FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES IN HDB SHOP PREMISES

Maj Fong Sip Chee asked the Minister for National Development (1) what is the amount of money to be expended by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in the installation of fire-resistant boards in HDB shop premises; (2) how many such premises are involved and how many installations have been completed so far; (3) if he will agree that the non-provision of such fire-resistant installation was defective planning and design in the first instance; (4) if he will instead consider, as part of the tenancy agreement, requiring shop tenants to install fire extinguishers of appropriate sizes and in sufficient numbers; (5) if he will agree that fire extinguishers so installed and made readily available to shop owners and residents alike will be more useful and effective during an emergency; and (6) does he not consider that a wider availability of fire extinguishers and knowledge of their application will be complementary to the government's efforts in the building up of Singapore's civil defence capabilities.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: The HDB will be expending an estimate $11.7 million if fire-resistant walls were installed in all HDB shophouses where the staircases to the living quarters are not separated from the general shop area.

There are 6,466 shophouses with unprotected staircases. Work on 398 units has so far been completed. In view of representations by some MPs and shopkeepers that not all shops needed protected staircases, the HDB will give tenants of the remaining shop units the option of not installing the fire-resistant boards. The programme is expected to be completed by the end of 1985.

The HDB's building construction standards are continuously reviewed and, if necessary improved. The decision to compartmentalise the living and shop areas of existing shophouses was prompted mainly by the poor housekeeping practised by many tenants, who stack up goods and other flammable materials indiscriminately in their shophouses.

The HDB's upgrading exercise is an improvement of fire safety standards in shophouses, and not a reflection of defective planning and design.

While the HDB will encourage tenants to install fire extinguishers and other fire protection devices, it will not require them to do so as a condition in the tenancy agreement nor provide them with fire-fighting devices. Unless shop tenants properly maintain and regularly service their equipment, fire extinguishers installed and readily available will not prove to be useful during an emergency.

HDB shophouses already enjoy a high standard of fire safety, which will be further enhanced by the current programme to protect staircases. Fire extinguishers which are regularly serviced and properly maintained, will give shopkeepers an additional means to deal with small fires detected at an early stage.

A wider availability and knowledge about the use of fire extinguishers will certainly complement our civil defence capabilities.