Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has recorded fewer cases of fallen windows at HDB flats.
In the first five months of 2015, there were 17 cases of fallen windows, less than the 27 cases recorded in the same period last year.
In most instances, the aluminium rivets used to secure the friction stays had already corroded and were not replaced with stainless steel ones. The majority of fallen sliding windows did not have stoppers and angle strips to secure the window panels, and the windows were not able to slide smoothly along the tracks.
According to a joint statement by BCA and HDB, all cases of falling windows could have been avoided if they were maintained regularly.
Under the Building Control (Retrofitting of Casement Window) Order 2004, homeowners are required to change the aluminium rivets of casement windows with the stainless steel type. This ruling applies to windows in all residential units except those in landed properties and the ground floor of buildings.
“Prevention is the key to window safety. Singapore is made up of mostly high-rise buildings with countless windows and a fallen window can give rise to grave consequences. Homeowners must take responsibility to check and clean their windows or change them when necessary to ensure the safety of the public and that of your loved ones,” said Chin Chi Leong, BCA’s Group Director of Building Plan & Management.
Homeowners who fail to replace all aluminium rivets in casement windows with stainless steel rivets can be fined up to $5,000 and/or sentenced to up to six months in jail. In addition, they can face up to a maximum of $10,000 fine and/or jailed for up to one year if a window falls due to lack of maintenance.
Since 2006, 288 people have been fined for fallen windows.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Singapore Editor at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
