BCA TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR
IMPORTED COARSE AND FINE AGGREGATES
(Updated 28 March 2008)
BCA has adopted a three-stage testing regime on the imported aggregates to
determine the quality of aggregates imported from overseas sources.
As the party to be held responsible for the import of aggregates from a source, an
importer is subject to the testing regime and apply a BCA permit each time he
imports aggregates from his source.
BCA Stage 1 Pre-Import Test (S1 Test)
If you wish to import aggregates from a source (quarry, river etc.) new to you into
Singapore, you have to meet the requirements of BCA Stage 1 Pre-Import Test (in
short S1 Test) to demonstrate the quality of your source of supply. Only upon
clearance of S1 Test reports by BCA, you are allowed to import your first shipment of
aggregates to Singapore, with proper BCA permit application.
Requirements
Under the S1 Test, the essential information required from the importers includes:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Source details (name, address, country) to be indicated in the various
documents
Test reports containing the following tests 1 conducted on samples of the
aggregates to be imported to Singapore (with a cover note to this effect):
•
alkali-silica reactivity (ASTM C295 - petrographic examination),
•
chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ), and
•
sulphate content (SS73-18:1992),
Source operator’s authorisation letter (for authorising the export/sale of his
aggregates by importers to Singapore) ,
Detailed map showing the exact location of the source within the country of
origin,
Geologist report or service record of the source if available.
Please note that for ASR testing using petrographic examination, an additional
ASR test using mortar bar method is necessary if the findings from the
petrographic examination are unable to determine the potential of the
aggregates with respect to ASR.
In order to shorten the waiting time in case ASR test using mortar bar method
is needed, you are strongly advised to conduct both petrographic examination
and mortar bar method concurrently for the ASR test.
1
Details on testing are given in Annex A.
1
Submission of Documents
You are required to fax the relevant documents to us at 62246649 (attention to
Officer-in-charge/Strategic Materials Department) or
email to us
at
ken_lee@bca.gov.sg. When submitting test reports, you are required to attach a
cover note in your company letterhead to verify that the test reports are generated
from tests conducted on the sample of interest. Please indicate your name, email and
contact number in the cover note.
Sample cover note: "This is a letter of undertaking by [Company name] to certify
that the report from [test laboratory], ref: [reference number] and report from
[test laboratory], ref: [reference number] are generated from tests conducted on a
sample of [land/river sand or 20mm granite aggregate or granite quarry dust
etc.] taken from the [source name, source location, country etc.]."
Any test report submitted to us must be valid at the point of submission for S1 Test
clearance based on the following conditions:
(a)
(b)
(c)
The ASR-petrography test report must be not more than 3 years old,
The Sulphate content test result must be not more than 3 months old,
The Chloride content test result must be not more than 1 week old.
Testing Laboratories
The above-mentioned tests under S1 Test could be carried out in any overseas
independent testing laboratory. Importers who intend to have their samples tested in
overseas laboratories are required to check that the overseas test laboratories are
accredited by the respective overseas accreditation bodies to conduct the
above-mentioned tests under S1 Test. The respective overseas accreditation
bodies must be under the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with Singapore
Accreditation Council (SAC)2. Documentary evidence of laboratory accreditation must
be submitted for verification.
Alternatively, the tests could be conducted in a Singapore laboratory acceptable to
BCA3.
Submission of Samples for Testing
Importers are required to submit the same sample to the test laboratory for the
purpose of carrying out all the above-mentioned tests under S1 Test. The quantity of
coarse aggregates submitted for testing should be at least 25kg. The quantity of fine
aggregates submitted for testing should be at least 14kg.
2
A list of overseas accreditation bodies under MRA with SAC, from which you can check for accredited overseas
labs, is provided in Annex C.
3
A list of Singapore test laboratories acceptable to BCA and their corresponding in-house testing capabilities is
provided in Annex B.
2
BCA Stage 2 Confirmation Test (S2 Test)
Once your aggregates have passed the BCA’s test criteria under Stage 1, you will be
allowed to import the first shipment of aggregates from your source. Upon its arrival
in Singapore, BCA will extract samples from the first shipment for Stage 2
Confirmation Test (in short S2 Test).
The test scope for S2 Test is identical to that for S1 Test, except that ASR-mortar bar
test is also compulsory for sources which have borderline petrography results in S1
Test and have to clear S1 Test passing the mortar bar test. The S2 Test will be
conducted in Singapore at your cost.
While the S2 Test is ongoing, you are required to unload the aggregates at your
storage yard or BCA quarantine sub-plots for quarantine purpose at your cost until its
S2 Test result has passed the requirements. It is your duty to ensure that the
aggregates are NOT used until S2 Test results have met our acceptance criteria.
For quarantine at storage yards other than BCA quarantine sub-plots, you have to
submit a quarantine proposal detailing the measures to ensure that the aggregates
under quarantine will remain intact during S2 Testing period. Once the proposal is
approved by BCA, you can proceed to quarantine your aggregates. Please note that
the unloaded aggregates for quarantine must be separated from any neighbouring
stock in a distinct way acceptable to BCA.
At the same time, you should not import from the same source while S2 Test is
ongoing. You are obliged to give full cooperation to BCA officers inspecting the
aggregates under quarantine.
BCA Stage 3 Random Test (S3 Test)
Once the S2 Test has passed the BCA’s test criteria, you are allowed to continue
importing and selling aggregates from your source. BCA will conduct Random Test
(in short S3 Test) with one or more test components from S1/S2 Test on aggregates
subsequently imported by you from your approved source. The cost of S3 Test will
be borne by you if the S3 Test results fail to meet BCA’s criteria. On the other hand,
the cost of S3 Test will be borne by BCA if the test results met our criteria.
You are allowed to use / sell the imported aggregates and import more aggregates
while the S3 Test on the samples is on-going.
As part of S3 Test, BCA may also conduct field tests, such as Chloride and Sulphate
content, on your imported aggregates at the unloading point.
Failure to Meet Test Criteria at Any Stage
If the aggregates from your source fail to meet BCA’s test criteria, BCA will impose
certain requirements and penalties on you depending on whether the failure arises
from S1, S2 or S3 Test.
(a)
If the aggregates from your source fail to meet BCA’s criteria for S1 or S2
Test, you will be prohibited from importing aggregates from that source in
future.
3
(b)
If the aggregates from your source fail to meet BCA’s criteria for S3 Test, you
will not be allowed to import from your source until you have obtained BCA’s
clearance on your explanation for failure / measures taken to improve the
quality of the aggregates subsequently imported into Singapore. Upon
clearance, your next shipment of imported aggregates from this source will be
subjected to S2 Test. At the same time, you will be required to conduct S3
Test on all your other sources at your cost.
Handling of Rejected Aggregates
(a)
In the event that a source fails S2 Test, the aggregates under quarantine will
have to be sold for non-concreting use in projects acceptable to BCA (such as
public sector projects).
(b)
In the event that any import of aggregates from a particular source fails S3
Test, you are also required to inform RMC suppliers or building contractors
that the shipment of aggregates that was imported by you and failed S3 Test
cannot be used for concreting purpose. You must also request them (i.e.
ready-mix companies or contractors) to inform their project QPs of the unsatisfactory test results.
Further Enquiries
Please contact any of the following BCA officers if you need further assistance:
• Maria Low
DID: 63255170
Email: maria_low@bca.gov.sg
• William Lim
DID: 63255070
Email: william_lim@bca.gov.sg
• Foo Sook Fern
DID: 63255164
Email: foo_sook_fern@bca.gov.sg
• Ken Lee
DID: 63255188
Email: ken_lee@bca.gov.sg
BCA reserves all rights to amend the contents provided herewith without prior notice.
Importers should always check for the latest test guidelines with BCA officers or in BCA homepage,
http://www.bca.gov.sg/AggregatesImport/aggregates_import.html.
4
Annex A: Testing of Imported Aggregates
The test scope for S1 and S2 Test on imported coarse and fine aggregates covers:
a. Alkali-silica reactivity (ASTM C295 - petrographic examination),
b. Chloride Content (SS73-17:1992),
c. Sulphate Content (SS73-18:1992),
d. Alkali-silica reactivity (ASTM C1260 – mortar bar method)*
* For ASR testing using petrographic examination, an additional ASR test
using mortar bar method is necessary if the findings from the petrographic
examination are unable to determine the potential of the aggregates to ASR.
In order to shorten the waiting time in case ASR test using mortar bar method
is needed, you are strongly advised to conduct both petrographic examination
and mortar bar method concurrently for the ASR test.
For S2 Test, ASR test using mortar bar method is compulsory if your source
has previously cleared S1 Test by having to pass the ASR-mortar bar test.
The test requirements and specifications for S1 and S2 testing on coarse and fine
aggregates are listed below:
Table 1: Test Requirements for Imported Coarse and Fine Aggregates
Description
Test Method
Specification
Chloride Content
SS 73-17:1992
Chloride ion content
0.01 % by mass of
chloride ion of combined aggregate
Sulphate SS 73-18:1992
Total water-soluble sulphate content of the
concrete mix (i.e. expressed as SO3), should
not exceed 4 % SO3 by mass of the cement
[refer to BS8110:1:1985]
Acid Soluble
Content
Alkali-Silica Reactivity
(Petrographic
Examination)
ASTM C295
Aggregates should not contain any potentially
alkali-silica reactive constituents.
Alkali-Silica Reactivity
(Mortar Bar Method)
ASTM C1260
Only aggregates with innocuous behaviour
shall be used.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. BCA reserves the right to impose
further tests on the aggregates as and when required, as decided by BCA.
On top of the BCA test requirements, the aggregates to be sold for concreting use
must also comply with the requirements stipulated under Singapore Standard SS 31:
Specification for Aggregates from Natural Sources for Concrete.
More information on SS 31 can be found at:
http://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/product/ProductView.aspx?id=6b2ee039aad2-4427-ad6c-b87b8b143ade
Finally, you are strongly advised to check with their buyers for any other specific tests
(i.e. as required by the buyers) pertaining to the use of aggregates in concrete.
Importers should always check for the latest test requirements with BCA officers or in BCA homepage,
http://www.bca.gov.sg/AggregatesImport/aggregates_import.html.
5
Annex B: Test Laboratories in Singapore
Testing Capabilities without
Outsourcing to Others
Organisation
Contact Details
AL Technologies (S) Pte
Ltd
148 Tagore Lane
Singapore 787564
Tel: 6481 9961
Fax: 6481 4252
Email:
sales@alt.com.sg
• alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) –
(1) petrographic (ASTM C295),
(2) mortar bar (ASTM C1260),
• chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ),
• sulphate content (SS73-18:1992)
Cast Laboratories Pte
Ltd
27 Defu Lane 6
Singapore 539380
Tel: 6288 0080
Fax: 6288 8770,
6288 9912, 6288 3181
Email:
castlab@cast.com.sg
• chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ),
• sulphate content (SS73-18:1992)
CPG Laboratories Pte Ltd
115 Eunos Ave 3
Hongly Building
Singapore 409839
Tel: 68483002
Fax: 68483000
Email:
bdlab@cpgcorp.com.sg
• chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ),
• sulphate content (SS73-18:1992)
Lab Services Pte Ltd
10 Ubi Crescent #06-63
Ubi Techpark, Lobby D
Singapore 408564
Tel: 6749 6009
Fax: 6749 3936
• chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ),
• sulphate content (SS73-18:1992)
Setsco Services Pte Ltd
18 Teban Gardens
Crescent
Singapore 608925
Tel: 6566 7777
Fax: 6566 7718
Email:
marketing@setsco.com
• alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) –
(1) petrographic (ASTM C295),
(2) mortar bar (ASTM C1260),
• chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ),
• sulphate content (SS73-18:1992),
• alkali-carbonate reactivity (ASTM
C1105)
Thalpha Engineering Pte
Ltd
6 Sungei Kadut Way
Singapore 728786
Tel: 6368 6620
Fax: 6368 6282
Email:
lujinping@thalpha.com.sg
• alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) –
(1) petrographic (ASTM C295),
(2) mortar bar (ASTM C1260)
TûV SûD PSB Pte Ltd
No 1 Science Park Drive
Singapore 118221
Tel: 6885 1333
Fax: 6775 9725
Email:
testing@psbcorp.com
• chloride content (SS73-17:1992 ),
• sulphate content (SS73-18:1992),
• alkali-carbonate reactivity (ASTM
C586 or ASTM C1105)
6
Annex C: Overseas Accreditation Bodies under Mutual Recognition
Arrangements (MRA) with Singapore Accreditation Council for Testing
Organisation, Country, and
Logos/Marks
Contact Names, Addresses
Date of
Signing/Recognition
National Association of Testing
Authorities (NATA), AUSTRALIA
Ms Regina Robertson
General Manager, Technical
NATA
7 Leeds Street
Rhodes NSW 2138
Australia
Tel: +61 2 9736 8222
Fax: +61 2 9743 5311
E-mail:
Regina.Robertson@nata.asn.au
Website: www.nata.asn.au
Bi-lateral
29 January 1996
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
19 November 1997
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
China National Accreditation
Service for Conformity
Assessment (CNAS), CHINA
Mr. Wei Hao
Deputy Secretary General
China National Accreditation Service
for
Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
16th Floor, Zhong Ren Building,
A10 Chao Yang Men Wai Da Jie,
Beijing 100020
People’s Republic of China
Tel: +86 10 6599 4568
Fax: +86 10 6599 4079
E-mail: weih@cnas.org.cn
Website: www.cnas.org.cn
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
3 Dec 1999
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
Taiwan Accreditation
Foundation,TAF
CHINESE TAIPEI
Mr Nigel Jou
Director, Department of Laboratory
Accreditation /
Vice CEO of Taiwan Accreditation
Foundation
30, Ta-Hsueh Road
Hsinchu, Taiwan 300
Chinese Taipei
Tel: +886 3 572 3316
Fax: +886 3 572 6308
E-mail: nigel_jou@taftw.org.tw
Website: www.taftw.org.tw
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
19 November1997
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
Hong Kong Accreditation Service
(HKAS),
HONG KONG,CHINA
Mr Terence S S Chan
Executive Administrator, HKAS
36th Floor, Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Hong Kong, China
Tel: +852 2829 4838
Fax: +852 2824 1302
E-mail: sschan@itc.gov.hk
Website: www.itc.gov.hk/hkas
Bi-lateral
29 January 1996
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
19 Nov 1997
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
7
Organisation, Country, and
Logos/Marks
Contact Names, Addresses
Date of
Signing/Recognition
National Accreditation Board for
Testing &
Calibration Laboratories (NABL),
INDIA
Dr Sulbha M Gupta
Director, NABL
NABL, Secretariat
B-4 Apartments, Qutab Hotel
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi 110 016
India
Tel: + 91 11 2652 6890
Fax: + 91 11 2652 9716
E-mail: director@nabl-india.org_
Website : www.nabl-india.org
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
26 October 2000
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
Komite Akreditasi Nasional (KAN),
INDONESIA
Dr Sunarya
Deputy Director General
BSN/Executive
Director of KAN
Komite Akreditasi Nasional - KAN
Manggala Wanabakti
Block IV 4th Floor
Jl. Gatot Subroto, Senayan
Jakarta 10270
Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 574 7042
Fax: +62 21 5790 2948
E-mail: laboratorium@bsn.or.id
Website: www.bsn.or.id
APLAC
Testing - 22 May 2001
Calibration - 13 Nov
2003
ILAC
Testing - 20 June 2001
Calibration – 30 Dec
2003
Japan Accreditation Board for
Conformity
Assessment (JAB), JAPAN
Mr Yuichiro Isu
Executive Director
The Japan Accreditation Board for
Conformity Assessment (JAB)
Gotanda An Building, 3F
1-22-1 Higashigotanda,
Shinagawa-ku
Tokyo 141-0022
Japan
Tel: +81 3 3442 1210
Fax: +81 3 5475 2780
E-mail: yisu@jab.or.jp
Website: www.jab.or.jp
APLAC
Testing
23 Oct 1998
Calibration
2 May 2003
ILAC
Testing
31 Jan 2001
Calibration
28 Jul 2003
8
Organisation, Country, and
Logos/Marks
Contact Names, Addresses
Date of
Signing/Recognition
International Accreditation Japan
(IAJapan),
JAPAN
Dr Katuo Seta
Chief Executive
International Accreditation Japan
(IAJapan)
National Institute of Technology &
Evaluation,
Nishihara 2-49-10, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 151-0066
Japan
Tel: +81 3 3481 1939
Fax: +81 3 3481 1937
E-mail: iajapan@nite.go.jp
Website : www.nite.go.jp/asse/iajapan/
Note: IAJapan was established in April
02.
APLAC
JCSS
Calibration - 3 Dec 1999
JNLA
Testing - 23 Oct 1998
ASNITE
Testing – 1 Apr 2002
Calibration – 1 Apr 2002
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
Voluntary EMC
Laboratory Accreditation
Center Inc.
(VLAC), JAPAN
Mr. Seiichi
Voluntary EMC Laboratory
Accreditation Center Inc. (VLAC),
JAPAN
Mr. Seiichi Kawashima
General Manager
Voluntary EMC Laboratory
Accreditation
Center Inc (VLAC)
7F NOA Building
2-3-5, Azabudai, Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-0041
JAPAN
Tel: +81 3 3568 2152
Fax: +81 3 3568 2153
E-mail: kawashima@vlac.co.jp
Website: www.vlac.co.jp
APLAC
Testing - 13 Nov 2003
Korea Laboratory Accreditation
Scheme (KOLAS), KOREA
Mr Yang-Whan Jeong
Director, Laboratory Accreditation
Division
Korea Laboratory Accreditation
Scheme
(KOLAS)
Korean Agency for Technology and
Standards
(KATS)
2 Joongang-dong, Kwacheon-shi
Kyunggi-do, 427-010
Republic of Korea
Tel: +82 2 507 7649
Fax: +82 2 507 6875
E-mail: kolas@ats.go.kr
Website: www.kolas.ats.go.kr
APLAC
Testing - 23 Oct 1998
Calibration - 2 May 2001
ILAC
Testing
31 Jan 2001
Calibration
20 June 2001
Testing
Calibration
9
Organisation, Country, and
Logos/Marks
Contact Names, Addresses
Date of
Signing/Recognition
Department of Standards Malaysia
(DSM),
MALAYSIA
Mr Ridzwan Kasim
Acting Director of Accreditation, DSM
Department of Standards Malaysia
(DSM)
Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation
Level 1 & 2, Block C4, Parcel C
Federal Government Administrative
Centre
62502 Putrajaya,
Malaysia
Tel: +603 8885 8170
Fax: +603 8889 4100
E-mail: ridzwan@dsm.gov.my
Website: www.dsm.gov.my
APLAC
Testing - 14 Nov 2002
Calibration - 13 Nov
2003
ILAC
Testing - 16 Jan 2003
Calibration – 19 Nov
2003
International Accreditation New
Zealand (IANZ), NEW ZEALAND
Mr Barry Ashcroft General Manager,
Accreditation Services International
Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) Level
1, 626 Great South Road, Greenlane,
Private Bag 28908 Auckland 1136 New
Zealand
Tel: +64 9 525 6655
Fax: +64 9 525 2266
E-mail: bashcroft@ianz.govt.nz
Website: www.ianz.govt.nz
Bi-lateral 29 January 1996
APLAC Testing &
Calibration 19 November
1997 ILAC Testing &
Calibration 31 Jan 2001
Bureau of Product Standards
Laboratory
Accreditation Scheme (BPSLAS),
PHILIPPINES
Mrs Cirila S Botor
Head of BPS Accreditation Scheme,
Bureau of Product Standards
3rd Floor, Trade & Industry Building
361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue
Makati City, Metro Manila
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 751 3127
Fax: +63 2 751 4706
E-mail: CirilaBotor@dti.gov.ph
bpslas@dti.gov.ph
Website: www.bps.dti.gov.ph
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
17 Nov 2005
Singapore Accreditation Council
(SAC),
SINGAPORE
Ms Chang Kwei Fern
Director
Singapore Accreditation Council
SPRING Singapore
2 Bukit Merah Central
Singapore 159835
Tel: +65 6279 1847
Fax: +65 6272 1937
E-mail:
chang_kwei_fern@spring.gov.sg
Website: www.sacaccreditation.gov.sg
Bi-lateral
29 January 1996
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
19 November 1997
EA
Testing & Calibration
20 March 2000
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
Note: SAMM (Skim Akreditasi
Makmal Malaysia) is the
Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
under DSM.
10
Organisation, Country, and
Logos/Marks
Contact Names, Addresses
Date of
Signing/Recognition
Thai Laboratory Accreditation
Scheme (TLAS), THAILAND
Mr Pairoj Sanyadechakul
TISI Secretary - General
Thai Industrial Standards Institute
(TISI)
Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi District
Bangkok 10400
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 02 202 3400
Fax: +66 2 02 246 4085
Email: pairoj@tisi.go.th
bureau4@tisi.go.th, tlas@tisi.go.th
Website: www.tisi.go.th
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
25 Oct 2001
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
3 Nov 2001
Department of Science Service
(DSS),
THAILAND
Mrs Suchin Srikongsri
Deputy Director General
Acting Director
Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation
Department of Science Service
75/7 Rama VI Road
Ratchathewi District
Bangkok 10400
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 201 7027
Fax: +66 2 644 5431
Email: suchin@dss.go.th
APLAC
Testing
22 May 2006
Vietnam Laboratory Accreditation
Scheme (VILAS), VIETNAM
Dr Ho Tat Thang
Deputy General Director of STAMEQ /
Director of Bureau of Accreditation
BOA
8 Hoang Quoc Viet
Hanoi
Vietnam
Tel: +84 4 791 1551; 791 1552
Fax: +84 4 791 1551
Email: vpcongnhan@boa.gov.vn
Website: www.boa.gov.vn
APLAC
Testing & Calibration
26 October 2001
ILAC
Testing & Calibration
31 Jan 2001
This list is not exhaustive. You may also contact the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC), http://www.sacaccreditation.gov.sg/, for more details.
This list also contains hyperlinks to web sites which are not maintained by BCA. BCA is not responsible for the
contents of those web sites and shall not be liable for any damages or loss arising from access to those web sites.
Use of the hyperlinks and access to such web sites are entirely at your own risk
11