Singapore legislation
Schedule 5
Schedule 5
Objectives and performance requirements for the design and construction of buildings
FIFTH SCHEDULERegulations 2, 4A(1)(c), 18(3A)(b), 18A(3)(b), 26, 27, 39(1) and 41E(1)Objectives and performance requirements for the design and construction of buildingsA.General 1. This Schedule sets out the objectives and performance requirements that must be complied with in the design and construction of a building. 2. The objectives and performance requirements set out herein are deemed to have been satisfied if the design and construction of a building complies with the acceptable solutions set out in the Approved Document. B.Structural Design and Construction Objective 3. The objectives of paragraphs 4 to 7 are to —
protect people from injury caused by structural failure;
protect people from loss of amenity caused by structural failure; and
protect other property from physical damage caused by structural failure. Performance requirement 4. A building, including its foundation, shall be designed and constructed so that the combined dead, imposed, wind and other intended loads can be sustained and transmitted by it to the ground —
safely; and
without causing such deflection or deformation of any part of that building, or such movement of the ground, as will impair the stability of any part of another building or property. 4A. A floating structure on a body of water, including the foundation of the structure, must be designed and constructed so that the combined dead, imposed, wind and other intended loads can be sustained and transmitted by the floating structure to the body of water supporting the structure —
safely; and
without causing such deflection or deformation of any part of the structure, or such movement of the structure’s foundation, as will impair the stability of any part of another building or property. 5. The building or structure shall be constructed with materials that are appropriate for the circumstances in which they are used. 6. Tests that are appropriate to the materials and building works concerned shall be performed on those materials and building works. 7. If a building or structure or any part thereof is to be demolished, the demolition works shall be carried out safely and without impairing the stability of any other part of that building or structure or another property. C.Headroom and ceiling height Objective 8. The objectives of paragraph 9 are —
to protect people from injury caused by inadequate headroom; and
to prevent loss of amenity caused by inadequate height of room or space. Performance requirement 9. Any room or space in a building must be provided with —
adequate headroom; and
adequate height,for the intended uses of the room or space. 10. The requirements in paragraph 9(a) and (b) do not apply to any of the following rooms or spaces:
any attic that —
does not exceed an area of 10 square metres; and
is in a house that is built for the owner’s own use;
any equipment or plant room;
the underside of any staircase or escalator if the staircase or escalator is not located along an access route or circulation space;
any toilet, bathroom or lavatory in any house built for the owner’s own use;
any store room not exceeding an area of 6 square metres. 10A. The requirement in paragraph 9(a) does not apply to any of the following rooms or spaces:
any corridor or lobby;
any toilet, bathroom, lavatory or powder room;
any localised area within a room or space where there is a drop in ceiling height due to physical constraints such as structural beams or building services. D.Accessibility in built environment Objective 11. The objective of paragraphs 12 to 15 is to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to easily gain access to and exit from the whole or part of a building, and that persons with disabilities, children between 90 cm and 120 cm in height, caregivers of infants, and nursing women are able to carry out their activities within the building with reasonable ease. Performance requirement 12. At least one access route shall have barrier-free features to enable persons with disabilities to —
approach the building or the vehicle park; and
have access to those spaces where they may be expected to work or visit. 13. Sanitary facilities that are appropriate for use by persons with disabilities, and sanitary facilities that are appropriate for use by children between 90 cm and 120 cm in height, shall be adequately provided for use by such persons. 14. Appropriate facilities for lactation and changing of diapers shall be adequately provided and be accessible for use by nursing women and caregivers of infants. 15. Appropriate wayfinding guides such as signages or audible or tactile information providing directions or instructions shall be adequately provided within a building to guide persons with disabilities to spaces or facilities where or which they may be expected to work, visit or use. E.Staircases Objective 16. The objective of paragraphs 17 and 18 is to protect people from injury and to facilitate access during movement from one level to another in a building. Performance requirement 17. A staircase (including a flight of 2 steps or more) shall provide a safe and suitable passage for the movement of people. 18. A staircase must have —
handrails or guides to assist movement;
landings to break a fall and provide a place for rest;
sufficient width, tread and riser to avoid injury;
sufficient headroom to avoid injury; and
barriers to prevent people from falling off the edge of any open side that has a drop of 1,000 mm or more. 18A. The requirement in paragraph 18(a) does not apply to a staircase located in any of following rooms or spaces:
any equipment or plant room;
any production area of an industrial building;
any house built for the owner’s own use. 18B. The requirements in paragraph 18(b) and (c) do not apply to a staircase located in any of the following rooms or spaces:
any equipment or plant room;
any production area of an industrial building;
any attic that —
does not exceed an area of 10 square metres; and
is in a residential building;
any house built for the owner’s own use. 19. [Deleted by S 665/2013 wef 01/04/2014] F.LightingObjective 20. The objective of paragraphs 21 and 22 is to protect people from injury or loss of amenity due to lack of lighting, whether natural or artificial. Performance requirement 21. Lighting shall be adequately provided in a building for its intended purpose. 22. Residential buildings, other than houses built by the owners for their own use, shall be provided with natural lighting for the purpose of paragraph 21. 22A. Despite paragraph 22, artificial lighting may be provided to any of the following rooms or spaces in a residential unit, instead of natural lighting:
any toilet, bathroom or lavatory;
any store room;
any basement;
any civil defence shelter. G.Ventilation Objective 23. The objective of paragraphs 24 and 25 is to protect people from loss of amenity due to lack of fresh air. Performance requirement 24. Ventilation shall be adequately provided in a building for its intended occupancy. 25. Residential buildings, other than houses built by the owners for their own use, shall be provided with natural ventilation for the purpose of paragraph 24. 25A. The requirement in paragraph 24 does not apply to any of the following rooms or spaces:
any store room not exceeding an area of 6 square metres;
any private lift lobby not exceeding an area of 6 square metres. 25B. Despite paragraph 25, mechanical ventilation may be provided in any of the following rooms or spaces in any residential development:
any fitness room;
any clubhouse;
any civil defence shelter;
any toilet, bathroom or lavatory;
any basement. H.Safety from falling Objective 26. The objective of paragraphs 27, 27A and 27B is to protect people from injury caused by falling from a height. Performance requirement 27. Where there is a vertical drop in level of 1000 mm or more, appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent people from falling from a height. 27A. Where a barrier is installed to prevent a person from falling from a height, the barrier —
must be sufficiently high to prevent a person from falling over the top of the barrier;
must not have any opening or gap that will allow a person to slip through the barrier; and
must not have any feature that facilitates a person in climbing over the barrier. 27B. Where glass is used as a part or the whole of a barrier, the glass used shall be able to withstand the loading for which it is designed and shall not be susceptible to spontaneous breakage or to shattering. 28. The requirements in paragraphs 27, 27A and 27B shall not apply to —
any roof which is accessible for maintenance purposes only and not easily accessible to the public; and
any area where the provision of a barrier would prevent it from being used as intended, such as a loading dock or pier, platform for loading or unloading of goods, or for the boarding or alighting of passengers, stage for performance or entertainment, golf driving range, equipment pit and the like. 28A. The requirement in paragraph 27A(a) does not apply to a barrier installed in any house built for the owner’s own use. 28B. The requirement in paragraph 27A(b) does not apply to a barrier installed in any of the following places:
any promenade or boardwalk at ground level along a waterfront;
any house built for the owner’s own use. 28C. The requirement in paragraph 27A(c) does not apply to a barrier installed in any of the following places:
any industrial building;
any promenade or boardwalk at ground level along a waterfront;
any bay window in a residential unit;
any house built for the owner’s own use. I.[Deleted by S 218/2025 wef 01/04/2025] 29. [Deleted by S 218/2025 wef 01/04/2025] 30. [Deleted by S 218/2025 wef 01/04/2025] 31. [Deleted by S 218/2025 wef 01/04/2025] 31A. [Deleted by S 218/2025 wef 01/04/2025] J.RoofObjective 32. The objective of paragraph 33 is to protect the roof of semi-detached houses, terraced houses and linked houses from physical damage when repairs, alterations or additions to the roof of an adjoining house are being carried out. Performance requirement 33. The roof shall be designed and constructed such that the roof of every house is separate and independent of each other. K.LiftsObjective 34. The objective of paragraph 35 is to provide a convenient means of vertical transportation.Performance requirement 35. A building comprising 5 or more storeys (including the ground level and any basement level) must be provided with at least one passenger lift. 36. [Deleted by S 616/2025 wef 01/10/2025] 36A. [Deleted by S 616/2025 wef 01/10/2025] 36B. [Deleted by S 616/2025 wef 01/10/2025] 36C. [Deleted by S 616/2025 wef 01/10/2025] L.Lightning Protection Objective 37. The objective of paragraph 38 is to protect a building against physical damage caused by lightning strike and to protect its occupants from the risk of lightning current being discharged through the building. Performance requirement 38. A lightning protection system must be capable of protecting the building against physical damage caused by lightning strike and protecting the occupants of that building from being exposed to any lightning current that is discharged through that building. M.Safety of windows Objective 39. The objective of paragraphs 40 and 41 is to protect people from injury caused by falling windows. Performance requirement 40. A window system shall be adequately designed and constructed with appropriate materials for its intended use. 41. A window system shall have —
window components, including fasteners, fixings, hinges and stays of adequate number, size and strength to safely support the weight of the window system and other loads imposed on it;
a structural frame profile that is of adequate size and strength and adequately reinforced at locations where screws or rivets are to be affixed; and
features and components to prevent the window from detaching, dislodging or falling during its intended use. N.Use of glass at height Objective 42. The objective of paragraphs 43 and 44 is to protect people from injury caused by spontaneous breakage of glass elements at height and by falling glass panels resulting from bond failure of structural sealant. Performance requirement 43. Where glass is used as a part or the whole of the facade, roof, canopy, wall or other type of overhead glazing of a building located at a height of 2.4 metres or more, whether situated within the interior or forming the exterior of a building, appropriate measures shall be taken to minimise the risk of injury to people in the event of spontaneous breakage of such glass elements. 44. Where structural sealant glazing is used in a glass curtain wall or other glass installation located at a height of 2.4 metres or more, whether situated within the interior or forming the exterior of a building, appropriate measures shall be taken to minimise the risk of injury to people in the event of falling glass panels resulting from bond failure of the structural sealant. O.Protection from injury by vehicles in buildingsObjective 45. The objectives of paragraphs 46 and 47 are to protect people from injury caused by a vehicle breaching designated spaces for vehicular access in a building.Performance requirement 46. Where the whole or part of a floor of a building allows vehicular access, such as a vehicle park or a ramp or route for vehicular access, appropriate barriers shall be installed to prevent vehicles from breaching the perimeter of the floor of the building. 47. Where any part of a building allows vehicular access near an area where people are likely to be present, such as a passenger pick‑up point, a vehicle park lift lobby and the like, appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent vehicles from encroaching into such areas.P.Daylight reflectanceObjective 48. The objective of paragraph 49 is to protect occupants of buildings in the vicinity of a building from loss of amenity caused by the reflection of sunlight off the external surface of that building, arising from the use of materials with high daylight reflectance. Performance requirement 49. The external surface (including a roof) of a building must be designed and constructed in a manner such that any reflection of sunlight off the external surface of the building does not result in loss of amenity to occupants of other buildings in the vicinity of that building.[S 134/2026 wef 01/04/2026][S 616/2025 wef 01/10/2025][S 218/2025 wef 01/04/2025][S 598/2004 wef 01/10/2004][S 4/2011 wef 01/07/2011][S 665/2013 wef 28/10/2013][S 665/2013 wef 01/04/2014][S 287/2016 wef 27/06/2016][S 709/2017 wef 15/12/2017][S 854/2023 wef 18/12/2023]