A STUDY OF STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION 3D PRINTING WITH REGARDS TO QUALITY AND SAFETY IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

With reduced reliance on foreign labour and the growing issue of manpower crunch, there are calls for construction projects to adopt more efficient technologies. However, with emerging technologies such as 3D printing comes teething issues and unknown risks. The lack of tolerance towards structural failures and compromises on the health and safety of both workers and the public alike, gives rise to a need for formulating a regulatory framework to set the bar for the performance of 3D printed products.

This research sets out to study 3D printing controls in the medical and aviation fields and common laws on product liability. A literature review was done to identify main challenges in adoption of the technology and understand to what extent they may be addressed by regulations. In addition, interviews conducted with experts from various fields in the construction industry concretised the sensing of latest sentiments on the ground towards 3D printing and regulations on safety and quality. Based on the findings, a subsidiary legislation for construction 3D printing was proposed to compliment the nature of the emerging technology with its unknown risks, without compromising public safety on the accounts of quality, health and safety.