A fire on an external scaffold can travel across netting and timber before people inside a building understand what is happening. On 24 September 2026, the Ministry of Manpower set out a staged tightening of Singapore’s scaffold fire safety requirements. The changes address how long timber scaffolds may remain in use and what fire performance external scaffold netting must meet. Contractors, suppliers and building occupiers need to plan for different commencement dates rather than treating the announcement as one rule taking effect immediately.
This is a practical legal and procurement issue. A product ordered today may be installed under a contract awarded after a future cut-off, while a scaffold erected for a long project may cross a separate duration limit. The safest approach is to identify which requirement applies to which project, document product specifications, and keep ordinary fire controls in place throughout the transition.
Three dates, three different compliance questions
The MOM factsheet sets out the sequence. From 1 January 2027, permissible use of timber scaffolds falls from nine months to three months. From 1 March 2027, netting enveloping scaffolds outside buildings must meet specified fire-retardant standards for projects awarded on or after that date. From 1 March 2028, the netting must also be certified by a body accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council under the Commissioner’s specifications. The award date and the certification date therefore do different work.
MOM says exemptions to the three-month timber limit may be granted case by case where extenuating circumstances, such as technical constraints, prevent use of another scaffold type. That is not a blanket exception for a delayed project. A party seeking one should identify the actual constraint, available alternatives and interim risk controls, then follow the regulator’s process. Do not assume a subcontractor’s verbal assurance is a regulatory approval.
What changes for timber scaffolds in January 2027?
The reduction from nine to three months is aimed at limiting prolonged exposure to combustible timber. Project teams should review the expected scaffolding period while planning, not when a structure is close to its limit. A contractor may need another material, a revised work sequence or a documented request for an exemption. The commercial question is who pays for a change when an older contract assumed a longer timber period. Review the scope, variation clauses and safety responsibilities early.
Maintain a record of erection, inspection and removal dates, together with any approved extension or change of design. A three-month limit is easier to manage when the site manager, scaffolding contractor and main contractor work from the same schedule. If work is interrupted, seek the regulator’s current guidance on how the rule applies to that specific structure rather than guessing whether unused days somehow stop counting.
What kind of netting will be required?
For projects awarded from 1 March 2027, external scaffold netting must meet fire-retardant specifications set by the Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, regardless of the scaffold material. MOM says accepted testing can follow specified British, Japanese or United States standards. The listed examples are BS 5867-2:2008 Type B, identified categories and methods under JIS L 1091:1999, or NFPA 701:2023 Test Method 2. A generic marketing label saying “fire resistant” is not the same as evidence of the required test.
Ask the supplier for the product identity, test report, applicable standard, test method and batch traceability. Check that the material delivered matches the tested product and that substitutions are approved before installation. From March 2028 the additional accredited certification requirement will matter, with further implementation details expected. At the time of the September 2026 announcement, avoid claiming that any ordinary test report already satisfies that later certification step. Build a contractual requirement for updated evidence when the details are released.
Who needs to act?
MOM names manufacturers, suppliers, scaffold contractors and workplace occupiers as responsible for ensuring netting compliance under the future rule. Each has different control over product design, representation, purchase and actual use. A main contractor should not assume that responsibility disappears because the netting came from a vendor. A supplier should not rely on an old certificate for an altered product. Occupiers and project leaders need a process to verify what is installed on site.
Set out responsibilities in purchase orders and subcontract terms: who supplies test evidence, who checks deliveries, who retains records, who rejects non-compliant substitutions and who replaces damaged netting. Where a project crosses the March 2027 award threshold, document the award date and scope. Where several subcontractors share a façade, ensure the fire plan covers interfaces rather than leaving a gap between trades. If a dispute arises over delay or variation costs, our breach of contract guide explains the starting legal framework.
Fire safety still depends on the site, not only the material
Fire-retardant netting can reduce flame spread, but it does not remove ignition sources or make emergency access optional. MOM urges employers and industry stakeholders to maintain fire safety systems, keep firefighting provisions and access routes unobstructed, and separate combustibles and ignition sources from scaffolding. Hot works, temporary electrics, storage and housekeeping deserve daily attention. A compliant net may still be installed in an unsafe site arrangement.
Integrate scaffold fire risks into site briefings and incident response. Workers need to know who raises an alarm, how to reach a safe exit and whether façade works affect residents or public access. Contractors should inspect damage to netting and verify that replacement panels meet the same specification. Our article on what to do after a workplace injury covers the immediate record-keeping and legal questions if an incident occurs, but prevention should be the primary aim.
A procurement checklist for the transition
List every active or planned scaffold with material, location, erection date, expected duration and contract award date. Flag timber structures that may exceed three months after January 2027. Identify external netting packages for projects awarded from March 2027. Ask vendors for test evidence against the accepted standard and confirm that the specified product is available in the required quantity. Allocate responsibility for certification once the March 2028 details are published.
Update tender documents so bidders price the correct material, records and possible replacement work. A lowest-priced bid that omits evidence may create delay and risk later. Keep meeting minutes on design choices and safety reviews. If a contractor proposes a deviation, require written analysis before installation. MOM’s workplace safety and health resources provide a route to current guidance, while our personal injury lawyer fees guide addresses a separate question if harm has already occurred.
Read the announcement as a timetable
The September release is an advance signal, not a finding that every present scaffold is unlawful. It gives the industry time to adjust designs, supply contracts and work methods before the stated dates. A cautious team distinguishes the three-month timber duration, the project-award trigger for fire-retardant netting and the later accredited certification rule. Recording these distinctions in a project register will make them easier to apply on busy sites.
Specific legal duties still depend on the current legislation, the Commissioner’s specifications and facts of the project. When in doubt, obtain the latest MOM direction and qualified safety advice. A procurement certificate is useful evidence, but safe installation, inspection and control of fire hazards require continuing attention.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council also publishes sector guidance that can support practical training and risk assessment. Use it alongside the legal specifications, not as a substitute for them. For a renovation at an occupied building, tell residents and building management how escape routes and firefighting access will be maintained. A clear notice and an agreed emergency contact reduce confusion if smoke or a false alarm occurs while the façade is covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the March 2027 netting rule apply only to timber scaffolds?
No. MOM says it applies to external building scaffold netting on qualifying projects regardless of the scaffold material.
Can a timber scaffold remain beyond three months?
MOM says exemptions may be granted case by case for extenuating circumstances, such as technical constraints. Do not presume one exists without approval.
Is accredited certification required from March 2027?
The announced additional accredited certification requirement begins on 1 March 2028. Fire-retardant specifications begin earlier for projects awarded from 1 March 2027.
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