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50 cases of fallen windows in 2017; highest in 5 years

SINGAPORE — The number of fallen windows here have reached a five-year high, with 50 cases reported this year, according to the latest statistics released by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Tuesday (Dec 12).

The number of fallen windows here have reached a five-year high, with 50 such cases this year, according to statistics released by the Building and Construction Authority and the Housing and Development Board. TODAY file photo

The number of fallen windows here have reached a five-year high, with 50 such cases this year, according to statistics released by the Building and Construction Authority and the Housing and Development Board. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — The number of fallen windows here have reached a five-year high, with 50 cases reported this year, according to the latest statistics released by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Tuesday (Dec 12).

The cases involved both casement and sliding windows.

In the cases involving casement windows, they were found to have aluminium rivets that have corroded or rusted and compromised its functionality. As a result, the rivets were unable to hold the window panels firmly in place, BCA and HDB said.

Most of the sliding windows that fell were found without proper safety stoppers and angle strips – which ensure window panels are kept within the tracks – resulting in the window panels getting dislodged and falling off when additional force is applied to open or close the windows.

While there were no injuries reported from the incidents in the past year, BCA noted that falling windows pose a huge danger to the public.

In all, there were 25 cases that involved sliding windows and 24 cases of fallen casement windows. There was also one unspecified window model case, which a BCA spokesperson clarified referred to a louvre window.

The average number of fallen windows remains at 44 cases per year, over the last five years. Credits: BCA and HDB

For more than a decade, the authorities have wrestled with the problem of falling windows, which continue to pose a safety hazard.

It came to a head in 2004, when laws were passed to regulate safety standards, requiring homeowners to undertake retrofitting work to replace the aluminium rivets of casement windows with stainless steel ones, among other regulations. Windows in landed properties and the ground floor of buildings are exempted.

In recent years, public education efforts have been conducted, such as increasing the number of roving exhibitions on window safety and handing out brochures on window maintenance.

Before the legislation kicked in, from 2001 to 2003, there were 190 incidents of falling windows, with 166 of the cases coming from public housing flats.

Homeowners and tenants are advised to maintain their windows regularly – at least once every six months. BCA and HDB also advised homeowners to have rivets and fasteners regularly cleaned and lubricated and ensure they are not rusty or loose. For homeowners with sliding windows, safety stoppers and/or angle strips should be installed and replaced if they are worn out.

Since 2006, 326 people have been fined and 86 people have been prosecuted for fallen windows.

However, the BCA said that as of yet, no homeowners have been prosecuted in court this year. It added that 13 homeowners have had their offences compounded and the matter is closed as they have paid their composition sums. The remaining cases are still under investigation.

Homeowners can face a penalty of up to S$5,000 and/or jail term of up to six months for failing to replace all aluminium rivets in casement windows with stainless steel rivets.

In addition, if a window falls due to lack of maintenance, homeowners can face up to a maximum fine of S$10,000 and/or jail term of up to one year.

 

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