We thank Mr Timothy Toh Hong Ern for his letter, “Difficult to rely on 3D printing alone for Singapore buildings” (May 29).

The three-dimensional (3D) printed prefabricated bathroom unit is undergoing stringent tests required by the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Building Innovation Panel, which includes representatives from technical authorities and the industry.

These tests are to ensure that the prefabricated bathroom unit is suitable for implementation and meets regulatory requirements in Singapore.

The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) team had sought to address the challenges that Mr Toh highlighted.

From the start, the aim was to develop a 3D-printed prefabricated bathroom unit designed for Singapore’s high-rise environment. Hence, the completed unit has a strong concrete base with anchor points that can be used for hoisting to high-rise apartments.

The 3D-printed unit is also 30 per cent lighter, making it easier to hoist.

While the initial capital costs of commercial 3D printers for construction may be higher, these can be offset by savings in labour, materials and production time. It is estimated that there would potentially be 30 per cent savings in production costs for each 3D-printed prefabricated bathroom unit, compared with conventional construction methods.

NTU can now design 3D-printed prefabricated bathroom units to accommodate concealed electrical, plumbing and sanitary pipes, unlike conventional cast concrete units that may require drilling and hacking.

There are bound to be challenges whenever we start a new journey. BCA encourages more of such innovative industry initiatives, and will support new technologies through the Building Innovation Panel and the BuildSG Transformation Fund where applicable.