CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS AT HDB VOID DECKS

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CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS AT HDB VOID DECKS: 4.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for National Development if children's playgrounds should be built at HDB void decks, considering the fire hazard they can pose.

Mr Heng Chee How (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are currently 73 playgrounds located at HDB void decks. These are provided by the Town Councils to enable young children to play in a safe and sheltered environment. Many of them are located at void decks near kindergartens or in areas that have outdoor space constraints.

The current performance standard specified for playground equipment installed in Singapore is the SS 457 - the standard set by SPRING Singapore - which focuses on the durability of material and the safety of play equipment for public use. There is no specific flammability requirement specified within the standard. This is also the case for America, Australia and Canada.

Town Councils deploy playground equipment that complies with the specified standards. The equipment are durable and are made of materials that do not ignite easily, unless there are deliberate attempts to set them on fire.

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HDB is working with the SCDF and Town Councils to look into whether there might be additional measures that can be put in place to mitigate any fire hazard arising from deliberate attempts to set fire to play equipment sited at void decks.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Sir, may I clarify with the Minister of State? The equipment at these 73 playgrounds currently sited at void decks are actually flammable and it could be a potential hazard to the residents staying above if people set fire to it. Should not something be done more effectively to actually remove it away or make it into non-flammable material?

Mr Heng Chee How: Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, as I have mentioned in my response earlier, HDB is working with the SCDF and the Town Councils to see what practical improvements by way of measures that we can take with respect to playground equipment sited at void decks. Having said that, I should also emphasise that the equipment do meet with safety standards and they are made from materials that do not catch fire easily. We can well understand that if someone wants to set fire to something, then he can set fire to it, and it is really a question of arson. The answer to that kind of a problem is really by public education and enforcement. And when we do catch the people who do these things, they would be subjected to the law so that a clear message would be sent. I would say that we have to proceed in a balanced manner and to see what practical things that we can do on top of the current specifications to further enhance the safety of these equipment. But we should not go overboard and say that because one set of equipment was set on fire, therefore, we should not put the equipment there, because then you are really going to lose a lot of other benefits, such as children being able to play safely in all weather.

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Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Sir, point of clarification. If this material is inflammable, and if children are mischievous and set fire to it, it is going to cause potential loss of lives of the residents staying on top. And one life lost is one life too many. Should the Ministry not actually do something to remove this potential hazard by siting the playground outside the void deck or, at least, use non-flammable material?

Mr Heng Chee How: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have explained, the material that is used to make this playground equipment does not catch fire easily. But if a person is bent on setting fire to something, then he can always find means of setting fire to those things. Having said that, the HDB is working with the SCDF and the Town Councils to consider whether additional measures can be put in place to further safeguard the safety of this equipment.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: When will that process be completed, so that residents can be assured that they do not live in a fire hazard environment?

Mr Heng Chee How: Mr Speaker, Sir, as soon as possible. But, at the same time, I should want to use this opportunity also to make the point that we cannot handle problems this way. There is a Chinese saying that just because you might choke on something, you stop eating. That is not the way to solve a problem. Therefore, I would say, let us make the equipment as safe as possible. Let us look at some of the practicable measures that we can take. And then let us remind residents, whether it is the children or even the adults, that this is public equipment, it is for the benefit of the community, let us have some sense of care and ownership. This is for everyone's benefit - do not do this kind of things. We can then all work together, and if we see suspicious

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behaviour - people who are doing this or if we know of people who are doing this - we report them, and we bring the law upon them. This will send a signal to the rest that, as a society, we do not stand for this kind of behaviour. And then there can be better things put in place for all of society.