BCA building regulation to include reflectivity requirements for all facade materials

John Leong Channel NewsAsia 24 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will be updating its building regulation to include reflectivity requirements for all kinds of facade materials.

Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said in a blog post that currently, such requirements only pertain to glass.

Mr Khaw said there has been some feedback on excessive glare from sunlight reflected from the metal roof of other buildings in Singapore.

He said it is an issue of concern as there are more buildings with glass and metal facades, and covered with metal roofs.

He noted that building designs are getting more complex and elaborate with more developers and architects exploring the use of less conventional materials.

Mr Khaw said there must be some form of check and balance to ensure that the building design does not come at the cost of comfort and safety.

He said the regulatory update is useful to ensure that new designs add to the neighbourhood, allowing residents, users and commuters to enjoy without causing any inconvenience or hardship to anyone.

Citing examples of similar cases overseas, Mr Khaw said certain buildings were in the news recently because their reflective surfaces had caused inconvenience to city dwellers.

A London building was dubbed "fryscraper" as it had reflected so much sunlight that its rays could even fry an egg nearby.

The tallest building in Hong Kong, the International Commerce Centre, was a subject of debate in their Parliament.

He cited how Sydney has responded to the use of reflective materials in building facades.

The Australian city regulates the daylight reflectance of all facade materials.

Sydney's regulation requires that light reflectivity from building materials used on external facades must not exceed 20 per cent.

There is an additional requirement for buildings in the vicinity of arterial or major roads and Sydney Airport, given the safety concerns.

Architect Lim Ching Tung has called for more consultations before the update of BCA's building regulation.

Mr Lim, senior project architect at ARCHURBAN, said: "It should be more widely consulted, so that the profession can be more aware, and then throw in more discretions or ideas on how to take care of these issues.

“I think there are already a lot of cases or a lot of regulations that have been very limiting of the creativity of the designers. Creativity is about getting around things, but of course, the choice of material is still very important."

- CNA/xq/nd


BCA to update rule on use of reflective materials in buildings
Sumita D/O Sreedharan Today Online 25 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE — The use of reflective building materials, such as metal roofs and cladding, which can cause blinding glare and raise safety concerns, will soon come under greater scrutiny.

Calling it “an issue of concern” in his blog entry yesterday, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will update its building regulation on the use of reflective materials, following feedback on unwelcome glare from sunlight that is reflected from the metal roofs of buildings.

“One resident said he has had to wear sunglasses in his own home!” said Mr Khaw.

Current regulation covers only the use of reflective glass.

With an increasing number of buildings with glass and metal facades, Mr Khaw said more developers and architects are exploring the use of less conventional materials, and “some form of check and balance has to be in place to ensure the building design does not come at the cost of comfort and safety”.

“This is a useful regulatory update to ensure new designs will add to the neighbourhood, allowing all residents, users and commuters to enjoy, without causing any inconvenience or hardship to anyone,” said Mr Khaw.

Last month, a London skyscraper was dubbed the “fryscraper” after sun rays reflected from the building reportedly melted parts of several cars, including a luxury Jaguar.

The tallest building in Hong Kong, the International Commerce Centre, also became the subject of much debate in the Hong Kong Parliament because the glare it created inconvenienced residents, said Mr Khaw.

He cited what Sydney had done in response to the use of reflective materials in building facades.

According to the minister, the city’s regulation covers daylight reflectance of all building-facade materials. There is also an extra requirement for buildings in the vicinity of arterial or major roads and Sydney Airport, given the safety concerns.

Responding to media queries, the BCA said it received feedback on unwanted glare from 18 residential and commercial buildings in recent years.

One such case involved the shopping mall myVillage at Serangoon Garden.

It had to apply an opaque finishing on its facade and have two-way tinted glass installed after residents complained that their homes were warmer due to the building’s reflection of sun rays onto their houses.

The BCA said the new regulation would include reflectivity requirements for all kinds of facade materials and be applicable to all projects in which building plans are submitted after the amendment of the rule. Existing buildings that do not meet the new regulation will not be affected.

BCA to take some shine off new buildings
Range of prohibited facade materials to be expanded, to reduce reflection of light
Charissa Yong Straits Times 25 Oct 13;

BEING dazzled by the glare from buildings that reflect too much light could soon be a thing of the past here.

Rules will be updated by the authorities to ensure that building facades are not too blinding, with metal roofs a likely early casualty.

The aim of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is to increase the types of materials banned for use as buildings' external surface because they are too reflective. Now, the only shimmering culprit disallowed is glass.

But the range of materials will soon be broadened to include "all kinds of facade materials", wrote National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan on his blog yesterday.

Metal roofs, in particular, have been flickering too much for their own good.

"We are beginning to get some feedback on unwelcome glare from sunlight reflected from metal roofs of other buildings," said Mr Khaw, adding that one resident has even had to wear sunglasses in his own home.

To date, BCA has received feedback on 18 residential and commercial buildings on the glare from sunlight reflected from glass facades, metal roofs and metal claddings, which are coverings on a building.

Notably, myVillage in Serangoon Gardens darkened its floor-to-ceiling windows in 2010, after nearby residents complained that the glass reflected too much sunlight and heated up their homes in the evenings.

The neighbourhood mall subsequently replaced the reflective glass with two-way tinted glass a few months later.

The regulatory update is so that designs can be enjoyed by all without causing anyone inconvenience or hardship, said Mr Khaw.

It comes as building designs here are becoming more complex and elaborate.

"With an increasing number of developers and architects exploring the use of less conventional materials, some form of check and balance is necessary so that design does not come at the cost of comfort and safety," he said.

For example, he noted, London is home to a skyscraper which reflects so much sunlight that the rays have fried an egg nearby.

Nicknamed the Walkie-Talkie for its shape, it was in the spotlight a month ago, when a businessman complained that the reflected rays melted the side of his car parked near the tower.

Singapore Institute of Architects council member Lim Choon Keang said that building facades here generally reflect less light, compared to those in countries which do not prohibit reflective glass.

But he also suggested that the regulation be relaxed in less dense areas where the distances between buildings are farther.

"Then you can have slightly more varied designs and greater selection of materials," he said.