Media Releases
Well-maintained windows keep your community safe
11 December 2020
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Friday, 11 December 2020
- 49 cases of fallen windows in the first 11 months of 2020
- Homeowners can help create a safer community by checking and maintaining their windows at least once every six months.
11 December 2020 – The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) recorded 49 cases of fallen windows across Singapore in the first 11 months of this year. More than half of these, or 32 cases, involved casement windows. The remaining were 16 cases of fallen sliding windows and one case involving louvre windows. There were no injuries from the cases reported.
Number of Fallen Windows:
BCA’s investigations of the reported cases show that the key causes of fallen casement and sliding windows include:
a. Casement windows that were found fitted with aluminium rivets which had corroded. Corrosion compromises the strength of the rivets, rendering it unable to hold the casement window panels firmly in place. Since 2004, a retrofitting order issued by BCA requires all homeowners to replace all aluminium rivets in casement windows with stainless steel ones.
b. Lack of proper safety stoppers and angle strips to keep sliding window panels within the tracks. Sliding window panels without these safety features in place detached and fell when homeowners applied excessive outward force in opening or closing the windows. Homeowners should ensure such safety features are in place and promptly replace any worn out ones.
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 be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned for up to one year, or both. Since 2006, 378 people have been fined and 92 people have been prosecuted for fallen windows.
“Over the past few years, the number of fallen window cases we see yearly remains at about 50 cases. While there has not been an increase in numbers, there has also not been any improvement. The risk of injury from falling windows is high and is not a trivial matter. All homeowners and occupants can play a part to mitigate this risk by checking and maintaining their windows regularly. Together, we can keep our community safe” said Er. Lee Chee Weye, BCA’s Director of Façade Engineering and Technology Department.
Windows may detach and fall when window parts become loosened or defective over time due to wear and tear. Homeowners and occupants can prevent falling windows by checking and maintaining their windows at least once every six months following these three steps:
Table caption
Casement Windows | Sliding Windows | |
|---|---|---|
· Check: | that fasteners are not rusty or loose. | that safety stoppers and angle strips are in their proper places. |
· Clean: | and oil joints or moving parts. | the tracks and ensure window panels can slide smoothly. |
· Change: | all aluminium rivets to stainless steel ones by engaging an approved window contractor. | worn-out safety stoppers and angle strips by engaging an approved window contractor. |
A list of BCA-approved window contractors and window maintenance tips can be found at:
· https://go.gov.sg/windowsafety
· http://www.hdb.gov.sg/window_safety
Download PDF version of Media Release here
Download Window Safety Poster here