Reference
Singapore Home Upgrade Glossary
Plain-English definitions for every term used across our buying guides — drive systems, membranes, motors, rail types, plant rooms, permits. One canonical source, alphabetised.
A
- Acrylic coating
Liquid-applied waterproofing system, UV-resistant, applied in multiple coats. Right for maintenance refresh on dry roofs. 5-year typical warranty.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- ALPR
Automatic License Plate Recognition. Premium smart-access feature that opens the gate when an authorized vehicle's plate is detected approaching.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Annual safety inspection
The legally-required annual examination of a residential lift by a BCA-registered lift contractor, verifying safety circuits, door interlocks, emergency systems, and overall mechanical condition.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Autofill
Automatic water make-up system that keeps the pool level stable as evaporation occurs. Plumbed to the household water supply via a PUB-approved connection.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
B
- Balustrade
The barrier (panels or balusters with handrail) preventing falls from the side of the staircase.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Battery backup
Onboard battery that powers the stairlift during mains outages. Typical 3-to-6 round-trip capacity before recharge needed.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
- BCA Permit to Install
The pre-construction permit issued by BCA authorizing the physical installation of a residential lift, based on submitted engineering drawings, structural calculations, and lift specifications.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- BCA Permit to Operate
The post-commissioning permit issued by BCA, valid after the lift passes its safety inspection, authorizing the lift to be used. Cannot be issued without the prior Permit to Install.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
C
- Cantilever staircase
Treads supported only at one end (typically embedded into a wall) without a stringer or balustrade post on the open side. Premium contemporary design; requires PE.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Charger contact
Conductive contact strips at each end of the rail that recharge the seat battery when parked. Common service item — needs cleaning every 1 to 2 years.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
- Conformal coating
Protective coating applied to controller circuit boards that resists humidity and condensation. Standard on premium controllers; absent on cheap ones.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Coping
The finishing edge around the perimeter of the pool separating the water surface from the surrounding deck. Material choices include natural stone, porcelain tile, concrete.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Counter-flashing
Metal flashing installed over the membrane upturn at parapet walls, providing mechanical retention and secondary water resistance.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Counterweight
The balancing mass used in traction lifts to offset the cabin weight, reducing motor load and energy consumption. Sits inside the shaft on its own guide rails.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Curved rail
Custom-manufactured rail bent on-site measurements to follow a staircase with turns, landings, or split flights. 2-to-4 week manufacture lead time.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
D
- Drive system
The mechanical system that moves the lift cabin. The four residential drive systems on the Singapore market are hydraulic, traction (with or without machine room), vacuum (pneumatic), and platform-lift mechanisms.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Duty cycle
Number of operating cycles per hour a motor is rated to handle. Residential auto gates typically need 15 to 25 cycles/hour rating.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
E
- Edge sensor
Pressure-sensitive strip on the leading edge of the gate that reverses the gate if it contacts an obstacle while closing. Secondary safety layer.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Elongation at break
Mechanical property describing how far a membrane can stretch before tearing. Polyurethane membranes typically 300%+, torch-on 30 to 40%, acrylic 100 to 200%.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
F
- Family pool
Medium pool (4 to 7 metres) for general household use including kids' play, cool-off swimming, and pool-side socializing. The default brochure quote.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Filter backwash
Periodic flush of filter media to remove accumulated debris. The backwash water must be drained through a PUB-approved connection, not to the storm drain.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Foot-rest sensor
Obstacle-detection sensor on the foot-rest underside that stops the lift if it encounters an object on the stair.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
- Force limit
Controller-configured maximum closing force, calibrated so the gate stops on contact with a child or pet. Adjustable; usually set at install.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
G
- Going
Horizontal depth of a tread from the front edge to the riser behind. Standard residential going is 250 to 300mm. Affects safety and comfort.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
H
- Half-landing
An intermediate horizontal landing within a staircase, typically at the turn point of a curved staircase. Increases curved-rail complexity.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
- Headroom
The vertical clearance above the highest landing required to house the lift's upper mechanism, motor (for MRL), and safety clearance. Typically 2.4m to 2.7m depending on drive system and cabin height.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Honed finish
Stone finish with a matte, non-reflective surface. Less slippery than polished finishes; preferred for stair treads on safety grounds.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
K
- Key-lock
A removable key required to operate the lift, preventing unauthorized use by children or visitors.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
L
- Landing
Horizontal platform interrupting the staircase, either intermediate (within the flight) or terminal (at top or bottom).
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Lap pool
Pool of 8 metres or longer, designed for swimming workouts. Minimum useful lap length 12 metres; competitive training needs 15 metres or more.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
M
- Maintenance contract
A scheduled service agreement (typically quarterly plus the annual inspection) covering lubrication, calibration, safety checks, and minor wear-part replacement. Typically S$2,400 to S$4,800 per year for residential lifts.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Manual release
Key-operated mechanical release that disengages the motor from the gate, allowing it to be moved by hand during power outages.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- MRL — Machine Room Less
A traction lift configuration where the drive motor is mounted at the top of the shaft instead of in a separate machine room. Saves space and is now the dominant configuration for residential traction lifts.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
N
- Nosing
The forward edge of a tread that overhangs the riser below. Contributes to grip and visibility of the tread edge.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
O
- Outdoor rail
Weather-rated rail and seat unit for external staircases. Required when the stairlift will live outside the building envelope.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
P
- Parapet wall junction
Detail where the roof membrane terminates against an upstand or parapet wall. Second-most-common failure point. Requires upturn and counter-flashing.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- PE endorsement
A Singapore-registered Professional Engineer's certification stamp on structural drawings and calculations, required by BCA for residential lift shaft submissions.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Penetration seal
Waterproofing detail around any element penetrating the roof (vent pipes, AC pipework, scuppers). Statistically the most common failure point on Singapore landed roofs.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Photo beam sensor
Infrared beam pair across the gate opening that prevents the gate from closing on people, pets, or vehicles in the path. Mandatory safety equipment.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Pit
The space below the lowest landing required to house the lift's lower mechanism, buffer, and clearance. Typically 150mm to 300mm deep for hydraulic and traction. Vacuum lifts require no pit.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Plant room
Enclosed space housing the pool's filtration, pumps, chemical dosing, and electrical panel. SCDF-compliant ventilation and access required.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Plunge pool
Small pool (2 to 4 metres) designed for cooling and casual use, not for swimming laps. Smaller plant room, smaller permit footprint, higher year-3 usage probability.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Polyurethane membrane
Liquid-applied elastomeric waterproofing system with high elongation. Right for roofs with movement, complex geometry, or restricted future access.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Ponding water
Standing water that accumulates on a roof where drainage is inadequate. Indicator of slab settlement, scupper blockage, or membrane sag.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Pool cover
Mandatory safety equipment for households with young children if a perimeter barrier is not provided. Also reduces evaporation and chemical consumption.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Powder coating
Electrostatically-applied paint finish baked onto the gate. Standard finish for aluminium and mild steel gates. Mild steel needs re-coating every 5 to 8 years; aluminium typically lasts the lifetime of the gate.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Principal contractor
A contractor that holds the customer relationship, BCA submission, contract, deposit, and warranty end-to-end, regardless of which specialist trades are sub-contracted underneath. Distinguishes from middlemen who broker the install but do not stand behind the result.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
R
- Reconditioned stairlift
A used stairlift unit refurbished and resold with a shortened warranty. Right for time-limited use cases (recovery, palliative).
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
- Rise
Vertical height between two consecutive treads. Standard residential rise is 150 to 180mm. Critical for safety; uneven rises are a fall hazard.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Riser
The vertical face between two consecutive treads. Open-riser staircases omit this face entirely.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
S
- Saltwater chlorination
Alternative chlorination system that generates chlorine from dissolved salt in the pool water. Gentler on skin and equipment than traditional chlorine dosing; higher capital cost.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Scupper
Drainage outlet through a parapet wall or slab that channels rainwater off the roof. Often a leak source if not reformed during waterproofing.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Setback
URA-defined minimum distance the pool perimeter must be from the property's boundary walls. Determines maximum buildable pool size on a given plot.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Shaft footprint
The external horizontal dimensions of the lift shaft. For a standard 4-to-6 person residential lift, typically 1.1m × 1.4m. Wheelchair-ready cabins require 1.3m × 1.6m externally.
Defined in: Home Lifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Homeowners
- Skimmer
Pool inlet at the water surface level that draws floating debris into the filtration circuit. Standard feature on virtually all residential pools.
Defined in: Swimming Pools in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Stainless 304 vs 316
Two grades of stainless steel. 316 contains molybdenum which dramatically improves saltwater corrosion resistance. 316 is the marine-grade choice for properties within 1 km of the coast.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Straight rail
Pre-manufactured aluminium rail for single-flight staircases with no turns or landings. The simplest and fastest stairlift install.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
- Stringer
The structural support running along the side of the staircase, into which treads and risers are fixed. Open stringer = visible from side, closed stringer = enclosed.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Swivel seat
Stairlift seat that rotates at the top landing so the user can dismount facing away from the stairs, reducing fall risk.
Defined in: Stairlifts in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Ageing-in-Place Families
T
- Torch-on membrane
Modified bitumen sheet membrane heat-welded with a propane torch into seamless coverage. The workhorse residential waterproofing system in Singapore. 10-year typical warranty.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Tread
The horizontal surface of a stair step that you walk on.
Defined in: Staircase Renovation in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
U
- Underground motor
Motor configuration with the drive mechanism concealed in a pit at the base of each gate post. Aesthetic upgrade; more expensive and more vulnerable to flooding.
Defined in: Auto Gates in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
- Upturn
Section of the membrane that wraps up the face of a parapet wall (typically 150mm minimum) to prevent water tracking behind the membrane.
Defined in: Roof Waterproofing in Singapore: The 2026 Buying Guide for Landed Property
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