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CONQUAS

The Construction Quality Assessment System or CONQUAS was developed by the Building and Construction Authority in co-operation with major public sector agencies and various leading industry professional bodies to measure workmanship quality in a completed building. It was launched in 1989.
 
All overseas CONQUAS assessments are offered by the BCA solely through BCA International Pte Ltd (BCAI), a wholly owned subsidiary of BCA.
 
According to Tan Boon Kee, Project Director of BCA International Pte Ltd, “As a policy, we do not offer the full version of CONQUAS for all overseas projects (i.e. projects outside of Singapore ) including those in Malaysia.
 
“Assessments are limited to architectural finishes only. A full version involves frequent visits by BCAI assessors over the entire span of the project construction period to conduct assessments as well as carry out many different field tests to verify watertightness of windows and bathroom/toilets and also functional performance of the air conditioning, electrical, fire protection and sanitary & plumbing system. This is clearly not practical and very costly.”

The following are the standards set out by CONQUAS.
 
FLOOR: CERAMIC
  1. Surface are even with not more than 3mm over 1.2m and levelled to proper falls in wet areas like kitchen and toilet.
  2. Joints are aligned and consistent with skirting and wall tiles.
  3. Consistent joint size.
  4. Chipping, cracks, mortar droppings or other stain marks should not be present.
  5. No hollow sound when tapped with a hard object.
  6. Consistent colour tone.
  7. Consistent skirting thickness.
  8. Consistent and neat pointing.
  9. Lippage between 2 tiles should not exceed 1mm.
FLOOR: MARBLE & GRANITE
  1. Tile size should be consistent - within ± 1% or up to 3mm.
  2. Surface are even with not more than 3mm over 1.2m and levelled to proper falls in wet areas like kitchen and toilet.
  3. Joints are aligned and consistent with skirting and wall tiles.
  4. Consistent joint size.
  5. Chipping, cracks, mortar droppings or other stain marks should not be present.
  6. No hollow sound when tapped with a hard object.
  7. Consistent colour tone.
  8. Consistent skirting thickness and no gap between wall & skirting.
  9. Lippage between 2 tiles should not exceed 1mm.
FLOOR: TIMBER FLOORING
  1. No cracks and warpage.
  2. No gaps in between timber strips.
  3. Evenness of surface (not more than 3mm per 1.2m).
  4. Consistent skirting thickness and no gap between wall & skirting.
  5. No stain marks and any visible damage.
  6. Consistent colour tone.
INTERNAL WALL: GENERAL
  1. Walls meet at right angles (not more than 4mm over 300mm).
  2. Surface evenness (not more than 3mm over 1.2m).
  3. No stain marks and any visible damage.
  4. Straightness of corners and joints.
INTERNAL WALL: PLASTER FINISH
  1. No visible crack from a distance of 1.5m.
  2. Surface evenness (not more than 3mm over 1.2m).
  3. No hollow sound when tapped with a hard object.
  4. No mortar stains or paint drips.
INTERNAL WALL: TILED FINISH
  1. Tile joints aligned and with consistent joint size.
  2. Evenness of surface with not more than 3mm over 1.2m.
  3. Mortar stains or paint drips should not be seen.
  4. No chips, cracks and other visible damages.
  5. No hollow sound when tapped with a hard object.
  6. Consistent colour tone.
  7. Consistent and neat pointing.
INTERNAL WALL: PAINTING
  1. Substrate - see plaster finish.
  2. Surfaces are evenly painted.
  3. Good opacity, no patchiness resulted from touch up works.
  4. Free from peeling, blister and chalkiness.
  5. No discolouration and fading.
CEILING: SKIM COATS
  1. Overall surface should be even, gaps between light fittings and ceiling should not be seen.
  2. No spalling, leaks or stains.
  3. Paintwork with good opacity and free from defects like peeling, blister and chalkiness, etc.
  4. No visible crack from a distance of 1.5m.
  5. No visible damage.
CEILING: FALSE CEILING
  1. No stain marks and any visible damage.
  2. Surface should be overall level and even.
  3. Chipped surfaces or corners should not be seen.
DOORS
  1. Alignment/level with walls.
  2. No visible gaps between door frame and wall.
  3. Fire stop provided where necessary.
  4. Door joints and nail holes filled up, properly sanded down and with good paint finish (includes top and bottom of door leaf and consistent in colour).
  5. Consistent gap between door leaf and frame and not more than 5mm.
  6. No sags, warps on door leaf.
  7. Ease in opening and closing.
  8. Lock sets with good fit and no stains.
  9. No stain marks and any visible damage.
  10. Glazing clean and evenly sealed with gasket.
  11. Door and frame corners maintained at right angles.
  12. No sign of corrosion in ironmongery or metal frame.
  13. No missing accessories.
WINDOWS
  1. Alignment/level with wall openings.
  2. No visible gap between window frame and wall.
  3. No sign of rainwater leakage.
  4. Consistent gap between window leaf and frame with not more than 5mm.
  5. Ease of opening and closing.
  6. No mortar droppings and paint drips on frames and glazing.
  7. Louvre windows with glass panels of correct lengths.
  8. Glazing clean, evenly sealed with putty or gasket for aluminium windows.
  9. Neat joint between window and wall internally and externally.
  10. No visible damage.
COMPONENTS : RAILINGS
  1. Mortar droppings and other stains should not be observed.
  2. Welding at joints must be grounded or flushed.
  3. Verticality of balusters must not exceed 3mm per metre.
OTHER COMPONENTS
e.g Wardrobe, Cabinet, Shower Screen, Vanity Top, Toilet Bowl, etc.
  1. For permanent fixtures which are not covered in the standards, the fundamentals such as evenness, straightness, no stain, verticality, functionality, consistency and no visible damage will still be the basis for assessment.
MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL FITTINGS
e.g. Electrical Power Points & Switches, Telephone Points, SCV Points, Airconditioning fittings, Network Points, CCTV Camera, Video Phone, Door Bell, etc.
Installation
  1. Fittings must be aligned and location as per approved drawings.
  2. No stain marks.
  3. Neat patch-up for pointing / penetration.
  4. Neat and Consistent Joints between fitting and wall.
Safety
  1. No exposed wiring within reach.
Damages
  1. No visible damage.
Source: Building and Construction Authority, Singapore
 
For a comprehensive list of CONQUAS, visit www.bca.gov.sg/CONQUAS/conquas.asp .
 
 
CONQUAS is mentioned in the cover story, “Malaysian International Properties, Coming Alive!”, of the International Edition (Mar-Apr ’09) of Home Finder. For the full story, get a copy at a major newsstand near you.