The Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing security guidelines for building owners amid concerns over the terror threat. It expects to complete the review by the year end.

The ministry is also looking to better clarify technical specifications of security measures, such as vehicle barriers, closed-circuit television systems and glass facade standards.

Last month, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the threat of an attack here was at its highest level in decades and new measures would be rolled out.

Constructing a building with blast-proof materials is set to raise costs by up to 20 per cent, and X-ray machines and scanners would add to costs. But security experts say the question is not whether firms can afford the measures, but whether they can afford not to implement them.

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