Relevance of Bomb Shelters in HDB Flats

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether HDB would consider reviewing the relevance of bomb shelters in HDB flats and doing away with such requirements; and (b) whether there are alternatives given that many of these shelters are used as storerooms.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Khaw Boon Wan): Sir, the Civil Defence Shelter Act governs the provision of bomb shelters. The Act requires all developers, and that includes the HDB, to provide such civil defence shelters within their residential developments. It is a mandatory requirement.

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For HDB flats, the shelters can be built within the flats or take the form of a shelter outside the flats to be shared among the residents living on the same floor. The former is referred to as a household shelter, while the latter, a storey shelter.

HDB has built household shelters for most of its flats as they offer some advantages. For example, household shelters offer immediate protection as the residents do not need to leave their flats to search for shelter protection.