More windows falling

by Ang Yiying

WINDOWS have been falling from heights in a worrying trend, echoing what happened five years ago when all casement windows in high-rise homes had to be modified to keep them in place.

The authorities are now urging high-rise home owners to be more pro-active about maintaining their windows and installing safety features.

Despite the fines and jail terms for breaching window safety regulations, and awareness campaigns, 71 windows fell from residential high-rise buildings last year, up from 44 in 2008.

It is not known where those windows were located, but 33 were casements and 29 were sliding windows. A joint statement from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Housing Board (HDB) yesterday said a cause for concern was in more sliding windows falling out.

Those numbers almost doubled from 16 in 2008 to 29 last year. For this year, up to May, more sliding windows fell out than any other kind.

The agencies urged residents installing new sliding windows to include safety features like angle strips and safety stoppers.

Clivebenss

5 Jun 10, 20:37

Killer Windows.

Kawac151

5 Jun 10, 20:51

Watch out ppl!!

Clivebenss

22 Jun 10, 08:42

Jun 22, 2010 - ST Forum

Steel rivets used for windows in all new HDB flats

I REFER to the Forum Online letter by Mr Yap Swee Hoo ('Use steel rivets for windows in new flats'; June 15).

Safety is a key consideration in the design of HDB flats. Since 1998, we have switched to the use of stainless steel rivets for casement windows in all our new units. This is ahead of the revised industry standards adopted in 2000.

For the older blocks, residents are required to replace the aluminium rivets in their casement windows, which are more than five years old, with stainless steel rivets, as required under the Building Control Regulations.

Flat owners who do not retrofit their casement windows with stainless steel rivets can be fined up to $5,000, or sentenced to six months' jail, or both. Although this does not apply to sliding windows, residents should ensure that these windows are installed with safety features such as stoppers.

We would like to urge residents to check and maintain their windows regularly and help build a safe living environment for all. Residents can contact us on our dedicated hotline 1800-5556362, or visit our website www.hdb.gov.sg for more information.

Chong Chung Nee

Deputy Director (Design & Development)

Housing & Development Board

~PEPPER~

22 Jun 10, 10:22

New way of dying. The odds are low too.

dragg

22 Jun 10, 11:05

isnt it more effective making it mandatory that windows offered in the market come with safety features?

ditzy

22 Jun 10, 11:08

Originally posted by dragg:

isnt it more effective making it mandatory that windows offered in the market come with safety features?

Apparently the people up there think of more "effective" solutions.