1 Oct 2005

BP CONSULTATION WITH
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS
Building and Construction Authority
Building Plan Department
Introduction

The purpose of these Guidelines is to assist the qualified person (QP) to ascertain which
technical departments are to be consulted in connection with the building plans which he
intends to submit to the Building Plan Department (BPD) for approval under the Building
Control Act. The number of technical departments to be consulted is dependent upon the
nature and extent of the submission.

Under the new Building Plan (BP) Submission System introduced on 2 May 1997, the
responsibility is placed on the qualified person, after lodging the project reference number
and project title with the BPD, to consult those relevant technical departments and obtain
their clearances for BP approval for submission to BPD.

The technical departments listed in these Guidelines may not be totally exhaustive. If other
specialised authorities or departments are involved or required to be consulted, they may be
stipulated as a planning condition in the Notice of Grant of Written Permission from URA.
The qualified person is advised to consult these specialised authorities or departments
stipulated in the planning condition early. Where the qualified person has doubts as to
whether a particular authority or department needs to be consulted, he is advised to liaise
directly with such authority or department early so that the approval of plans will not be
delayed or held up because of late consultation with the department.

Certain submissions may also involve the following authorities:

(a) Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS);
(b) Air Plans Department of RSAF HQ, MINDEF; and
(c) Conservation Unit of URA’s Planning Division.
List of Technical Authorities/Departments

The relevant technical authorities or departments should be consulted if the submission

involves the type or class of building works as specified by the respective technical
authorities or departments.
SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE
Fire Safety & Shelter Department
Civil Defence Complex
91 Ubi Avenue 4
Singapore 408827
Tel: 62800000
Fax: 62842048

The Fire Safety & Shelter Department (FSSD) is to be consulted if the submission is for any
type of development or building works except:

(a) conventional houses such as detached, semi-detached, terraced or linked houses

not exceeding 3 storeys or levels, including basement;
(b) alterations and additions to detached, semi-detached and terraced houses not more
than 3 storeys or levels, including basement;
(c) alterations and additions to residential flats, maisonettes, townhouses which do not
increase the floor area or affect common areas , entrance doors, or walls separating
the residential units from the common areas and escape routes within units which are
required to have 2 exit doors:
(d) swimming pools to detached, semi-detached and terraced houses;
(e) retaining walls, fencing and boundary walls;
(f) guardhouses;
(g) detached bin centres;
(h) oil sumps and grease interceptors;
(i) chimneys;
(j) awnings over windows and doorways;
(k) flag poles and signboards;
(l) cooling towers;
(m) ATM machines, ticketing kiosks and taxi kiosks not being part of a building;
(n) temporary construction site offices and bangsals not exceeding 3 storeys in height;;
(o) Goliath cranes at shipyard.
(p) Standalone single-storey Electrical Substations not exceeding 22KV.
(q) Standalone single-storey Main Distribution Frame (MDF) rooms.
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES

Central Building Plans Unit

40 Scotts Road #13-00
Environment Building
Singapore 228231
Tel: 67327733
Fax: 67319725

The Central Building Plans Unit (CBPU) should be consulted if the submission involves:

(a) Sewerage Matter:

(i) all new developments;

(ii) additions and alterations(A&A), or reconstruction to existing buildings with
public sewer located within the development site; except for A&A works under
the BCA Simplified Submission System for existing landed houses as defined
in Form BPD_BP06;
(iii) all sewerage proposals such as sewers/sewage pumping mains, sewerage
pumping installations or sewage treatment plants, etc.;
(iv) any proposed structures in the vicinity of public sewer.

(b) Drainage Matter:

(i) all new developments;

(ii) reconstruction works;
(iii) additions and alterations to existing buildings except for “Simple A & A
Works” as defined by BCA in Form BPD_BP06;
(iv) drainage proposals or retaining wall proposals affecting drainage
reserves/common drain.

(c) Environmental Health Matter:

(i) All new developments except for landed housing projects;

(ii) additions and alterations(A&A) involving a change of use to non-residential
purpose or for A&A to any premises subject to approval by the Director-
General of Public Health such as foodshops or eating establishments,
markets, supermarkets, licensed swimming pools ( ie. pool where the public
has access to or one which serves more than one dwelling unit ), stables &
cattle sheds, dormitories, crematoria and funeral parlours;
(iii) existing developments with proposed changes to refuse chute, bin centre or
licensed swimming pool;
(iv) deletion of sanitary facilities in public buildings (ie. buildings where the
general public is expected to walk-in).
(d) Pollution Control Matter:

Any new development or addition & alteration (A&A) to the existing building/facility
that involves one or more of the following:
(i) Generation of industrial wastewater, air pollutants, farm waste or toxic
industrial wastes;
(ii) Installation of any fuel burning equipment, air or noise pollution control
equipment, incinerator, oil/chemical tank, chemical store or wastewater
treatment plant;
(iii) Installation of any mechanical ventilation/centralised air-conditioning system
in a commercial or residential development adjacent to any residential or
noise-sensitive premises.
LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
Development and Building Control
251 North Bridge Road
Singapore 179102
Tel: 1800-CALL LTA (1800-2255582)
Fax: 63328223
1
LTA shall be consulted on roads matter, railway protection matter and vehicle parking matter
(a) Roads matter:
(i) a new development or re-development;
(ii) the construction of a new road, bridge or tunnel;
(iii) the widening or improvement to existing road, bridge or tunnel;
(iv) any work within/over road reserve, road widening strip or on the entrance
culvert;
(v) any retaining structure which is either supporting a road or, in the case where
the structure is supporting the development, is located adjacent to a road;
(vi) the provision or re-location of any road related facilities such as bus
bays/shelters, taxi shelters, traffic signs, directional signs or traffic lights;
(vii) a new, additional or temporary access connection to an existing road; and
(viii) any work within a public walkway.
(b) Railway Protection matter:
(i) a building development within the MRT Railway Protection Zone;
(ii) restricted activities within the MRT Railway Protection Zone as defined in the
Mass Rapid Transit (Railway Protection, Restricted Activity) Regulations ;
(iii) a building development within the MRT Railway Corridor; and
(iv) engineering works within the MRT Railway Protection Zone. Clearance is
required from this Office before works in the railway protection zone and
railway corridor can commence on site.
(c) Vehicle Parking matter:
LTA shall be consulted for vehicle parking proposals except developments relating to
the following:
(i) developments in off-shore islands;
(ii) bungalows/detached houses, semi-detached and terrace houses where at
least 1 car porch is provided per house;
(iii) development of land for the purpose of farming;
(iv) amendments, additions and alterations which do not involve additional floor
area or conversion of use of floor area which do not affect existing or
approved parking layout or provision;
(v) ancillary use of HDB void decks;
(vi) change of use of premises which involves less than 150 m²of gross floor area;
(vii) developments within any rapid transit system stations; and
(viii) renewal of written permission in respect of new erections.
NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
Policy & Planning Division
Singapore Botanic Gardens
1 Cluny Road
Singapore 259569
Tel: 64717808
Fax: 64723033
NParks is to be consulted for the following development proposals:
1 Within Development Compounds:
1.1
Private Sector: (including Statutory Boards)
(a) All developments that fall within the gazetted Tree Conservation Areas
(TCAs) or on any vacant land within the main island of Singapore or any of
the off-shore islands of Singapore.
(b) All developments, within or outside TCAs or on any vacant lands within
the main island of Singapore or any of the off-shore islands of Singapore, with
at grade open surface car parks proposals. (By lodgment scheme)
1.2
Public Sector
A development within the main island of Singapore or any of the off-shore islands of
Singapore.
2
Within Existing Public Road, for examples:
2.1 Entrance to a development, bin centre, substation
2.2 Improvement to existing roadside drains
2.3 Pedestrian Overhead Bridges
2.4 Promenades
2.5 Pedestrian Malls
2.6 Covered linkways
3
New Roads To be Constructed Under Street Work Act (SWA).
4
Conventional Housing Development With Open Space Provision.
5
LTA station boxes and rail related structures, e.g. entrances, vent shaft, cooling towers etc.
6
Others that do not fall into any of the above but completed landscaping /plantings are
required to be handed over to NParks for subsequent maintenance.
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The URA Centre
45 Maxwell Road
Singapore 069118
Tel: 62216666
Fax: 62275069
1
Building Plan Approval under Section 3 of the Foreshores Act (Cap 113)
The Chief Executive Officer of URA should be consulted if the submission involves :
(a) construction of any sea wall, river wall or revetment along the bank of any port, river
or channel;
(b) or erection of any permanent building or structure within 15.0 m of the foreshore or of
any such bank.
Section 3 of the Foreshores Act shall not apply to any property held by the Port of
Singapore Authority or any other statutory body as the Minister may, by notification in
the Gazette, appoint.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Education Programmes Division
Pre-School And Special Education Branch
51, Grange Road
Blk 1, Level 4
Singapore 249564
Tel: 6838 7308
Fax: 6836 2102
1 Pre-School Education Unit
1.1
This unit should be consulted if the submission is for or involves a kindergarten.
Higher Education Division
1, North Buona Vista Drive
Tower Block Level 20
Singapore 138675
Tel: 68797326
Fax: 67768604
2 Private Schools Section
2.1
This section should be consulted if the submission is for or involves a private school or
institution of learning except those run and operated by statutory boards.
PRESERVATION OF MONUMENTS BOARD
c/o National Archives of Singapore
1 Canning Rise
Singapore 179868
Tel: 63323516
Fax: 63390782
1
The PMB should be consulted if the submission involves -
(a) alterations and additions to any building gazetted or safeguarded as a monument for
preservation; or
(b) any additions or new erections on land within the gazetted boundaries of the
monument.
2
Please liaise and refer directly to the Preservation of Monuments Board for a complete and
updated list of monuments or buildings which are gazetted or earmarked for preservation by
the Board as follows:
(a) CATEGORY A: Buildings gazetted and placed under the protection of
the Board;
(b) CATEGORY B: Government and civic buildings, statues, memorials
and bridges which are of historical and/or architectural
interest;
(c) CATEGORY C1: Buildings under consideration for Category A;
(d) CATEGORY C2: Buildings with possibilities for preservation;
(e) CATEGORY D: Private residences which are of historical and/or
architectural interest.
Footnote:
This set of Guidelines has been drafted in consultation with the various technical
authorities/departments
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
HDB Hub
480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh
Singapore 310480
Tel : 64901111
Fax: 68543208
1
General
1.1
Housing Development Board (HDB) should be consulted if the submission involves
proposed works on HDB properties ( both rental and sold). This includes:
(a) New Developments(Residential / Commercial / Industrial)
(b) Upgrading (MUP, LUP, IUP+, RUP, HUP)
(c) Addition and Alteration Works to the following:
(i) void deck of residential block
(ii) commercial units at 1st sty of residential blocks (including living quarters)
(iii) HDB commercial & industrial properties
(iv) HDB Estates (works by Town Councils)
(v) HDB Electrical Substation (ESS)
(d) Demolition works for redevelopment

Technical Resource (C&S & Arch) Unit:

2.1
This Unit should be consulted if the submission involves the following:
a) Architectural Works
b) Civil and Structural (C&S) works
C&S plans should be cleared with HDB before they are submitted to BCA.
3
Technical Management (M&E) Unit:
3.1
This Unit should be consulted if the submission involves mechanical and electrical works for
new development and upgrading projects. Fire safety works (M&E) for new development and
upgrading projects, plans should be cleared with HDB before they are submitted to FSSD.