Singapore BIM E-Submission: Mandatory Requirements for CORENET X (2026)

5,000 square meters. From 1 October 2026, new projects in Singapore with gross floor area (GFA) of 5,000 m² or more must submit through the CORENET X gateway processes. Since 1 October 2025 the same has applied to new projects of 30,000 m² or more. Projects below 5,000 m² can keep using CORENET 2 for now. The rules changed in a circular of 23 July 2026, so earlier summaries (including the “all new projects from October 2026” plan) are out of date.

CORENET X requirements at a glance

What triggers mandatory CORENET X submission in Singapore?

CORENET X submission is mandatory by GFA and by project status, set by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Under the 23 July 2026 circular, the 5,000 m² threshold covers new buildings or works to existing buildings that have not already been submitted to URA or another regulatory agency, in three cases:

• erection of buildings with total GFA of 5,000 m² or more;
• additions or extensions creating at least 5,000 m² of additional GFA;
• major addition and alteration (A&A) works where the affected or replaced GFA is at least 5,000 m².

Smaller A&A works fall under the voluntary category. Projects of 5,000 m² or more that began submissions in CORENET 2 by 30 September 2026 can stay in CORENET 2, and ongoing projects of that size can continue in CORENET 2 until further details are announced. Projects below 5,000 m² are not required to use the gateway processes; the agencies say they are streamlining the submission process for this group, with details to follow.

CORENET X replaces CORENET 2 as the submission system through three gateways: Design, Construction, and Completion (piling is an optional gateway), per the January 2025 circular DC25-01. Earlier circulars set different dates for the October 2026 step, so confirm the current circular before relying on any summary.

What file format does CORENET X require?

The circular DC25-01 states that the openBIM submission format IFC+SG (also written IFC-SG) is mandatory for new erections or major A&A with new GFA of 5,000 m² or more, and not mandatory for ongoing projects. That circular gives no start date for this requirement. The July 2026 circular refers to IFC+SG in its support resources: an IFC+SG Knowledge Hub, courses and webinars on RABW and IFC+SG, and Productivity Solutions Grant funding for BIM software and IFC+SG courses.

We have not verified claims found in older drafts and summaries about native file formats (.rvt, .pla, .dgn), a per-file size limit, model scale rules, or the content of discipline checklists. Take these from the CORENET X Code of Practice and the Good Practices Guidebook, available at go.gov.sg/cx.

Where do the CORENET X rules and training live?

BCA and URA publish the Code of Practice, Good Practices Guidebook, Submission Portal User Manual, IFC+SG Knowledge Hub, FAQ page, and a training environment where teams can practise submissions without a real project (go.gov.sg/cx; queries via go.gov.sg/cxenquiry). Check these for the current wording before you build a model or a BIM execution plan around any specific requirement.

Why did Singapore change the CORENET X timeline?

The circular of 23 July 2026 states that time savings and productivity gains from CORENET X are most pronounced for larger and more complex projects. The earlier January 2025 plan set 1 October 2026 as the date for all new projects regardless of GFA; the July 2026 circular replaced that with the 5,000 m² threshold. Teams planning work in Singapore should monitor BCA and URA circulars, since the implementation plan has been revised more than once.

How does Singapore’s BIM mandate compare internationally?

Jurisdictions take different routes to mandating BIM: a project-size threshold on a regulatory submission (Singapore), a procurement requirement for public clients (the UK, Hong Kong), or project-specific client requirements.

We have not verified a US row or any claim that Singapore’s threshold is the lowest in the world, so none is made here.

What are common mistakes with CORENET X timelines?

Four mistakes recur.

1. Using an outdated threshold. Summaries from 2023 to mid-2026 give 30,000 m² only, or all projects from October 2026. Check the latest circular.

2. Ignoring the A&A rule. Major A&A works count where the affected or replaced GFA is 5,000 m² or more.

3. Missing the transition date. Projects of 5,000 m² or more that began in CORENET 2 by 30 September 2026 can stay there; later starts go to CORENET X.

4. Treating IFC+SG as any IFC file. IFC+SG is a specific submission format. Use the IFC+SG Knowledge Hub and the Code of Practice for its requirements.