Singapore regulates electrical work tightly. The headline rule, set out under the Electricity Act and administered by the Energy Market Authority, is that any new wiring, rewiring or extension to an electrical installation must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW). The EMA publishes the live list of LEWs through the EMA ELISE Licensed Electrical Worker directory.
What actually triggers LEW supervision
- Installing a new circuit or sub-circuit from a distribution board (DB)
- Adding or modifying the DB itself — new MCBs, RCBOs, busbar tap-offs, sub-DBs
- Rewiring an existing circuit — replacing the cable, the protective device or the route
- Extending an installation — new socket spurs, lighting circuits, isolators for water heaters or aircons
- Connecting or disconnecting a load above the threshold set by the supply licensee
What typically does not need an LEW
Plug-and-play replacement of a like-for-like accessory — a light switch, a light fitting, a ceiling fan on an existing isolator, a power point face plate — is not a "new wiring" job. Diagnostic visits, insulation resistance testing and visual DB inspections also do not change the installation. The line gets crossed the moment a cable, a circuit protective device or a termination changes.
LEW classes — short version
EMA licences electrical workers by competency class — Electrician, Electrical Technician, Electrical Engineer — and by voltage / load. A small HDB job is comfortably within an Electrician licence. A commercial fit-out with sub-DB modification and large kitchen load often needs an Electrical Technician licence. An LV switch room project typically needs an Electrical Engineer licence. Use the EMA ELISE Licensed Electrical Worker directory to verify the licence held by the worker named on your quote.
Practical contractor-side note
A good contractor will not start cutting cables on the day of the first site visit. The first visit confirms whether the scope is licensed work, who the LEW will be, and what testing record you should expect at handover.
Standards your installation should meet
Once the work is done, it should comply with SS 638: Code of Practice for Electrical Installations (Singapore Standards). For HDB premises the HDB renovation guidelines apply, and condominium works are coordinated through the MCST or managing agent. RCD / RCCB protection on final circuits is the default on new installations.