Singapore commits additional S$112m to built environment R&D, unveils new site supervision rules
Singapore has committed another S$112 million to built environment research and innovation under the RIE 2030 plan. The Building and Construction Authority also announced a refreshed Green Mark scheme and mandatory accredited site supervision for large-scale projects from 2028.
Singapore has committed an additional S$112 million to research and innovation for the built environment, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced on Wednesday (2 Sep) at the International Built Environment Week at Marina Bay Sands. The funding, under the next phase of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan, will support the Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme and the Built Environment Technology Alliance (BETA) Catalyst Programme over the next five years.
The latest round targets four key areas: promoting safe demolition methods for urban rejuvenation; expanding capabilities to model building lifespans and improve maintenance reliability; reducing embodied carbon and improving energy efficiency towards net zero by 2050; and turning research into industry applications through the BETA Catalyst Programme. BCA said more private-sector players are investing in research across successive RIE tranches, and the initiatives aim to deepen collaboration between firms, researchers and institutes of higher learning. The first grant call for the Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme is expected to launch in October.
BCA also announced a refreshed BCA Green Mark Version 7 scheme, introducing a new rating focused solely on a building's energy performance to help owners invest in efficiency with a clear return on investment. The scheme includes a new Super Low Energy tier, SLE70, which requires 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 be recognised, with BCA noting they can achieve up to 50 per cent energy savings compared with conventional air-conditioning. Owners with large portfolios can now re-certify multiple buildings simultaneously, while buildings with sustained energy performance can extend certification validity from three to five years.
From 2028, large-scale structural works projects valued above S$75 million will be required to appoint BCA-licensed firms for site supervision services. BCA cited the increasing adoption of remote site supervision using digital tools such as data platforms, smart glasses and live-streaming devices. The Singapore Accreditation Council has launched the Site Supervision Firm Accreditation Scheme, under which firms must be accredited before obtaining a BCA licence to provide mandatory services. Firms must meet requirements on competence, impartiality and consistent operations, and demonstrate technical expertise, staffing and structured training programmes.
