Singapore legislation
Section 8
Section 8
Independence of registered inspectors
(1)
At the time of carrying out his or her duties and responsibilities or exercising his or her powers as a registered inspector under this Act, a registered inspector must not have a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works in respect of which the duties and responsibilities or powers are to be carried out or exercised.
(2)
A registered inspector is regarded as having a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works if —
he or she is or has been responsible for or acting as consultant to the design or construction of the building or relevant pipeline, or any of the fire safety works in any capacity;
he or she or any nominee of his or hers is a member, officer or employee of a company or other body which has a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works; or
he or she is a partner or is in the employment of a person who has a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works.
(3)
For the purposes of this Act —
a person is to be treated as having a professional or financial interest in the building or relevant pipeline, or any part thereof, or fire safety works even if the person has that interest only as trustee for the benefit of some other person; and
in the case of a husband and wife living together, the interest of one spouse is, if known to the other, deemed to be also an interest of the other.
(4)
For the purposes of this Act —
involvement in the fire safety works as a registered inspector; and
entitlement to any fee paid for his or her function as a registered inspector,is not regarded as constituting a professional or financial interest.
(5)
Any person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence.[6