Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on quality of BTO projects
Jan 29, 2016
Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Minister for National Development in view of complaints by owners of HDB BTO projects, how does HDB ensure the quality of its flats and what recourse do owners have when defects have not been rectified to their satisfaction.
Answer
HDB adopts a comprehensive management system to track the construction process of all BTO projects.
(i) First, HDB engages consultants with full-time staff onsite to supervise the construction works. The consultants will set up a supervision system at the site at the beginning of the building project.
(ii) Second, HDB keeps a list of recommended building materials and equipment suppliers to prevent the use of sub-standard materials or equipment.
(iii) Third, HDB takes a systematic approach to deliver buildings of high structural quality, such as checking that the building piles are constructed to the correct depth.
(iv) Fourth, HDB requires the contractor to provide timber mock-ups for the toilets, kitchens, air-con ledges, and service yards to be constructed. This will help HDB identify potential design, safety, and maintenance issues, and get the contractor to resolve these issues upfront before construction begins.
(v) Fifth, HDB requires samples of actual units to be constructed for each different flat type in the project. Once these sample units are approved, they serve as the benchmark of quality for the entire project.
(vi) Sixth, HDB conducts regular audits and deploys its Central Audit Team to perform focused process checks at different stages of construction.
(vii) Seventh, HDB’s Project Directors also make regular checks on the works for compliance with approved drawings, specifications and work methods.
(viii) Eighth, all flats, when completed, will have to pass the handover inspection by HDB. Finishes and fittings are inspected for proper installation and compliance with the required standard. All visible defects found by the inspection team will be rectified before handover.
(ix) Ninth, HDB conducts functional tests to check on the mechanical and electrical services installed as well as the water-tightness of bathrooms, windows, and external walls.
(x) Finally, HDB conducts a final inspection before the keys are handed over to the buyers.
After the keys are handed over, a one-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) will kick in. During this period, the contractor will be obliged to rectify any other defects that are detected.
During the DLP, a Building Service Centre (BSC) is set up in every new precinct to attend to feedback from residents promptly. The BSC will operate for a year on site so that residents have sufficient time to submit their feedback. All of these monitored closely to ensure defects are rectified in a timely manner and to an acceptable quality standard.
The rectification works will be inspected and certified by HDB’s supervising consultant before a joint inspection with the owners is arranged to handover the unit. For cases where owners are not fully satisfied with the rectification works, they can approach HDB, who will look into the case and take all reasonable efforts to address the owner’s concerns. HDB will get the contractor to rectify the defects in accordance with acceptable industry norms.
An objective assessment of the quality of HDB flats is the BCA’s Construction Quality Assessment System (CONQUAS) score. This is the industry standard to measure the quality of building projects. Over the years, the quality of BTO flats has improved from a score of 79 in 2003 to 89 in 2014. This is comparable to that of private developments. This reflects HDB’s push to secure high quality and workmanship standards for its flats.
While the situation has improved, HDB is continually looking at ways to do better. It will continue to seek improvement in its design, choice of material and construction to improve the quality of its flats.