Structural Plans and Permit Approvals

As the Qualified Person (QP) appointed for structural works, you need to get approval for the structural plans and a permit before work can start.

Building works exempted from structural approval or permit

You will need a permit for all building works except for insignificant building works, as stated in the First Schedule of the Building Control Regulations.

Who can apply

Approval for building plans	Permit to start structural works
A QP who is a registered professional engineer in the civil or structural discipline.	The developer, QP and builder who will carry out the works must make a joint application.

When to submit applications

Type of submission	Time taken for BCA to respond (working days)
Project where an accredited checker’s certificate is not required	7
Projects where an accredited checker’s certificate in required	10 (First submission) 14 (Subsequent submissions)
Permit to carry out structural works	7

Note:

You can apply for a permit together with your application for approval of structural plans or after obtaining plan approval.
You can seek approval of structural plans in phases (e.g. piling, substructure or basement and superstructure), or submit multiple plans for independent structures if your project is complex.
If there are material changes (i.e. changes that require a re-design of key structural elements) to the approved plans during building, you must obtain approval before carrying out the proposed change on site. If changes are immaterial (i.e. changes that do not affect any key structural element or if they do, the effects are localised in nature and do not require a re-design of key structural elements), you can proceed without prior approval. However, you must keep and maintain a record of all changes and incorporate them in subsequent structural plans.

Forms and documents

You must submit the following forms and documents for building plan approval and permit for start structural works.

Application type

Required forms and documents

Approval of structural plan

Application for approval of structural plans - Form BCA-BE-STAPPV01 (BEV/A1).
Declaration by a qualified person for structural works for the approval of structural plan (retaining wall) – Form BCA-BE-STAPPV01-RW and BCA-BE-STAPPV01-A1/Appendix.

One set of detailed structural plans that have to be signed by the QP for structural works, and the first and last sheets of the plans have to be endorsed by the QP with a certificate as shown in Appendix B.
One set of building plans (i.e. architectural plans) for reference, signed by the QP who prepared them.
One set of structural design calculations. The first and last pages of each book of design calculation must be signed and endorsed by the QP for structural works with a certificate as shown in Appendix B.
A copy of valid planning permission or lodgement receipt or letter of no-objection (for erection of retaining wall in emergency cases) from the Competent Authority, URA.
Plan fee computation for building plans where applicable.
Calculations of structural buildability score – Form BCA-BE-BS02 (BEV/A1-BS02) where applicable.

Permit to start structural works

Application form – BCA-BE-Permit (BEV/B1)
Relevant appendices to the BCA-BE-Permit (BEV/B1)

Exceptional cases will require additional forms and documents as follows.

Submission type	Required forms and documents
Those requiring an AC certificate	Accredited Checker’s Certificate – Form BCA-BE-STAPPV01-ACC (BEV/A2) Accredited Checker’s Checklist in Design Evaluation Report - Form BCA-BE-ACCHECKLIST (BEV/A3) An evaluation report accompanying one set of the AC’s independent structural analysis and design check calculations The standard certification by AC as shown in Appendix C Note: Refer to the Second Schedule of the Building Control (Accredited Checkers and Accredited Checking Organisations) Regulations and Fourth Schedule of the Building Control Regulations for information on works requiring and exempted from an AC.
Those involving A&A works	Plans that are endorsed by a professional engineer with a certificate as shown in Appendix D, if the structural stability or integrity of the building is not affected. An AC’s certificate, if the work materially affects the key structural elements of the building (e.g. modifications such as strengthening).
For Geotechnical Building Works (GBW)	The standard certification by QP(Geo) as shown in Appendix E The standard certificate by AC(Geo) as shown in Appendix F
For fixings or claddings	QP should provide certification letter from main QP and AC (if QP cladding is different from main QP) on load transfer consideration.
For Alternative Solution	The QP for structural works is to submit the form BCA-BE-AS (Schedule of Alternative Solutions).
For site investigation works	The certification as shown in Appendix A shall be indicated on the first and last page of site investigation report. The document shall accordingly be endorsed by a Professional Engineer.

BEV_ERSS	Design Considerations for Earth Retaining or Stablising Structures (ERSS)	Apr 2024
BEV_PC	Supervision of pile load test & piling works and Monitoring of building settlement	Apr 2024
BEV_TUN	Site Inspection and Approval Records and Ground Movement Assessment Record for tunnelling works	Apr 2024
BEV/LP	Communication Plan for Landed Development Projects: Landed House_Annex 1 - Notification of Building Works to Neighbours - Request for Consent for Access Landed House_Annex 2 - Notification to CBC on Communication Plan - Notification to CBC on Status of Pre-construction Survey - Notification to CBC on Consent for Access - Notification to CBC on Concreting for RC Wall Abutting Existing Party or Boundary Wall	Apr 2024
BCA-BE-PERMIT_A4	Deployment of site supervisor(s) at different phases of construction	Jan 2018
Template_Site Supervision_Plan	Template for Site Supervision Plan	Apr 2024