{"id":32337,"date":"2020-04-05T17:24:51","date_gmt":"2020-04-05T09:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=32337"},"modified":"2022-06-13T17:24:56","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T09:24:56","slug":"construction-renovation-works-cease-covid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/construction-renovation-works-cease-covid\/","title":{"rendered":"All construction and renovation works to cease from 7 April: BCA"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In line with the Singapore government’s Covid-19 circuit breaker<\/a> measures that includes the suspension of all non-essential activities at workplace premises, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has issued an advisory stating that all construction and renovation work nationwide are to cease for one month, from 7 April 2020 to 4 May 2020 inclusive:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“…all work, including all building works as defined in the Building Control Act (Cap. 29), are required to cease with effect from 7 April 2020, 0000 hours to 4 May 2020, 2359 hours (both dates inclusive).<\/p>\n

All stakeholders of the construction industry, including developers, builders, qualified persons, site supervisors and construction material suppliers, must comply with the work suspension…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The building works defined in the building control act covers the whole gamut of construction and renovation work, from site formation works at the start of a project to all renovation works in completed buildings.<\/p>\n

Construction sites and worksites will come to a standstill for the duration of the circuit breaker period, which is an especially timely decision since Covid-19 clusters have been surfacing in foreign worker dormitories<\/a>. (The construction industry employs a large proportion of these workers.)<\/p>\n

BCA’s announcement is expected to have a massive impact on developers and homeowners, who have already faced prior delays to their projects<\/a> due to the lockdowns in China and Malaysia.<\/p>\n

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Construction sites in Singapore will come to a standstill from 7 April onwards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Government will protect developers, contractors and interior designers<\/h2>\n

To protect firms and individuals with contractual obligations affected by Covid-19, the government will soon pass a new Bill to relief them of their contractual obligations for six months from the commencement of the legislation, but may be further extended for up to a year.<\/p>\n

This means that their clients (e.g. a homeowner whose renovation is delayed) will be unable to claim damages arising from any delays that occur during this relief period.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The relief period will be sufficiently long, as companies in the supply chain need time to reboot their processes and restore production to full capacity after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.<\/p>\n

[Recommended article:<\/em>\u00a0Covid-19 Latest: Condo showflats to shut from 7 April to 4 May 2020<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Risk of hazards to the public minimised<\/h2>\n

To ensure that ongoing projects will be safe and not pose a danger to anyone during and after the circuit breaker period, the BCA also ordered the following to be executed prior to the worksite shutdowns:<\/p>\n

“All project parties (i.e. developers, builders, qualified persons and site supervisors) must immediately carry out all necessary works to ensure the structural safety and integrity of ongoing building works, so that the building works may be suspended safely and remain safe for the full duration when the work suspension is in force.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The authorities also understand that certain forms of necessary works might take more time. Project parties may write to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to request for a time extension, so don’t be alarmed if you see activity at some construction sites on 8 April.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, you don’t have to be worried about Aedes mosquitoes breeding in suspended worksites.<\/strong> The BCA has assured that all work deemed essential, such as environmental protection of the project site (e.g. dengue control), will continue as per normal throughout the circuit breaker period. The security of the worksites will also be maintained along with regular checks on structural safety and integrity.<\/p>\n

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Don’t worry, dengue control will still be carried out regularly at suspended worksites.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Household emergency fixes and repairs still allowed<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Homeowners also won’t be stranded if an emergency\u2014such as a burst pipe in the kitchen\u2014happens around the home. That’s because the government counts the following as “essential services”:<\/p>\n