Home | Procurement | Importers' Licensing Scheme | Sampling Evalution of Sand and Granite

Import Permit

1. General

1.1      BCA has adopted a three-stage testing regime on imported sand and granite to determine whether the material is of acceptable quality for use in any building works, street works or railway works as follows:

  1. Pre-Import Test (S1 Test)
  2. Confirmation Test (S2 Test) on 1st consignment from a new source to a licensee
  3. Random Test (S3 Test) on subsequent consignments imported by a licensee

1.2      The licensee is to submit the completed Form for every S1 submission for import of sand and granite from a new source to the licensee.

2. Test Methods and Standards

The relevant test methods and standards for evaluation of the imported sand and granite are as follows:

No. Description Relevant Test Methods Relevant Standards
1 Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR) or/and;
(a) Petrographic Examination
(b) Mortar Bar Method		 ASTM C295
ASTM C1260		 ASTM C33
ASTM C33
2 Chloride Content or/and; EN1744 Clause 7

 SS EN 12620
3 Sulphate Content EN1744 Clause 12 SS EN 12620

3. Taking of Sample

3.1 For S2 and S3 tests, sample of sand or granite will be collected by BCA and divided into 2 parts regardless of whether the consignment is subject to an Isolation Order or not. 

3.2 The cost of the tests are to be borne as follows:

  1. Existing importers

    2. During the first six months of the implementation of the licensing scheme, i.e. from 15 Apr 2011 to 14 Oct 2011, existing importers who are not licensees will pay the cost of S2 test.

    For S3 tests, existing importers who are not licensees will pay for the cost of the test if it fails.  BCA will pay for the cost of the S3 test if it passes.

    If a re-test is requested for S2 or S3 tests, existing importers who are not licensees will pay for the cost of the test. 

  2. License

    3. The cost of S2 and S3 tests would be borne by BCA.

    If a re-test is requested by licensee for S2 or S3 tests, the full cost of the re-test by the authorised analyst must be paid by the licensee before BCA submits the second part sample to the authorised analyst for evaluation.

3.3 For isolated consignments, BCA will retain the 2nd part sample for not than 2 months. For consignments without isolation, BCA will retain the 2nd part sample for not more than 1 month. We will dispose the samples if no re-test is requested by the licensee.


4. BCA's Test REquirements for Imported Fine and Coarse Aggregate

Please click http://www.bca.gov.sg/ImportersLicensing/others/test_requirements.pdf for details of the BCA’s Test Requirements.