IES UPDATE
Seminar on Singapore Standard for Specification for Steel for the Reinforcement of Concrete – Weldable, Reinforcing Steel – Bar, Coil, and Decoiled Product (SS 560 : 2016) The revision of the Singapore Standard for Specification for Steel for the Reinforcement of Concrete – Weldable, Reinforcing Steel – Bar, Coil, and Decoiled Product (SS 560 : 2016) was approved by the Building and Construction Standards Committee on 25 May 2016, to include the use of high grade reinforcing steel bars and couplers (Grade 600). To inform the industry of this latest change, a seminar was organised by the Standards Development Organisation @ The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (SDO@IES), supported by BCA, on 15 July 2016. Attended by more than 300 participants from about 180 organisa-
tions, the seminar provided an update on the newly revised SS 560 : 2016 and highlighted the use of the higher strength Grade 600 steel reinforcing bars (rebars), new bar rib geometry and other key changes over the old SS 560 : 2010 standard. Additionally, test methods and factory production control certification in accordance with SS 560 : 2016 were shared at the seminar. Rounding out the topics of the day was a discussion on the current design restrictions based on Eurocode 2 and how Grade 600 rebars and couplers could be used effectively to improve productivity in cage construction and column design. TSE
A seminar participant directing his questions to the speakers during the panel discussion, moderated by Mr Chan Kok Way, Chairman, Building and Construction Standards Committee.
Seminar on Singapore Standards for Air Conditioning, Mechanical Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (SS 553 : 2016 & SS 554 : 2016) More than 400 participants from 200 organisations attended the Seminar on Singapore Standards for Air Conditioning, Mechanical Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality on 11 August 2016. The Seminar was organised by the Standards Development Organisation at The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (SDO@IES) and supported by the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Building and Construction Authority, the Association of Consulting Engineers and the Singapore Green Building Council. The Seminar provided an update on the newly revised SS 553 (Code of practice for air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in buildings) and SS 554 (Code of practice for
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indoor air quality for air-conditioned buildings) which affect energy consumption and indoor environment quality in most buildings. These two standards, adopted by the Building and Construction Authority as part of the Green Mark assessment criteria, will help to reduce energy consumption in the building sector. Mr Khoo Seow Poh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment Agency, delivered the Welcome Address. Participants learnt about the key changes in the revised standards, the correlation between these two standards, as well as how these two standards were being used as part of the Green Mark assessment criteria. This was followed by a robust
THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2016
Q & A session, led by Mr Chan Kok Way, Chairman of the Building and Construction Standards Committee. In conjunction with the seminar, there was also a mini exhibition which showcased the products and services related to these standards. TSE
Mr Steven Kang (right), Business Development Director at Measurement & Verification Pte Ltd, speaks with Dr Ng Lee Ching (fifth from right), Director of NEA’s Environmental Public Health Division, as Mr Chan and Mr Khoo (third and fourth from right respectively) look on.