About 71 windows fell from high-rise apartments and flats in 2009 compared with 44 in 2008, according to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
The increase was largely attributed to the increasing number of sliding windows that fell. Last year, 29 sliding windows fell from high-rise units, compared to 16 in 2008. This year, 40 percent of the windows that fell from January to May were sliding windows.
The main reasons for windows falling are lack of maintenance and the failure to use stainless steel rivets instead of aluminium rivets.
Home owners are encouraged to regularly check their windows and make sure that their sliding windows have safety features like angle strips and stoppers installed.
In Singapore, window safety is vital because over 80 percent of people in the country live in high-rise buildings.
June 6 and Dec 12 of each year have been designated as Window Safety Day in Singapore, when home owners are encouraged by the authorities to check their windows.
Under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, if a window falls due to lack of maintenance, the tenants or owners will face a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or an imprisonment term of up to a year. If a fallen casement window is found with aluminium rivets, home owners will face a penalty of up to $5,000 and/or an imprisonment term of up to half a year.