Productivity and quality are two important issues in the construction industry. Buildability has been identified as an important concept to help raise productivity and quality in construction. The Buildable Design Appraisal Systems (BDAS) was developed by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in Singapore to measure buildability. Based on the BDAS, the Singapore Government has legislated minimum Buildability Score for new building projects with effect from 1 January 2001. This paper examines the concept of buildability and explains how the BDAS formula works. The statutory requirements pertaining to the legislation of minimum Buildability Score are then highlighted. With this background in mind, this paper examines the legal/contractual implications arising from the legislation of buildability requirements in the construction industry.

Buildability or constructability has become a subject of considerable interest in the construction industry. The buildability concept explores the extent to which the design of a building facilitates ease of construction, subject to the overall requirements for the completed building. It focuses on the link between design and construction. It implies that factors which are solely within the influence or control of the design team, are those which can have a significant impact on the ease of construction of a project which is considered one of several objectives that the design of a building can achieve.