Spotlight on fire protection at HDB homes after string of blazes

Experts recommend that homes be equipped with a fire extinguisher ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Having a fire extinguisher at home is essential but many don’t have it

Bukit Batok resident Regina Wong said that after last Thursday’s fire at the Housing Board block opposite hers, she has decided to get a fire extinguisher.

The fire at a unit in Block 293D Bukit Batok Street 21 saw firefighters pulling out from the burning flat a 40-year-old unconscious man, who died on Saturday afternoon from third-degree burns. Several others were injured.

“My friend has always tried to persuade me to get a fire extinguisher for my home, and after this, I think I really must get one,” said Mrs Wong, who is in her 40s and works in marketing.

The fire was the latest in a string of blazes to hit public housing units in the past month.

The incidents have reignited the issue of fire safety in residential units among safety experts here, even as a national effort to install smoke detectors in all new residential flats picks up pace. Since June last year, it has been mandatory for all new residential homes to have smoke detectors installed.

Three major blazes have hit HDB flats and shops this month.

In one of the worst, a fire on July 5 engulfed several shophouse units, including a paint store, at Block 720 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, and forced the mass evacuation of the block’s occupants.

Mr Benedict Koh, president of the Fire Safety Managers’ Association Singapore, said it is good practice to have a fire extinguisher at home.

He added that the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and grassroots organisations have done their part by encouraging residents to keep one on standby.

But the take-up rate is low.

“In my experience, people will often tell you that it won’t happen to them,” said Mr Koh, who sits on the National Fire and Civil Emergency Preparedness Council, which organises fire safety seminars and dialogues and is involved in fire drills.

Many have the misconception that the extinguishers must be replaced yearly, when in reality, they just need to be inspected periodically, said Mr Koh, adding that many brands can last for years without being replaced.

Ms Gwen Phoo, 29, marketing manager of Falcon System Engineering, which supplies fire protection products, said the authorities could install fire extinguishers on every level of buildings, including HDB blocks.

A 1kg dry powder fire extinguisher costs around $39 and can be bought online, she added.

Fire Safety SG director Lili Pan said her firm advises home owners to purchase a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector as two basic fire protection items to have in the household. They cost from around $38 each.

“What happens if the main door is on fire? You can’t run out at all, that’s why the fire extinguisher comes into use to clear the way for you to get out,” said Madam Pan, noting that the extinguishers come with instructions and are easy to use.

When a fire starts to spread, it takes only about three minutes before it becomes too dangerous for a layman to try to put out, said Active Fire Protection Systems managing director Dominic Ang.

However, homes here are “compartmentalised”, and the walls and floors between them are made of non-combustible materials and are resistant to fire for at least an hour or two, according to SCDF’s Fire Code.

Mr Lau Kwong Chung, an architect and a registered fire safety engineer, said Singapore’s buildings are considered “fire-safe”.

“On top of the stringent fire safety measures provided, there is… the annual fire safety check by SCDF,” he added.

While fires in rubbish chutes or bins and those from unattended cooking are among the biggest contributors to fires here, a growing area of concern is the increase in fires involving personal mobility devices and power-assisted bicycles. There were 74 incidents last year, a jump of 51 per cent from 2017.

The SCDF has said it will continue raising awareness of such fires by highlighting cases on social media platforms, conducting house visits and giving out leaflets to residents.

Fire safety manager Nizham Keman said good housekeeping is key to preventing fire incidents.

He said: “The fire extinguishers are not mandated by law, but they are good to have… just like how it’s not mandated that people must replace the batteries of their smoke detectors. Basically it’s for their own safety, and they must realise that.”

EXTRA INSURANCE NEEDED FOR HOME CONTENTS
While it is mandatory for all home owners with a Housing Board loan to purchase HDB fire insurance, the policy covers only the cost of recovering physical structures provided by the HDB and the flat’s damaged internal structures and fixtures.

This means HDB home owners whose belongings, furniture and renovations were destroyed in the recent fires will not be able to claim for damage if they have not purchased additional insurance to cover their home contents.

The value of having fire insurance came up after two HDB units in Boon Lay and Bukit Batok were razed in separate fires last week that left one dead, several others injured and the properties destroyed.

Ms Jazzreal Wong, head of direct business at insurance firm Etiqa Insurance Singapore – the appointed insurer for the Housing Board fire insurance scheme – said that fewer than 50 per cent of home owners with HDB basic fire insurance own home contents insurance, based on a focus-group study the firm conducted last year.

“This shows that priority for home contents insurance is still low,” she added.

Etiqa’s home insurance plans start at $28 a year for a one-room flat.

In the event of a fire, a loss adjuster will visit the damaged home. The firm will then assess and approve the claim within 24 hours of notification, said Ms Wong, who added that the insurers will investigate the cause of the fire when assessing claims.

While limited in its coverage, the HDB basic fire insurance is extended to cover malicious damage, such as when someone throws a lit cigarette butt into the home and causes a fire.

“It is highly advisable to consider purchasing home contents and renovation insurance… to supplement your fire insurance policy and to comprehensively protect your home,” said Ms Wong.

“Source:[Spotlight on fire protection at HDB homes after string of blazes] © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *