<Photo for Illustration only, DK.sg>
On 12th March 2015, at around 9:15am, a concrete slab measuring 15cm by 13cm fell from the kitchen ceiling in my parents’ flat, narrowly missing our 34-month old toddler. The slab left a gaping hole in the ceiling, revealing the imbedded steel rod. As relieved as we were that she was unharmed, it was unfortunately not the end of this harrowing incident. HDB's stand on the matter was almost as mortifying.
HDB’s Customer Service (Sims Drive Branch) initially assured us that an officer would be dispatched immediately to assess the damages, but no one showed up. After contacting HDB again, we were told by another officer that there was ‘no way’ an officer would turn up on the day itself. After some insistence, we were finally told to contact a Mr Syamsul for direct liaison. When we finally managed to get him on the line, he simply dismissed our distress and concerns, stating that ‘spalling concrete in flats older than 20 years old is normal’, was caused by carbonation and hence, no urgent matter. Additionally, he repeatedly cited HDB’s policy which states that homeowners were responsible for maintenance faults within the flat and that HDB was not responsible for such instances.
Would it still not have been an urgent matter if that slab had hit my toddler on the head, or my elderly parents? Could it not even have been fatal? How can HDB remain so nonchalant about these issues, choosing instead to blame the homeowners for this presumed ‘lack of maintenance’?
I proceeded to check on the ‘policy’ that the HDB officer so fervently cited, and found it quite alarming. On HDB’s website on Home Maintenance – Repair of Spalling Concrete, it is stated that:
‘If the spalling concrete is minor, you can repair it on your own by following the steps as shown below or you can view the video of spalling concrete repair.’
Yet, the images that follow show a man - head protected by a sturdy yellow construction helmet and armed with a heavy industrial drill, attempting to repair this supposedly ‘minor’ damage. Tell me, do we all keep industrial drills in our apartment? More importantly, should we? The document also explains that, ‘..if the spalling concrete is left unattended over a long period, it will spread to a bigger area and weaken the building structure.’
Whilst I agree that it is the homeowner's prerogative to maintain their flats, surely issues surrounding structural integrity are not. How is a falling slab of concrete, made by materials chosen by the HDB authority, a problem that my parents, who have been paying their lease their entire lives, have to bear? This is neither an issue of mere flaking paint nor cosmetic deterioration. It is an issue of responsibility to homeowners and integrity of the buildings we call home. It is an issue of safety in our own homes that should be guaranteed by the authority that built it. The causes of spalling concrete go beyond carbonation, and wear and tear as the HDB so convenietly states. It is also due to poor workmanship, and inferior building materials, factors which HDB cannot ignore and so easily palm off to homeowners.
Shakina Sani
TRS Contributor