Increasing Construction Productivity

through Buildable Design and

Constructability

Wong Jia Min

Buildability Development Department
Building and Construction Authority
Disclaimer
Important note: Information presented during this
sharing session and all materials in these slides are for
the purpose of the sharing only and NOT meant for
any other purposes. If you wish to use the materials for
any purpose, please seek the consent of the Building
and Construction Authority (BCA).
Why Buildability?

Raise productivity
from the onset at
design and planning stage
 Introduction to Buildability
Buildable Design Constructability
2001 Appraisal System (BDAS) 2011 Appraisal System (CAS)

• Extent to which building design facilitates • Extent to which builders employ

ease of construction construction technologies, methods and
processes that reduce the reliance on
• Assessed using the Buildable Design Score
foreign workers
(B-Score)
• Assessed using the Constructability Score
• Higher B-Score implies more efficient labour
(C-Score)
usage and higher productivity
• Higher C-Score implies more efficient
construction
 Buildable Design Appraisal System (BDAS)
• Code of Practice (COP) on Buildability
reviewed regularly to raise BDAS
construction productivity

• Applies to new works with GFA ≥ Structural Buildable

Wall Features
2,000 m2 System System
45% 10%
• 3S principles of buildable design :
45%
Standardisation
• Relative productivity of each building
Simplicity
system measured by Labour Savings
Single integrated elements
Index (LSI)
• Higher index indicates a more buildable
design and fewer workers needed
 BDAS - CODE OF PRACTICE (COP) VERSIONS

2001
2011

2002 2015
2013

2004

2014 2017

2005
 BDAS - Minimum Buildable Design Scores

• Minimum Buildable Design Score (B-Score) for different categories/sizes of buildings

 BDAS - Minimum Buildable Design Scores
Key Government Procuring Entities (GPEs) are

1. HDB 6. MOE
2. LTA 7. SPF
3. NEA 8. PA
4. MOT 9. JTC
5. MOH 10. Sport SG
 BDAS – Structural System
Use prefabricated and/or integrated LSI : Labour Saving Index
components to achieve higher B-Scores…

1-directional beams
Flat slab
Structural steel
2-directional beams
Flat plate
Adopt more labour-efficient
cast-in-situ designs…
Lower LSI
Full / Partial precast
Higher LSI

Manpower usage
 BDAS – Wall System
Adopt wall systems that are easier to install…

Dry walls Precast walls

Lightweight
concrete panels
x Blockwalls
x
Brickwalls

Lower LSI
Curtain walls
Higher LSI

Manpower usage
 BDAS – Wall System
Simple Design

Wilkie Studio

Design without High

Voids (<9m) &
Oceanfront Complex Form
Trevista
 BDAS – Wall System
Complex Design

Design with High

Voids (>9m) &
Complex Form
 BDAS – Buildable Features
Multi-tier precast columns

Standardisation of columns

Standard floor-to- Prefabricated Bathroom Units

floor heights Precast staircases
(PBUs)

Bonus points awarded for standardisation, repetition and use of integrated prefabricated
components…
 BDAS – Buildable Features
Mandatory items under COP2015

• Floor meshes for cast-in-situ areas

• Drywalls for internal dry partitions
• Standard floor-to-floor heights
• Standard door structural openings
• Standard precast refuse chutes
• Standard precast staircases
• Precast household shelters
• Prefabricated and pre-insulated air-con
ducting

Note: Depending on development types

 BDAS – Buildable Features
Bonus points awarded for modern construction systems

COP 2015
Mass Engineered Timber Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction
(MET) (PPVC)

Artist Impression Artist Impression

Artist Impression

NTU Sports Hall NTU North Hill Hostel Crowne Plaza Extenstion
 BDAS – Buildable Features
Bonus points awarded for modern construction systems

COP 2015
Prefabricated Bathroom
Prefabricated Modular MEP System
Unit (PBU)

Prefab Ceiling Module Prefab Plant Module

 Requirements for Prefabricated Systems
for Industrial GLS (IGLS) Sites
COP 2015
Minimum
GFA ≥ 5,000m2 GFA ≤ 25,000m2
Prefabrication Level
Structural System
in respect of total
structural floor area of
20% 35%
the building works
Wall System
in respect of total wall
length of the building
35% 50%
works
 Requirements for Prefabricated Systems
for IGLS Sites – Structural System
i. Full precast
ii. Precast beam and precast slab
iii. Precast column/wall and precast slab
iv. Precast slab only
v. Steel beam and steel column (with steel decking or precast slab)
vi. Integrated metal roof
vii. Metal roof

For systems (i) to (v), a factor of 0.5 will be applied to the percentage of floor area using each
of these systems.
 Requirements for Prefabricated Systems
for IGLS Sites – Wall System
i. Curtain wall /
Full height glass
i. Drywall
ii. Prefabricated railing
iii. Precast concrete wall
iv. Lightweight concrete
panel

Lightweight
Dry walls Curtain walls Precast walls concrete panels
Prefabricated railing
BDAS - Enhancement to BDAS (COP 2017)
Summary of the key changes to BDAS :
1. Buildable Design Features (max 10 pts) under COP 2015
incorporated within either Structural and Wall system
2. New section on DfMA with max 20 pts for DfMA technologies
3. Overall maximum achievable B-Score increased from 100 pts
to 110 pts
4. Separate min B-Scores for basement and superstructure works
5. Increase in minimum prefabrication level for IGLS sites

COP 2017 – (1st May 17 onwards) DfMA - Design for Manufacturing & Assembly
BDAS - Enhancement to BDAS (COP 2017)
Minimum B-Score

BDAS
BDAS Category
for Superstructure works
GFA ≥ GFA ≥ GFA ≥
2,000m2 5,000m2 25,000m2
Residential
73 78 81
Buildable (Landed)
Structural
Structural Wall
Wall DFMA Residential
Design 80 85 88
System
System System
System Features (non-landed)
Commercial 82 87 90
45
45points 20
points 45
45points
points 10points
points Industrial
Schools
82
77
87
82
90
85
Institutional &
Total 110 points others
73 79 82

Minimum B-Score
for Basement works
Category GFA ≥ 2,000m2

Manufacturing Assembly
All 68
Design
BDAS - Enhancement to BDAS (COP 2017)
Requirements for Prefabricated Systems for IGLS Sites
Minimum Prefabrication Level GFA≥ ≥5,000m
GFA 2 2
5,000m GFA≤ ≤25,000m
GFA 25,000m2 2

Structural System
in respect of total structural 25%
20% 40%
35%
floor area of the building works
Wall System
in respect of total wall length of 35%
45% 50%
60%
the building works
 Constructability Appraisal System (CAS)
• Code of Practice (COP) on Buildability CAS
reviewed regularly to raise
construction productivity Structural Good
System Industry
• Applies to new works with GFA ≥ AMEP Practices
60pts System
5,000 m2 Min score 10pts
45pts
• Different minimum structural scores for Current requirements
projects with blocks of six storeys and Project types
below Min. Scores GFA ≥ 5,000m2 GFA ≥ 25,000m2
Overall 50 60
Structural 32 (≤6 storeys) 42 (≤6 storeys)
35 (>6 storeys) 45 (>6 storeys)
 Structural System
Efficient construction of structural elements

1 External access systems High capacity tower crane

Hydraulic stationary placing boom

VS
Traditional scaffolds

Crane lifted
perimeter scaffolds

2 Formwork systems
Timber Self-compacting
VS formwork concrete

System formwork
3 Structural innovative systems
1 Architectural
AMEP System
Prefabricated ducts
Pre-insulated pipes
No screeding

Flexible water pipes

Spray painting
Mechanical joints
Unplastered walls

Prefab plant/piping
modules

2 Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP)

 BIM/VDC

Real-time monitoring on site

Monthly work study sessions

Bargender kg/ man.day

500
600
700
800
900
1,000

-
100
200
300
400

Jan-09
Feb-09
Mar-09
Apr-09
May-09
Good Industry Practices

Jun-09
Jul-09
Aug-09
Sep-09
Bar Bender

Month

Oct-09
Nov-09
Dec-09
Jan-10
Feb-10
Mar-10
Apr-10
May-10
Cumulative Average = 546 kg/mday

Carpenter m2 / man.day
2

1
7

3
4
5
8
10

6
9

Jan-09
Feb-09
Mar-09
Apr-09
May-09
Jun-09
Jul-09
Boom lifts and scissors lifts

Aug-09
Sep-09
Carpenter

Month

Oct-09
Nov-09
Dec-09
Jan-10
Feb-10
Mar-10
Apr-10
Cumulative Average = 6.5 m2/mday

May-10

Concretor m3/ man.day

10
15
30
35

-
5
20
25

Jan-09
Feb-09
Mar-09
Apr-09
May-09
Jun-09
Jul-09
Aug-09
Sep-09
Concretor

Month

Oct-09
Nov-09
Dec-09
Jan-10
Trade productivity monitoring systems

Feb-10
Mar-10
Apr-10
Cumulative Average = 6.3 m3/mday

May-10
 Submission requirements
Buildability Detailed Design and Implementation Plan (BDIP) for B-score

Colored structural and

architectural plans

Site photos Supporting documents e.g. DOs,

tabulations, drawings and schedules
 Submission requirements
Constructability Implementation Plan (CIP) for C-score

Colored plans for external access

and formwork systems

Supporting documents e.g. BIM clash

reports, tower crane coverage analysis,
Site photos meeting minutes
Example 1 Constructability Score 64 pts > 60 pts
Structural system score 47.39 pts > 45pts
• Self climbing scaffold : 100% (15pts)
• Vertical formwork : Band 2 – 61.5% (8.62pts)
Precast – 38.5% (5.77pts)
• Horizontal system formwork : Band 3 -100% (13pts)
• High capacity tower crane : 5pts

AMEP system score 12.5 pts

• No screeding on floors (proposed by builder) : 71% (3.5pts)
• Spray painting : >50% (3pts)
• Prefab & pre-insulated aircon ducts : >80% (6pts)
Residential Non-landed
GFA >25,000m2 Good industry practices
•4 blocks of 24-storey condominium 4 pts
• BIM for clashes between structural/architectural/M&E : 2pts
•Basement carpark •Scissor lift & Boom Lift : 2pts
•Swimming pool
Example 2 Constructability Score 63 pts > 60 pts
Structural system score 46.60 pts > 45pts
• Self climbing scaffold : 100% (15pts)
• Vertical formwork : Band 2 – 80% (11.20pts)
Traditional – 20% (0.20pts)
• Horizontal system formwork : Precast -80% (12pts)
• Self compacting concrete : 5% (2pts)
• Strut free basement construction : 6pts
AMEP system score 12 pts
• Spray painting : >50% (3pts)
Commercial • Pre-insulated chilled water pipes : >80% (3pts)
GFA > 25,000m2 • Prefab & pre-insulated aircon ducts : >80% (6pts)
• 1 block part 5/ part 9-storey commercial
& retail development Good industry practices 4 pts
• 4 basements • BIM for clashes between structural/architectural/M&E : 2pts
• Scissors lift & Boom Lift : 2pts
Thank you