Good progress made in key transformation focus areas for the built environment sector, supported by a skilled and competent local core

The Built Environment (BE) sector has reported good progress in its transformation efforts, in the key areas of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) and Green Buildings. Sharing the updates during the Ministry of National Development’s Committee of Supply debate today, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, also said the sector can look forward to new and higher skilled jobs for locals. 

Launch of the Construction and Facilities Management Industry Digital Plan (IDP)

2          In the area of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD), there are now 35 public and private sector projects piloting IDD, compared to 12 projects in 2018. The use of IDD in the built environment has reaped benefits such as productivity gains, with closer collaborations among stakeholders throughout the building life cycle; reduction of waste by minimising rework; and improving quality and site safety. Firms can tap on the Productivity Innovation Project (PIP) scheme under the BuildSG Transformation Fund (BTF) to support their IDD implementation.

3          To further help firms build up their digital capabilities, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), have developed the Construction and Facilities Management Industry Digital Plan (IDP). The IDP aims to guide SMEs in their digital transformation efforts through a 3-stage roadmap and will provide them with a step-by-step guide on the solutions to adopt at each stage of their IDD journey. We have set aside $19 million until January 2023 under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) to defray the costs for adoption of pre-approved digital solutions that improve productivity. SMEs can apply for this grant through the Business Grant Portal. More details will be shared in due course. 

Raising the bar for productivity in the built environment

4          As of 2019, the BE sector has achieved a 31% DfMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) adoption rate (in terms of Gross Floor Area) and is on track to reach the target of 40% this year. Looking further ahead, BCA aims to raise the adoption rate to 70% by 2025. We have enhanced the buildability framework in December 2019, and introduced changes, which includes mandating higher buildability standards for larger residential developments with GFA more than 25,000m². Moving forward, we will enhance the Buildability Framework further, to make DfMA the default way of building in Singapore.  

5          The public sector will also continue to take the lead in the adoption of DfMA. To this end, we will set aside $120 million under the Public Sector Construction Productivity Fund (PSCPF) for public sector agencies to adopt DfMA in projects launched by 2021.  For private sector projects, we will continue to provide funding support for projects which adopt DfMA technologies voluntarily through the PIP scheme.

Pushing for higher standards for a more sustainable Built Environment 

6          As of Dec 2019, Singapore has greened more than 40% of its buildings (by GFA), which is halfway toward the 2030 national target of 80%. To move to the next phase, BCA and the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) will co-create the next Singapore Green Building Masterplan (SGBMP 2020) with stakeholders from the public, private and people sectors, including Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs). 

7          One of the key initiatives under the SGBMP 2020 is to review the mandatory minimum environmental sustainability standards for buildings. To support the push towards more energy efficient buildings, BCA plans to raise the minimum energy performance standards for both new and existing buildings in the coming years. BCA will engage stakeholders to work on the details through the SGBMP 2020 co-creation process.

8          BCA also intends to publish the energy performance data for all buildings with the building’s name, address and energy performance data made public on BCA’s website. This will allow building owners to benchmark their buildings’ energy performance against others, encourage them to retrofit to improve their buildings’ energy efficiency, and benefit from energy savings.

Good jobs and a better working environment for locals 

9          As the BE sector continues to progress with industry transformation, there is a need for a strong core of local PMETs to sustain our efforts. Transformation has brought about new and higher-skilled jobs, which makes the sector more attractive to locals. For example, the wider adoption of DfMA technologies and Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the sector has created job roles such as BIM modellers, production managers, and logistics and supply chain planners, which would appeal to mid-career entrants and tech-savvy youngsters. On this front, BCA is working with the Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to enhance the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) for the BE sector. Those currently employed in the sector and those seeking a mid-career switch could apply for these PCPs. 

• PCP for BIM Professionals: The existing BIM PCP will be enhanced. Firms will now have the option of allowing their PCP participants to complete their full-time training in BIM first, before continuing with on-the-job training at the firms.This is in addition to the current model where PCP participants are trained in BIM concurrently while working with their firms on a part-time basis.
• PCP for DfMA: BCA and WSG are collaborating to develop new PCPs for DfMA, targeted at mid-career PMETs interested in prefabrication jobs. A firm-level PCP with Teambuild Construction will be open for applications by mid-2020.
• BCA and WSG will continue to work with the industry to roll out more PCPs in 2020 for in-demand jobs. More details will be announced later.

10        To complement workforce attraction and retention, BCA has been working with SSG and WSG to develop a Skills Framework for the BE sector. When launched later this year, the Skills Framework will provide clear skillsets required and career pathways for BE job roles, as well as wage information and training programmes for skills upgrading and mastery.

Annex A – Construction and Facilities Management Industry Digital Plan (IDP) (1.55MB)
Annex B – Productivity and DfMA (303KB)
Annex C – Green Buildings (405KB)
Annex D – Manpower (203KB)