PLANS TO IMPOSE REGULATIONS SETTING MINIMUM INDOOR AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND INSTALLATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE MONITORS AND AIR FILTERS FOR ALL PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Mr. Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development having regard to the COVID-19 pandemic experience, whether the Ministry intends to impose regulations setting minimum indoor air quality standards and requiring the installation of carbon dioxide monitors and air filters for all public and commercial buildings.

Mr. Desmond Lee: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) requires new developments and existing developments undergoing major addition and alteration works to be designed for adequate ventilation. For example, all naturally ventilated spaces are required to have a minimum area of openings (e.g. windows) to facilitate air flow. For air-conditioned spaces, buildings are required to take in outdoor air at a minimum rate specified in the Singapore Standard for air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) in buildings. This Standard provides guidance to help buildings achieve an acceptable level of indoor air quality, and is reviewed regularly by a Standards Committee, comprising representatives from government agencies, industry and academia.

To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, BCA, NEA and MOH have issued a set of guidelines for building owners and facilities managers on improving ventilation and indoor air quality in their buildings. This includes guidance on maximising outdoor air intake and installing efficient filters in ACMV systems. Building owners and facilities managers are encouraged to adopt these guidelines for the health and well-being of their building occupants. There are no requirements to install carbon dioxide monitors in public and commercial buildings. Building owners may choose to monitor the level of carbon dioxide in their buildings as an indicator of whether ventilation is adequate.