What material must an air-con bracket be made of?
BCA states that an air-conditioning unit installed outside, or projecting from, a building must be supported by a stainless steel bracket or a concrete ledge or casing designed for this purpose. The detailed specifications are in the Seventh Schedule of the Building Control Regulations 2003. For HDB flats, the installer may instead follow specifications approved by HDB. When a bracket is badly corroded, BCA's advice is to replace it with a new stainless steel one.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Air-Con Brackets, Planter Boxes and Sunshades: An Owner's Guide to Exterior Features in Singapore. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
In Singapore, the person responsible for an exterior feature, such as an air-con bracket, sunshade or planter, must keep it securely fixed so it cannot fall. Since 1 October 2025, failing to do so can bring a fine of up to S$20,000, 12 months' jail, or both. External air-con units must sit on a stainless steel bracket or a concrete ledge, installed by a BCA-trained installer.
More questions on this topic
- Who is responsible for my air-con bracket in an HDB flat?
- Can any air-con technician install or replace the outdoor unit?
- How often should air-con brackets be checked?
- Are planter boxes and sunshades exterior features?
- What happens if BCA finds my bracket unsafe?
- Does the Periodic Façade Inspection check air-con brackets?
- Do these rules apply to my landed house?