Issues on Newly Introduced Accredited Checker's System in Singapore Practice

In Singapore, before June 1, 1989, a professional engineer's (PE) design was not required by law to be checked by others. Instead, the design was deemed to be accepted by the building control unit and constructed accordingly by the builder on site. The building control bylaw, which governs the practice of engineering and building control functions, has been revised with fundamental and drastic changes to include a checking element in the relevant act. The accredited checker's (AC) system is introduced according to the new Building Control Act 1989 (BCA'89), which had adopted a totally different approach. BCA'89 requires a project PE's design to be checked by another independent PE called the accredited checker (AC) who is accredited by the Building Authority of Singapore. In addition to this requirement, the vetted design has to be subsequently checked and approved by a newly established branch called the building structural branch (BSB). These changes are so fundamental that they will definitely have a far-reaching effect in Singapore practice. This paper serves to discuss the fundamental changes made and their implications contained in BCA'89. Responses and controversial views from the industry are analyzed, and the author's view is presented.