Review on Application of Polymer Concrete in Singapore

Abstract

Singapore is a small island country, but has won renown as uncorrupted government and high quality products. Independent testing and inspection played a very important role for this achievement[1]. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is the sole public authority in Singapore and was set up as a statutory on 1 February 1960. Within 45 years, it built more than 700,000 flats housing approximately 86% of the population. Every year, around 40,000 new flats (about 400 blocks) are built up to meet the demands. In March 1992, HDB launched the 15-year main upgrading programme (MUP) to vying the finishes and facilities of old estates up to the standard of those in the new towns. The upgrading programme is a conscious effort by the government to provide a better living environment, strengthen existing community ties and enhance the value of our flats. The potential size of the upgrading program is approximately 370,000 units spread across 20 years, which works out to be 350 blocks per year. To ensure and maintain the high standards of the housing quality, Polymer concrete materials including polymer modified cement mortar, epoxy or PU floor screed and injection materials, and fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials are extensively used in the new and upgrading projects. In this paper, the various applications of polymer concrete composites in Singapore are described and discussed. The various categories of polymer concrete composites are extensively used in Singapore’s public and private projects. To ensure and maintain the high standards of the building quality, independent testing and inspection plays a very important role. Through implementing a quality control program to ensure high standards in product quality and performance requirements, Housing & Development Board (HDB), Singapore's public housing authority and statutory board under the Ministry of National Development, screens and provides a comprehensive selection of quality products needed for HDB construction projects through HDB's Materials List [2] with a set of product evaluation requirement. The development of the requirements and specifications for various polymer concrete composite products are also described and discussed