The Ministry of Manpower said the requirement will apply regardless of the material used for the scaffold and will form part of a wider package of measures aimed at reducing scaffold fire risks.
From 1 March 2028, fire-retardant scaffold netting will also have to be certified by certification bodies accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council.
Responsibility across the supply chain
Under the new regime, manufacturers, suppliers, scaffold contractors and workplace occupiers will all be responsible for making sure netting meets the required specifications.
The Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health will accept netting that meets specified fire-test standards under British Standards, Japanese Industrial Standards or standards issued by the US National Fire Protection Association.
MOM has not yet published the individual standard numbers. A forthcoming circular will set out the scope of the rules, accepted fire tests and compliance measures, including labelling and certification requirements.
Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash announced the move at Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health Awards on 24 September.
He said MOM would work with industry ahead of the March 2027 start date.
Review followed Hong Kong fire
The change follows a review of scaffold fire safety in Singapore after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong in November 2025.
Singapore had already announced a separate restriction on timber scaffolds. From 1 January 2027, the normal permitted period for timber scaffold use will fall from nine months to three months, with exemptions considered in some circumstances.
When that measure was announced in July, MOM and the Singapore Civil Defence Force said they were also studying new fire-safety requirements for scaffold netting.
Singapore’s latest decision now puts a firm implementation date on that part of the review.
The move follows increased scrutiny of scaffold coverings and fire performance across the region after Wang Fuk Court. Scaffmag has previously reported on the use and removal of scaffold netting connected with the Hong Kong fire.
