Singapore is looking ahead to ensure its buildings and infrastructure stay safe as they age. With a significant portion of buildings already over 30 years old, and that number set to double in the next decade, regular check-ups are becoming more important than ever. Just like people need regular health check-ups, buildings need inspections and maintenance to stay sound and prevent serious issues.
We’ve seen what happens when buildings aren’t maintained – sadly, there have been cases of collapse overseas due to structural problems from age and neglect. To avoid such tragedies, Singapore has put in place two key inspection programs: Periodic Structural Inspection (PSI) and Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI).
Key Takeaways
- Aging Infrastructure: A growing percentage of Singapore’s buildings are over 30 years old, requiring increased attention.
- Inspection Regimes: PSI and PFI are in place to ensure buildings are structurally sound and facades are secure.
- Proactive Maintenance: Owners need to be more proactive in maintaining buildings beyond mandatory inspections.
- Technology’s Role: Tools like drones and scanning tech can help detect issues early.
Periodic Structural Inspections (PSI)
The PSI program has been around since 1989. It requires buildings, except for landed homes, to be inspected every 10 or 5 years, depending on their use. For mixed-use buildings like shophouses, the inspection is every five years because the ground floor is used commercially. Over the years, the PSI has been updated. In 2022, the inspection checklist was expanded to cover more vulnerable building parts, based on lessons learned from past issues. It also now includes guidance for inspecting newer building materials and designs. In 2023, a "differentiated PSI" was introduced, and as of 2024, civil engineering structures like jetties and bridges are also included in the PSI regime.
Data from PSI shows that most buildings in Singapore are generally safe and in good condition. Each year, about 7,000 buildings are inspected, and only around 1% show significant defects that need further checking. However, when defects do appear, they are often due to poor maintenance of older buildings. Owners sometimes wait only for the mandatory PSI instead of doing regular off-cycle maintenance. When repairs are done, they might use the wrong materials or methods, leading to the same problems coming back.
Periodic Façade Inspections (PFI)
Introduced in 2022, the PFI specifically targets the risk of facade components becoming loose. This rule requires regular checks of the building’s external facade. Between January 2022 and December 2024, about 10% of reported cases showed unsafe defects that were fixed in time, preventing potential incidents. Some examples of these rectified defects have been shown.
What Can Be Done?
To keep our buildings safe, we need to catch problems early. Taking action before defects get worse can save a lot of money and hassle. Building owners play a big part in this. Being proactive with maintenance, rather than just relying on scheduled inspections, is key.
Fortunately, we now have tools to help detect issues sooner. Drones can reach difficult spots, and scanning technology can inspect hidden structural parts. Several vendors offer these technologies, and their value is truly seen when owners actually use them.
To help owners, a "Good Practice Guide on Building Maintenance" was published in 2022. The industry is also regularly reminded about maintenance through circulars, with the latest one issued in June. Ultimately, keeping our buildings safe requires a proactive approach. This means managing risks by intervening early, using effective repair methods, and using technology to be more efficient. Building owners need to step up and make regular, proactive maintenance a priority.