Do reinstatement works need SCDF or BCA approval?
Often there is a fire-safety element: removing partitions and ceilings changes sprinkler, smoke-detector and exit layouts, so a Qualified Person usually has to deal with SCDF, either through the minor addition and alteration lodgement route or a plan submission. Structural changes, such as closing an opening between floors, need a QP and BCA approval. Purely non-structural removal may fall within BCA's insignificant building works. Electrical works must be done through a Licensed Electrical Worker.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Office Reinstatement in Singapore: The Complete Guide to Commercial Handback. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
Office reinstatement is the work a tenant must do before handing premises back: removing its fit-out and restoring the unit to the condition the lease and the landlord's reinstatement guidelines require, often bare shell or original handover condition. It usually involves demolition, ceiling and M&E reinstatement, fire-protection reinstatement by a QP, a joint inspection and deposit settlement, all before the lease expiry date.
More questions on this topic
- What does 'reinstate to original condition' mean in a Singapore office lease?
- How long does office reinstatement take in Singapore?
- Can I use any contractor for reinstatement, or must I use the landlord's contractor?
- What happens if reinstatement is not finished by the lease expiry date?
- Can I negotiate cash in lieu of reinstatement?
- Can I leave my fit-out for the incoming tenant?
- When will I get my security deposit back?