Singapore Building Codes & Guides

Below is a summary of the various authority code of practice and guidelines for Architects to comply to with their designs.

BCA

BCA

Circulars

All Codes, Acts, and Regulations (BCA website)

Guidebooks

• Approved Document

  Approved Document (Version 7.07 March 2025) Approved Document 2019

  Understanding the Approved Document

• Accessibility Code of Accessibility 2025 (Circular)

  Code of Accessibility 2019

  Code of Accessibility 2013

• Buildability COP 2022 Addendum 2 2022

  Addendum 1 2022

  Older versions:

  COP 2020

  COP 2019

  COP 2017

  COP 2015

• Sustainability (Baseline Statutory Requirements)

  Baseline Requirements

  E-Filing Portal

  COP ES 4th Edition

  COP ES 3rd Edition

  Addendum 3rd Edition

• Green Mark 2021

  Criteria and Forms

  Embodied Carbon Calculator (phasing out soon)

• Green Mark 2015-2019

  Non-Residential 2015

  Residential 2016

  Landed Houses

  Transit 2018

• Universal Design

  Overview

  Guide to Universal Design index (UDi) 2022 Universal Design index Checklist (Jun 2022) BP Universal Design index Checklist (Jun 2022) TOPCSC Submission of completed UDi checklist Older version:

  Universal Design Guide for Public Places 2016

• Lifts

  Refer to SS 550: 2020

Good Practice Guide - Wind-Driven Rain in High Rise Residential Developments

Daylight Reflectance Guide

Design for Maintainability

PPVC (Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction)

PBU (Prefabricated Bathroom Unit)

MET (Mass Engineered Timber)

IDD, BIM Guide & Resources

Corenet X

URA

URA

• DC Handbook

  Residential Handbook

  Non-Residential Handbook

• GFA Handbook

  Summary PDF

  Online Handbook

• Development Charge/Land Betterment

  Land Betterment Charge (from 1/8/2022)

  Development Charge (old)

• Conservation

  Conservation Guidelines

  Additions & Alterations

Urban Design Requirements for Specific Areas

Circulars

SCDF

SCDF

Fire Code 2023 (Web)

Fire Code 2013

Fire Code 2013 Handbook

• Fire Safety Engineering

  Fire Safety Engineering Guidelines 2015

  FSE Circulars

  Performance Based Provisions

• Rapid Transit

  COP 2017

  COP 2022

• Technical Requirements for Household Shelters

  TRHS 2023 (Web)

  TRHS 2017

  Permitted and non-permitted works in HS

• Storey Shelter

  TRSS 2021

  Permitted & Not Permitted Works in SS

Shelter Circulars

Fire Code Circulars

NEA

NEA

https://www.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/resources/practices-and-guidelines/guidelines/practices

• Environmental Health COPEH 2024

  COPEH 2021

  COPEH 2017

• Boundary Noise Limits

  Boundary Noise Limits

  Technical Guide for Boundary Noise Limits

• Noise Impact Assessment

  Technical Guideline For Land Traffic Noise Impact Assessment

• Trade Effluent

  Allowable Limits for Trade Effluent Discharge to Watercourse or Controlled Watercourse

• Cooling Towers

  COP for Control of Legionella Bacteria in Cooling Towers (merged with COPEH 2024)

PUB

PUB

View more guides and handbooks https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Resources/Guides-and-Handbooks

• Surface Water Drainage

  COP 7th Edition with addendum

  Appendix & Standard Drawings

• Sanitary / Sewerage Works CODE OF PRACTICE ON SEWERAGE AND SANITARY WORKS (3rd EDITION – MAR 2025) (Circular)

  CODE OF PRACTICE ON SEWERAGE AND SANITARY WORKS P 2nd Edition 2019 with Addendum

  Sanitary Drawings

• Water

  Refer to SS 636:2018

• Active Beautiful Clean Waters (ABC) Waters Design Guidelines ABC Waters Design Guidelines Condensed Booklet of Engineering Procedures Engineering Procedures for ABC Waters Design Features (2024 Edition) Declaration Form for ABC Water Design Features

LTA

LTA

Quick Guides (very useful) https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/who_we_are/statistics_and_publications/journals_and_newsletters.html

• Street Works (Road & Transport)

  Forms & Guides

  Code of Practice on Street Works Proposals relating to Development Works (Version 2.0, Apr 2019)

  Code of Practice for Works on Public Streets (PDF, 1.3MB)

  Code of Practice for Traffic Control at Work Zone (PDF, 1.9MB)

• Vehicle Parking

  Forms & Guides

  Code of Practice on Vehicle Parking Provision in Development Proposals 2019

• Railway Protection COP for Railway Protection 2024

  Forms & Guides

  COP for Railway Protection

Transport Infrastructure Design Criteria & Specifications https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/industry_innovations/industry_matters/development_construction_resources/Transport_Infrastructure_Design_Criteria_and_Specifications.html

• Architectural Design Criteria (Revision A4, June 2015)

  Section 2 - Architectural Design Requirements (PDF, 292kB) Section 4 - Commuter Facilities Design Requirements and Checklist Forms (PDF, 1.4MB) Attachments to Section 4.3 - Bus Interchange (PDF, 956kB)

• Infrastructure Design Criteria (Revision A1, 2022)

  • Volume A: Introduction & Objectives (PDF, 241kB)

  • Volume B: Rail Infrastructure

    • Part I: MRT Station Requirements (PDF, 1.8MB)

    • Part I: Annexes (PDF, 2.5MB)

  • Volume C: Commuter Infrastructure

    • Commuter Infrastructure Requirements (PDF, 6.5MB)

    • Annexes (PDF, 8.6MB)

  • Volume D: Bus Infrastructure

    • Refer to Architecture Design Criteria Section 2 and 4.1 – 4.3 for Bus Interchange Requirements.

• Civil Design Critieria

  • Civil Design Criteria (Revision A2, Sep 2019) (PDF, 6.1MB)

• Standard Details of Road Elements (Revision G, 2025)

  The SDRE sets standards and guidelines for common road elements such as drains, kerbs and pavements as a reference for road construction.

  • [NEW*] The Standard Details of Road Elements (Revision G – MAR 2025) (PDF, 910kB)

  • The Standard Details of Road Elements (Revision F - APR 2024) (PDF, 894kB)

  *Note: The updated SDRE (Revision G – MAR 2025) will take effect from 1 June 2025. The existing version of the SDRE (Revision F – APR 2024) will no longer be available online from 1 June 2025.

Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) Guidelines for Developments

Guidebook on Lodgement of Development Submissions

J-walk Guidelines

The J-walk Guidelines set the guidelines for Wayfinding Signage across the Jurong Lake District 2^nd Storey Pedestrian Network.

• J-Walk Guidelines (PDF, 1.1MB)

Architectural Materials & Workmanship Specifications (Revision A1, June 2009)

• Architectural M & W Spec Rev A1 Sections 10 to 110 (PDF, 796kB)

• Architectural M & W Spec Rev A1 Sections 120 to 220 (PDF, 1MB)

• Architectural M & W Spec Rev A1 Sections 230 to 380 (PDF, 1.1MB)

Materials & Workmanship Specifications for Civil & Structural Works (Revision A2, Sep 2020)

• Materials and Workmanship Specifications for Civil and Structural Works (Revision A2, Sep 2020) (PDF, 6.3MB)

NPARKS

NPARKS

Guidelines for Greenery Provision (Version 4)

Flora Fauna Web

Circulars

WSH

WSH

Code of Practice for Working Safely at Heights

Confined Spaces

Design for Safety

Others

SPPG

Electrical Substation

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CityGas

Handbook on Gas Supply

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Singpost

Letterbox Specifications & Guidelines

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IMDA (TFCC)

Code of Practice for Info-communication Facilities in Buildings (COPIF)

https://www.imda.gov.sg/regulations-and-licensing-listing/code-of-practice-for-info-communication-facilities-in-buildings (for overview and older versions)

Code of Practice for Info Communication Facilities (COPIF) 2018

2018 Guidelines

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Do consult your seniors and QPs if you’re not sure on certain clauses.

It is important to understand the spirit of the clauses are (ie. why there are implemented in the first place)