Barry Brown - Building Control Appointment

Singapore's Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has recently (2007) appointed an "International Panel of Experts" to assist in reviewing, and improving its building control framework of this Asian City state.

The terms of reference are:

1. to understand Singapore building control practices in the area of building safety, including design and construction of new buildings, through the maintenance of completed buildings

2. to share experiences on international building control practices on building safety which operate in other cities around the world

3. to provide feedback on ways to strengthen building control practices to achieve building safety in Singapore

4. to present an expert assessment (via a brief report) at the end of each session

The composition of the Panel is:

1. Dr John Keung, CEO, BCA

2. Dr Lee Chuan Seng, BCA Board Member

1. Dr Alastair Soane (UK)

2. Dr Brian Meacham (US)

3. Mr Barry Brown (NZ)

4. Dr Alfred Yee (Hawaii)

The Members of the panel have been appointed by Singapore's Minister for Natural Development for a one year term, and will meet in Singapore for one (at most two) sessions during the term, the first being in October 2007.

The panel will be tasked with reviewing BCA staff reports on a range of issues, typically on the regulating of:

1. the design of structures

2. the accredited checking system

3. "construction works" (through site inspections by BCA), and by qualified persons

4. periodic structural inspection of completed buildings

5. controlling of hazards from falling building elements (such as facades, ceilings, etc)

Barry Brown's appointment to the panel reflects international recognition of his knowledge of building control within NZ's performance-based regulatory environment, alongside his ongoing work as a structural engineering practitioner in private practice.

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