Important notes for Biometric System Installations
Construction Planning Submitted on or after 1 November 2014 with GFA of 5000 m2 or more including new building projects and upgrading and A&A projects with new constructed floor areas. The builders should submit the Construction Productivity Data obtained from the BAS via the Electronic Productivity Submission System (ePSS). Main-Con/builders shall plan, install and operate Biometric Systems (BAS) to enhance the reliability and efficiency in the manpower data productivity collection. It’s stated under Regulation 10(a) of the Building Control (Buildability and Productivity) Regulations 2011,
The key objective on manpower data collection will benefits BCA in calculate industry average project productivity for different building categories to analyse & to further improve effectiveness of funding usage, rules and regulation applied, quality control, labour intensiveness and safety measurement. This industry average project productivity can be used to assess a project’s productivity performance and the builder can use this data to set improvement targets for future projects.
BCA further encourage those projects not subject or mandate to submit manpower data to voluntary submit through the ePSS so the builders can make use the BAS to monitor their project manpower usage, improve site security access framework and more systematic manpower registration process.
It’s also one of submission requirements when a builder applies for the BCA’s Construction Excellence Awards and Construction Productivity Awards.
The project productivity is defined as the floor area (in square meters) completed per manday. A project is deemed to be more productive if a larger floor area can be constructed with the same man-days. In other words, the higher the figure, the better is the project productivity.
What you need to know before install biometric system at construction site?
BAS comprise of 2 major parts which include hardware and software. According to BCA EPSS requirement, hardware use to verify and records worker’s attendance must be biometric readers (Face, Fingerprint, Palm, Vein, Iris or any other biological authentication technology)
Biometric System shall install at worksite entrance & exit way to allow workers verify and capture check-in, check-out state with date and time throughout the contract duration. It’s to be robust and durable design and suitable for rugged construction environment. Most of the biometric system vendor will provide additional box up enclosure to protect device housing and preventive measures to avoid direct contact of sunlight and water.
The biometric system sensor must be fast and accurate enough to captures and authenticates distinguishing physiological traits. The manpower size can vary according to building area size from few thousand to hundred thousand square feet/meter.
Think carefully how many gate you need to open and what’s site security plan to ensure all the gates is secure. Consult your biometric system vendor the number of turnstile to deploy at site based on your estimated manpower usage during peak period. Each access location including site office, worker quarter, rest area and toilet shall design to make it easy to control either using half, full height turnstile or door access system. Each controlled gate shall be able to achieve a maximum clearance time of 1 minute for every 10 persons and railing or barricade can be including on system setup to prevent workers access through other way round.
BAS Software shall have real time monitoring features to track and prevent any fraudulent attempt by the personnel. Example: Generate roll call report, movement report when there’s any incident require a number pax of workers within construction area (PPE Zone) and Worker Quarter (non-PPE Zone).
Power outage for construction site is quite common and all Biometric System MUST have suitable measures such as backup battery to ensure system operate and not affected during power outage. Installing Surge arrester to protect your hardware being surge and keep your system maintenance cost at optimum level.
BAS Software is a crucial part to support project user records personnel profile, assign trade skill types and records daily attendance. It’s not merely an attendance system, but equipped with more function applicable for construction use. System shall accurately capture and process all check-in and check-out records and calculate man-hour, man-day, headcount with respective trade skill types. The output of BAS Software shall include employee name, date, clock in time, clock out time, tabulation on the number of hours at site. Most important is monthly usage report which is an excel format form compliance to BCA ePSS upload format. User shall use the BAS software to generate monthly usage report in excel format and use it to submit to BCA EPSS Portal.
How to choose a good biometric system?
In market, there’s few biometric system vendors who providing BAS EPSS Solution. Who’s the best? While, it’s depends on end user preferences and some evaluation. Most basic evaluation shall include but not limit to following criteria:
- Company Background & Reputation
Study vendor’s company profile, nature of business and what’s their key business in the market. It’s more sensible if vendor’s core business is supply & install biometric system and have own R&D programming team. Reputation is another way round by looking around (Word of Mouth/Observation) or getting their past project information
- Track Records in similar or relate projects
It’s important to study vendors past project track records and able to analyse how well they exist in the market.
- Quality Control & Service Level
This is crucial part to ensure your biometric system is under vendor’s caring and servicing. Some vendors only provide software and hardware is outsourcing to third party to supply, install and maintain. Service Resolution and cost will be a big question mark.
- Cost Impact
Always gets 3 quotes to compare, or even more. Cost analysis shall include maintenance and wear and tear depends on vendor package offer.
- Feasibility of Propose Solution
Latest model doesn’t mean it’s best! Importantly whether propose solution earn enough experience curve.
- Coverage of job scope
What else vendor can do? Additional item such as CCTV, container guard post, PA system, vehicle arm barrier system? Bulk purchase to grab more discount and good price.
- Qualification earned or award
Currently, a minimum entry for construction site is Bizsafe level3 for vendor’s company and vendor’s employees who responsible on implementation stage must earn at least CSOC, and BCSS. Additional qualification and award will be merit for vendors in representing their position in the market.
For those in essential service line, employers should provide arrangement such as stagger work hour and reduce close contact at work. Employee shall widen the space between individual work station to at least 1 meter, shorten the meeting session, maintain minimum number of staff to work at workplace to perform key activity while the rest who are not dealing with critical business operation service such as account, finance, admin is strongly encourage to work from home.
Manufacturing sector shall re-schedule working shift and clear separation of employees into few team while extending operational hours to maintain production output.
All religious services and congregations will be suspended. Places of worship (e.g. temples, mosques, churches) may remain open for private worship and essential rites, subject to group sizes of 10 persons or fewer at any one time.
