Industry Insights
Green Mark v7 Timeline: What Specifiers Should Do Before April 2027
Every framework change comes with a clock, and BCA Green Mark Version 7 is no exception. For projects in design today, the most practical question is not what v7 assesses but which version a live project will certify under — and that depends on the transition timeline BCA has set. For interior designers and architects, getting ahead of the switchover avoids the awkward mid-project discovery that a scheme has closed.
This guide lays out the timeline in plain terms, explains the new pathways that matter for fit-out and retrofit work, and sets out what to do now.
The short version: Green Mark v7 rolled out in phases from 2026. BCA will stop accepting new GM:2021 applications from 1 April 2027, and ongoing GM:2021 projects are expected to complete by the end of 2027. New projects should assume v7. The new BCA Energy Rating pathway also opens certification to existing buildings and retrofits — bringing more fit-out work into scope. Confirm your project’s certification path early, because it shapes the specification.
The Transition Timeline
The move from GM:2021 to v7 is phased rather than a hard overnight switch, which gives live projects a runway. The key dates for specifiers:
| Milestone | Timing | What it means for specifiers |
|---|---|---|
| v7 pilot phase | From early 2025 | Framework tested with pilot projects |
| v7 phased launch | 2026, from IBEW (Sept 2026) | v7 available; assume it for new projects |
| GM:2021 applications close | 1 April 2027 | No new GM:2021 submissions after this date |
| GM:2021 projects complete | By end 2027 | Ongoing GM:2021 work should be wrapped up |
For a fit-out with a typical design-to-completion span, a project starting design in 2026 is, in most cases, a v7 project. Anything hoping to certify under GM:2021 needs its application in before the April 2027 cut-off — and a realistic path to completing that year. When in doubt, confirm with the project’s Green Mark consultant early, because the version determines which criteria your specification has to satisfy. Always check the latest BCA circulars for the definitive dates, as implementation details can be refined.
The New Pathways That Matter for Interiors
The BCA Energy Rating and Retrofits
Version 7’s standalone BCA Energy Rating is an energy-performance-only pathway that lets many more existing buildings pursue certification without meeting the full green-building criteria. This is significant for interior teams because it makes certified retrofits and refurbishments more attainable — and retrofit is where fit-out finishes carry the most weight. Expect more existing-building projects to seek a rating, and more clients to ask whether a refurbishment can improve one.
Portfolio Certification and Extended Validity
For clients with multiple similar properties, v7’s portfolio certification lets them group buildings under one application, reducing repeated submissions — useful for retail chains, offices and institutional estates rolling out a consistent fit-out standard. Sustained performers can also see certificate validity extended from three to five years. Neither changes the material story, but both affect how and when specification standards are set across a client’s estate.
What to Do Now
The practices that will find v7 straightforward are the ones treating the transition as a design-stage issue, not a submission-stage one:
- Confirm the version per project. For every live and upcoming project, establish with the Green Mark consultant whether it certifies under GM:2021 or v7, and specify to the right criteria from the outset.
- Default to v7 for new work. Any project unlikely to complete its GM:2021 path comfortably within 2027 should be planned as a v7 project now.
- Build documentation habits early. v7’s carbon and health criteria lean on EPDs and emission certifications — start requesting them at selection, as covered in our guide to materials, EPDs and certifications.
- Reframe refurbishment as an opportunity. With retrofits more certifiable under the energy rating, low-carbon refurbishment strategies become a client selling point — see refurbishment without demolition and adaptive reuse of interior materials.
Where This Sits in the Bigger Picture
The timeline is the practical wrapper around everything else v7 introduces. Once you know which version applies, the substance follows: the whole-life carbon and health and wellbeing sections define where interior specification matters most, and our overview for specifiers and architects ties the whole framework together.
Final Thoughts
The Green Mark v7 transition is generous enough to plan around but firm enough to matter: after 1 April 2027, GM:2021 is closed to new applications, and the sensible default for anything in design now is v7. Interior designers and architects who confirm the version per project, build EPD and certification habits early, and treat refurbishment as a certifiable opportunity will move through the switchover without friction — and will be ready for the framework that governs Singapore’s built environment for the years ahead.
Goodrich Global works with design teams to specify Green Mark-ready materials whichever version a project certifies under, supplying the documentation each submission needs. Explore our full Green Mark v7 guide for specifiers to plan your next project with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does GM:2021 close and Green Mark v7 take over?
Green Mark v7 rolled out in phases from 2026. BCA will stop accepting new GM:2021 applications from 1 April 2027, and ongoing GM:2021 projects are expected to complete by the end of 2027. New projects in design now should generally assume they will certify under v7. Always confirm the latest dates via BCA circulars, as implementation details can be refined.
Which Green Mark version will my project certify under?
It depends on when the application is made and whether the project can complete within the transition window. A project able to submit and complete a GM:2021 application before the cut-offs may still use GM:2021, but most projects starting design now should plan as v7 projects. Confirm early with the project’s Green Mark consultant, because the version determines which criteria the specification must satisfy.
How does Green Mark v7 affect retrofit and refurbishment projects?
Version 7 introduces a standalone BCA Energy Rating — an energy-performance-only pathway that makes certification more attainable for existing buildings. This brings more retrofit and refurbishment work into scope, and because those projects are finish-heavy, it increases the role of interior specification. Low-carbon refurbishment strategies become a genuine client selling point.
What should interior specifiers do now to prepare for Green Mark v7?
Confirm which version each live project certifies under, default to v7 for new work unlikely to complete a GM:2021 path within 2027, start requesting EPDs and emission certifications at material selection, and treat refurbishment as a certifiable opportunity under the new energy-rating pathway. Building these habits at design stage avoids rework at submission.
Book an appointment with our consultants to plan a Green Mark v7-ready specification for your next project.
