Friday, June 5, 2009

Property owners, tenants encouraged to check windows every 6 months

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 5 Jun 2009

Property owners and tenants are encouraged to check and maintain windows in high-rise buildings at least twice a year.

In a joint statement, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said the safety of exterior features such windows are critical in Singapore’s densely built environment as these could cause serious injuries.

BCA said since it introduced legislation to retrofit casement windows in October 2004, the number of fallen window incidents has gone down significantly.

In 2005, the number was 125 but this has dropped to an average of 52 cases per year from 2006 to 2008.

BCA and HDB said all property owners are responsible for ensuring that their windows are well maintained so that they do not fall off and cause danger to the public.

The statement came a day after a huge glass window went crashing down 18 floors from a high-rise building in downtown Singapore on Thursday morning.

A man in his early 40s suffered cuts on his head as a result of the accident.

He was believed to be working on the glass panel on the 18th floor of the AIA Building.

Fortunately there were no vehicles or pedestrians when the glass panel came crashing down.


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