MOM & BCA Joint Circular on Safety Considerations in Installation and Maintenance of Airconditioning Condensing Units and their Structural-Supporting System
1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) are jointly issuing this circular to remind all stakeholders responsible for the installation and maintenance of air-conditioning condensing units ("air-con units") and their structural supporting systems.
2. Working on externally mounted air-con units are high-risk work at height (“WAH”) activities. In August 2023, an air-con technician tragically fell to his death while maintaining an air-con unit mounted on the exterior of a building. In February 2024, another air-con technician also lost his balance when the structural supporting system of the air-con unit he was working on gave way, narrowly escaping a fatal fall.
3. However, incidents of Fall from Height (“FFH”) can be easily prevented with the establishment and implementation of safety measures. This circular emphasises the duty of stakeholders to take all reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety of workers at work and the safety of members of the public who may be affected by the work.
Pre-requisites
4. Only Trained Air-con Unit Installers (“TAIs”) who have successfully completed the training course on the installation of a structural supporting system to support an air-con unit required by BCA can install air-con unit on the exterior of any building. TAIs must comply with requirements in Part IVA of the Building Control Regulations 2003 (“BC Regs”) and ensure that the installed structural support systems (existing or replacement) comply with specifications listed under Part I, II, III or IV of the Seventh Schedule of the BC Regs. For Housing and Development Board (“HDB”) properties, the specifications and general conditions found in HDB’s InfoWEB must also be complied with.
Site Preparation and Risk Assessment
5. Before air-con servicing workers or TAIs commence any work, perform a site specific risk assessment to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and determine appropriate risk control measures. Implement these measures and ensure that all workers are briefed and familiar with them. Measures must be adopted to ensure that the structural supporting systems would not be overloaded during work.
6. Air-con servicing workers must look out for obvious signs of deterioration (such as loosened bolts and nuts, badly corroded brackets and misalignment or dislodgement) on the structural supporting systems. If any of such signs is observed, TAIs must be engaged to inspect and rectify or replace the structural supporting systems before air-con servicing work can be carried out. Please refer to Appendix 2 for examples of deterioration.
7. Establish cordons around all work zones and affected areas at ground level to restrict access to individuals not involved in the works. This includes areas where objects have the potential to fall and cause injury. For examples of area cordoning, please refer to Appendix 3.
Fall Prevention Management
8. Whenever possible, do not carry out WAH activities on top of the air-con units and/or its structural supporting systems.
9. When WAH is unavoidable, it is essential to consider fall arrest measures for workers. Ensure that secure anchor devices are installed. For examples of fall arrest measures, please refer to the information provided in Appendix 4.
10. In addition to having the necessary physical controls, it is crucial to ensure that workers carrying out WAH activities receive adequate training and supervision:
a) Deploy only trained workers who have received trade-specific training and have successfully completed the relevant WAH courses acceptable to MOM. You may refer to Appendix 5 for information on accredited WSH courses and training providers.
b) Appoint a competent person to provide thorough supervision for the workers, ensuring they are not exposed to hazards and that all necessary precautions are taken in situations where there is a risk of falling; and
c) Ensure adequate supervision especially when workers are new, inexperienced, and unfamiliar with the working environment
Post-installation
11. TAIs must submit a report of the installation works no later than 14 days after completion to the Commissioner of Building Control:
a) For private properties, submit Form AC-01 to BCA; or
b) For HDB properties, submit Form AC-02 to HDB via e-feedback form at
www.hdb.gov.sg/efeedback .
The forementioned forms with submission instructions can be retrieved from BCA’s webpage on air-con units safety indicated in Appendix 5.
12. Please refer to informative references in Appendix 5. Should you need further information, please contact:
a) MOM at 6438 5122 for information on workplace safety and health; or
b) BCA at 1800 3425 222 for issues relating to structural supporting systems of air-con units.
