliant material which are tested at accredited labs are used• Where traceability cannot be established, QPs have to ensure more stringent testing is carried out to satisfy that the material meets design intent and standards.• Regulations have provisions for deterrence (fines/imprisonment) for serious violations
We shape a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly built environment.
Thank you
www.bca.gov.sg
BCA WEBSITE
STAGE 1 : PRE-SHIPMENT (S1 Test)
• Tests to be cleared before first shipment of aggregates can be imported
• S1 test involves :-– Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR) - petrographic
examination + Mortar bar method ( if petrographic yield borderline results)
When the first shipment arrives in Singapore, we will extract samples from the first shipment for Stage 2 Confirmation Test, in short S2 Test) in Singapore. S2 Test serves to authenticate the source declared by the importer during pre-arrival testing. The test scope for S2 Test is identical with that for S1 Test. The full cost of the tests is borne by the supplier. As the duration of S2 Test spans over an estimated period of 3 weeks or more, holding back these shipments till the completion of the tests presents potential financial burdens (e.g. barges incurring demurrage charges) and logistic difficulties (e.g. finding storage sites). Hence, an importer is allowed to unload the first shipment aggregates at his storage yard for quarantine purpose until its S2 Test result has passed the requirements. The unloaded quarantine aggregates must be separated from the rest of his stock in a distinct way acceptable to SMD. While awaiting the completion of S2 Test, it is the duty of the importer to ensure that the aggregates are NOT used until S2 Test results have met our acceptance criteria. The importer should not bring in other shipments from the same source while S2 Test is ongoing, unless he is able to demonstrate to SMD that all the imported aggregates while awaiting for S2 Test results would go directly to quarantine site for quarantine and that proper control measures (fencing, access control and security etc.) are in place. Nonetheless, BCA would caution the importer that importing subsequent shipments during S2 Test brings with it a risk of having to dispose a greater amount of material in the event that his source fails to meet the acceptance criteria for Stage 2 Test. Once the S2 Test has passed, the importer is allowed to continue importing and selling aggregates from his source. Random Test (in short, S3 Test) with one or more test components from S1/S2 Test will be conducted on subsequent shipments of aggregates from the approved source. The cost of S3 Test will be borne by importers if the S3 RTest results fail to meet BCA’s acceptance criteria. The cost of S3 Test will be borne by BCA if the test results met our acceptance criteria. The importer is allowed to use / sell the imported aggregates and import more aggregates while the S3 RTest on the shipment samples is on-going. The test components of S3 RTest could be governed by the suggested frequencies below: alkali-silica reactivity (petrography) – at least once per 3 years chloride content – at least once per year sulphate content – at least once per year Chloride and Sulphate content in aggregates can also be determined by field test methods using simple experimental setup and chemical test strips to indicate the amount of ions present in the aggregates. These field tests can be performed at the unloading point at frequencies higher than the above suggestion.
STAGE 2 : CONFIRMATION (S2 Test)
• Tests on samples from first shipment
• Test scope same as S1 Test
• Aggregates under quarantine while tests are ongoing
next slide
Presenter
Presentation Notes
When the first shipment arrives in Singapore, we will extract samples from the first shipment for Stage 2 Confirmation Test, in short S2 Test) in Singapore. S2 Test serves to authenticate the source declared by the importer during pre-arrival testing. The test scope for S2 Test is identical with that for S1 Test. The full cost of the tests is borne by the supplier. As the duration of S2 Test spans over an estimated period of 3 weeks or more, holding back these shipments till the completion of the tests presents potential financial burdens (e.g. barges incurring demurrage charges) and logistic difficulties (e.g. finding storage sites). Hence, an importer is allowed to unload the first shipment aggregates at his storage yard for quarantine purpose until its S2 Test result has passed the requirements. The unloaded quarantine aggregates must be separated from the rest of his stock in a distinct way acceptable to SMD. While awaiting the completion of S2 Test, it is the duty of the importer to ensure that the aggregates are NOT used until S2 Test results have met our acceptance criteria. The importer should not bring in other shipments from the same source while S2 Test is ongoing, unless he is able to demonstrate to SMD that all the imported aggregates while awaiting for S2 Test results would go directly to quarantine site for quarantine and that proper control measures (fencing, access control and security etc.) are in place. Nonetheless, BCA would caution the importer that importing subsequent shipments during S2 Test brings with it a risk of having to dispose a greater amount of material in the event that his source fails to meet the acceptance criteria for Stage 2 Test. Once the S2 Test has passed, the importer is allowed to continue importing and selling aggregates from his source. Random Test (in short, S3 Test) with one or more test components from S1/S2 Test will be conducted on subsequent shipments of aggregates from the approved source. The cost of S3 Test will be borne by importers if the S3 RTest results fail to meet BCA’s acceptance criteria. The cost of S3 Test will be borne by BCA if the test results met our acceptance criteria. The importer is allowed to use / sell the imported aggregates and import more aggregates while the S3 RTest on the shipment samples is on-going. The test components of S3 RTest could be governed by the suggested frequencies below: alkali-silica reactivity (petrography) – at least once per 3 years chloride content – at least once per year sulphate content – at least once per year Chloride and Sulphate content in aggregates can also be determined by field test methods using simple experimental setup and chemical test strips to indicate the amount of ions present in the aggregates. These field tests can be performed at the unloading point at frequencies higher than the above suggestion.
STAGE 3 : RANDOM TEST (S3 Test)
• Random tests on subsequent shipments
• Test scope include one or more test components from S2 Test
• Aggregates can be used while tests are ongoing
back
Presenter
Presentation Notes
When the first shipment arrives in Singapore, we will extract samples from the first shipment for Stage 2 Confirmation Test, in short S2 Test) in Singapore. S2 Test serves to authenticate the source declared by the importer during pre-arrival testing. The test scope for S2 Test is identical with that for S1 Test. The full cost of the tests is borne by the supplier. As the duration of S2 Test spans over an estimated period of 3 weeks or more, holding back these shipments till the completion of the tests presents potential financial burdens (e.g. barges incurring demurrage charges) and logistic difficulties (e.g. finding storage sites). Hence, an importer is allowed to unload the first shipment aggregates at his storage yard for quarantine purpose until its S2 Test result has passed the requirements. The unloaded quarantine aggregates must be separated from the rest of his stock in a distinct way acceptable to SMD. While awaiting the completion of S2 Test, it is the duty of the importer to ensure that the aggregates are NOT used until S2 Test results have met our acceptance criteria. The importer should not bring in other shipments from the same source while S2 Test is ongoing, unless he is able to demonstrate to SMD that all the imported aggregates while awaiting for S2 Test results would go directly to quarantine site for quarantine and that proper control measures (fencing, access control and security etc.) are in place. Nonetheless, BCA would caution the importer that importing subsequent shipments during S2 Test brings with it a risk of having to dispose a greater amount of material in the event that his source fails to meet the acceptance criteria for Stage 2 Test. Once the S2 Test has passed, the importer is allowed to continue importing and selling aggregates from his source. Random Test (in short, S3 Test) with one or more test components from S1/S2 Test will be conducted on subsequent shipments of aggregates from the approved source. The cost of S3 Test will be borne by importers if the S3 RTest results fail to meet BCA’s acceptance criteria. The cost of S3 Test will be borne by BCA if the test results met our acceptance criteria. The importer is allowed to use / sell the imported aggregates and import more aggregates while the S3 RTest on the shipment samples is on-going. The test components of S3 RTest could be governed by the suggested frequencies below: alkali-silica reactivity (petrography) – at least once per 3 years chloride content – at least once per year sulphate content – at least once per year Chloride and Sulphate content in aggregates can also be determined by field test methods using simple experimental setup and chemical test strips to indicate the amount of ions present in the aggregates. These field tests can be performed at the unloading point at frequencies higher than the above suggestion.
