Statute Details
- Title: Building Control (Accredited Checkers and Accredited Checking Organisations) Regulations
- Act Code: BCA1989-RG2
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (regulations made under the Building Control Act)
- Authorising Act: Building Control Act (Cap. 29), s. 49
- Gazette Citation: G.N. No. S 149/1989
- Revised Edition: 2002 RevEd (31 Jan 2002)
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 26 Mar 2026
- Key Amendments Noted in Legislative History: S 55/2008; S 249/2008; S 592/2012; S 773/2024 (effective 04 Oct 2024)
- Key Provisions (as listed in the extract): ss. 1–11; First, Second and Third Schedules
- Deleted Provision: s. 6 (deleted by S 773/2024 w.e.f. 04/10/2024)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Building Control (Accredited Checkers and Accredited Checking Organisations) Regulations (“the Regulations”) establish a regulatory framework for the accreditation of professionals and firms that perform building plan checking and related compliance tasks in Singapore. In practical terms, the Regulations set out who may be registered as an “accredited checker” (and a “specialist accredited checker”), and what accredited checking organisations must have in place to be registered and to continue operating.
The Regulations operate alongside the Building Control Act, which governs building works and the approval process for building plans and submissions. Rather than requiring all checking to be done exclusively by government officers, the system permits qualified private professionals and organisations to carry out specified checking functions. This can improve efficiency and capacity, but it also creates a need for clear standards, accountability, and oversight—hence the detailed eligibility, duties, performance standards, and disciplinary mechanisms in the Regulations.
From a legal practitioner’s perspective, the Regulations are important because they define the eligibility criteria for registration, the scope of tasks that accredited checkers must carry out (as set out in the Schedules), and the compliance obligations that attach to accredited persons and organisations. They also provide for enforcement actions and an appeal route to the Minister, which matters in disputes about suspension, cancellation, or refusal to renew registration.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Accreditation Selection Panels (Regulation 2)
Regulation 2 establishes an “Accreditation Selection Panel” appointed by the Commissioner of Building Control. The Panel assists the Commissioner in determining whether an applicant has fulfilled prescribed requirements for registration as an accredited checker or specialist accredited checker. Notably, the Panel may interview applicants to assess whether they have “proper and recognised training and practical experience” in the design and construction of buildings sufficient to enable them to effectively perform their duties.
For practitioners, this is relevant in applications and renewals: interviews are expressly contemplated as a fact-finding mechanism, and the Commissioner’s decision-making is supported by a structured assessment process. The Panel is chaired by the Commissioner or a person appointed by the Commissioner, which underscores that the Commissioner retains ultimate regulatory control.
2. Qualifications for accredited checkers (Regulation 3)
Regulation 3 sets out the eligibility requirements for registration (and renewal) as an accredited checker. The core requirements include: (a) the applicant must possess qualifications that entitle them to be registered as a professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253); (b) the applicant must be a professional engineer registered in the civil or structural engineering discipline; (c) after such registration, the applicant must have at least 10 years of practical experience in the design or construction of buildings in Singapore at a professional level; (d) the applicant must be “deserving” by virtue of ability, standing, or special knowledge/practical experience; and (e) the applicant must be insured against professional liability for at least S$500,000.
There are also important carve-outs and discretion points. Regulation 3(2) provides that the minimum professional liability insurance requirement in paragraph (1)(e) does not apply where the accredited checker undertakes work required by the Act or building regulations, and the checker is a director, partner, member, or employee of an accredited checking organisation (i.e., the insurance may be addressed at the organisation level). Regulation 3(3) allows the Commissioner to waive the insurance requirement for a period if the applicant satisfies the Commissioner that they will not undertake accredited-checker work on their own behalf during that period.
Finally, Regulation 3(4) empowers the Commissioner to refuse renewal if the person’s registration has previously been suspended or cancelled. This is a significant enforcement lever: prior regulatory history can directly affect renewal eligibility.
3. Qualifications for specialist accredited checkers (Regulation 3A)
Regulation 3A introduces a specialist track for “specialist accredited checkers,” specifically in geotechnical engineering. The applicant must be a professional engineer registered under the Professional Engineers Act as a specialist professional engineer in geotechnical engineering. The experience requirements are more granular: either (i) at least 10 years’ professional-level civil/structural engineering experience after professional engineer registration, with at least 5 years in geotechnical engineering in Singapore; or (ii) at least 15 years’ civil/structural engineering experience, with at least 5 years in geotechnical engineering at a professional level in Singapore after registration.
As with Regulation 3, the applicant must be “deserving” based on ability/standing/special knowledge, and must have professional liability insurance of at least S$500,000. The Commissioner again has waiver discretion (Regulation 3A(2)) where the applicant will not undertake specialist accredited-checker work on their own behalf during a specified period. Renewal refusal for prior suspension/cancellation is also included (Regulation 3A(3)).
4. Requirements for accredited checking organisations (Regulation 4)
Regulation 4 sets out organisational eligibility. No firm may be registered (or have registration renewed) unless it meets several conditions. First, the firm must consist of or employ: (i) an accredited checker who is not a specialist accredited checker; (ii) two professional engineers registered in the civil or structural engineering discipline; and (iii) at least two other persons who are either professional engineers in the civil/structural discipline or possess qualifications enabling registration as such professional engineers.
Second, the accredited checker referred to in Regulation 4(1)(a)(i) must not undertake accredited-checker work on their own behalf or for any other accredited checking organisation. This restriction is designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure organisational accountability.
Third, the organisation must have ISO 9001 certification under the scope of “Structural Design Services.” This requirement embeds a quality management system expectation into the accreditation regime. Fourth, the organisation must be insured against professional liability for at least S$2 million.
As with individuals, the Commissioner may refuse renewal if the organisation’s registration has previously been suspended or cancelled (Regulation 4(2)).
5. Fees (Regulation 5) and deletion of Regulation 6
Regulation 5 provides a fee of S$150 for each application for registration or renewal for accredited checkers, specialist accredited checkers, and accredited checking organisations. Regulation 6 has been deleted by S 773/2024 with effect from 04 Oct 2024, indicating that the deleted provision is no longer part of the current regulatory scheme.
6. Duties, performance standards, and enforcement (Regulations 7, 7A, 8–11)
The extract confirms that Regulation 7 sets out duties of accredited checkers and accredited checking organisations, and Regulation 7A sets out duties of specialist accredited checkers. While the provided text is truncated after the start of Regulation 7(1)(a), the structure of the Regulations indicates that duties are central and likely include obligations to evaluate, analyse, and check compliance with building regulations and approved plans, and to carry out tasks in accordance with the Schedules.
Regulation 8 introduces a “certificate of adequacy,” which is typically associated with the checker’s certification that certain aspects of building works meet regulatory requirements. Regulation 9 requires a declaration of professional and financial independence—again, a key compliance safeguard to reduce conflicts and ensure objectivity. Regulation 10 addresses “failure to meet standards of performance,” which is the enforcement pathway for substandard work or non-compliance. Regulation 11 provides an appeal to the Minister, giving affected persons and organisations a formal route to challenge decisions.
7. Scheduled tasks (Second and Third Schedules)
The Regulations include a First Schedule, a Second Schedule, and a Third Schedule. The extract specifically identifies: (i) the Second Schedule as “Tasks that must be carried out by accredited checkers”; and (ii) the Third Schedule as “Tasks that must be carried out by specialist accredited checkers.” These schedules are critical for practitioners because they define the substantive scope of work that accredited checkers are expected to perform. In disputes about liability, negligence, or regulatory breach, the scheduled tasks often become the benchmark for what the checker was required to do.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are structured as a set of numbered regulations followed by schedules. The main body includes: (1) citation (Regulation 1); (2) the Accreditation Selection Panel (Regulation 2); (3) qualifications for accredited checkers (Regulation 3); (4) qualifications for specialist accredited checkers (Regulation 3A); (5) organisational requirements (Regulation 4); (6) fees (Regulation 5); (7) duties (Regulations 7 and 7A); (8) certification and independence requirements (Regulations 8 and 9); (9) performance standards and enforcement (Regulation 10); and (10) appeal to the Minister (Regulation 11).
The schedules then operationalise the duties by listing the specific tasks that accredited checkers and specialist accredited checkers must carry out. This “duties + schedules” design is typical of accreditation regimes: it links professional obligations to concrete deliverables and checking responsibilities.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to (i) individuals seeking registration or renewal as accredited checkers; (ii) individuals seeking registration or renewal as specialist accredited checkers (geotechnical engineering); and (iii) firms seeking registration or renewal as accredited checking organisations. They also apply to existing registered persons and organisations, because duties, performance standards, and enforcement mechanisms continue to govern their conduct after registration.
In addition, the Regulations indirectly affect building industry stakeholders who rely on accredited checkers and organisations for compliance-related certifications and plan checking. While the Regulations do not directly regulate all contractors or developers, they shape the compliance ecosystem by determining who may lawfully perform specified checking functions under the Building Control Act and building regulations.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This regulatory framework is important because it balances two competing needs: (1) enabling private sector capacity to support building control processes; and (2) ensuring that delegated checking functions are performed by competent, insured, and independent professionals and organisations. The eligibility requirements—especially professional engineering registration, minimum years of experience, and professional liability insurance—are designed to protect public safety and reduce the risk of defective or non-compliant building works.
For practitioners, the Regulations are also significant because they create enforceable duties and certification obligations. Where a building compliance issue arises, the accreditation status, the scope of scheduled tasks, and compliance with independence and performance standards can become central to determining regulatory breach and professional liability. The existence of an appeal mechanism to the Minister further means that disputes about suspension, cancellation, or refusal to renew can be litigated or administratively challenged within the statutory framework.
Finally, the organisational requirements—such as ISO 9001 certification under “Structural Design Services” and the prohibition on certain accredited checkers undertaking work on their own behalf or for other organisations—highlight that the regime is not merely about individual qualifications. It is also about governance, quality systems, and conflict management at the firm level.
Related Legislation
- Building Control Act (Cap. 29) (authorising provisions, including s. 49 and references such as s. 16(5))
- Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253) (professional engineer registration and discipline/specialist registration requirements)
- Building regulations (the substantive compliance framework that accredited checkers are required to evaluate against, and the work that is “required by the Act or the building regulations”)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Building Control (Accredited Checkers and Accredited Checking Organisations) Regulations for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.