Singapore legislation
Clause 28
Clause 28
Periodical inspection of buildings
(1)
Subject to subsection (2), the Building Authority may, by notice served on the owner of a building to which this Part applies, require the building to be inspected.
(2)
In relation to any building to which this Part applies, a notice under subsection (1) may be made —
where the building (other than a special building) is used other than solely for residential purposes — after the fifth year commencing from the date the first certificate of statutory completion was issued in respect of the building and thereafter at intervals of not less than 5 years from the completion of the last inspection of the building under this section; or
where the building is a special building or is used solely for residential purposes — after the tenth year commencing from the date the first certificate of statutory completion was issued in respect of the building and thereafter at intervals of not less than 10 years from the date of the completion of the last inspection of the building under this section.
(3)
Every owner of a building to which this Part applies shall, on receipt of a notice under subsection (1), cause the building to be inspected in the prescribed manner by a structural engineer appointed by the owner and if the notice is not complied with, the Building Authority may inspect the building or cause the building to be so inspected by a structural engineer appointed by him and may recover all expenses reasonably incurred by the Building Authority in the exercise of his powers under this subsection from the owner of the building.
(4)
The structural engineer who is appointed by the owner of a building or the Building Authority under subsection (3) to carry out an inspection of a building under this section shall be entitled at all reasonable times to full and free access to the building and any part thereof he is required to inspect and any person who hinders, obstructs or delays the structural engineer in the performance of his duty shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $200 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(5)
A structural engineer appointed under subsection (3) to carry out an inspection of a building under this section shall —
carry out the inspection in a prescribed manner;
on completion of the inspection, prepare and sign a report of the result of the inspection; and
serve a copy of the report on the Building Authority within such period as the Building Authority may specify in the notice under subsection (1).
(6)
Without prejudice to the right of the Building Authority to exercise his powers under subsection (3), any owner of a building who contravenes or fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(7)
Any structural engineer who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (5)(a), (b) or (c) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(8)
The Minister may by order provide for the application of this section with such adaptations or modifications as may be specified therein to buildings in respect of which no certificate of fitness for occupation has been issued under regulations made under the repealed Act.