SINGAPORE: A Serangoon Central resident, whose wooden sauna made the headlines before it was dismantled and removed, will now face enforcement action for other fire safety infringements.
This comes after several other violations were detected, including the storage of items along the common corridor, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Tuesday (Jul 16) in response to queries from CNA.
Even though the wooden sauna had been disposed of, checks by CNA found that items such as potted plants and a sofa remained in the common area.
SCDF said it received public feedback on Jul 10 regarding the sauna at Block 427.
Photos of the wooden structure – placed on a metal platform outside the owner's house – went viral after they were uploaded on social media platform Reddit earlier that week.
When CNA visited on the morning of Jul 11, the sauna was still present but appeared to have had some features removed.
The wooden structure, visible from the lift landing, appeared to be in disuse and was not connected to an electricity source.
An infrared home sauna unit in the common area of a Housing Board block in Serangoon Central, and after its removal from the area. (Photos: CNA/Try Sutrisno Foo, Koh Wan Ting)
At about 2.40pm, the wooden cabin had already been dismantled and moved to the ground floor by town council staff.
The town council said the removal was done at the request of the owner, whom they did not identify. However, neighbours whom CNA spoke to described the owner as a woman in her 50s or 60s.
In response to CNA, Marine Parade Town Council said that it had been engaging the owner to reduce the clutter outside her unit over the years, and that she had "made some effort in doing so".
Neighbours noted that while the sauna had been present for a long time, it did not pose an inconvenience.
After the sauna was removed, numerous potted plants, a sofa and a wooden cabinet remained in the common area outside the owner's flat.
Dozens of potted plants were arranged in a row along the common corridor under the owner's window, while more were seen at a staircase landing leading down from her flat.
SCDF said it acted on public feedback and conducted an inspection on Jul 11.
Two officers arrived shortly after the sauna's removal and were observed taking measurements of the corridor's width and photos of the area. They declined to speak to the media.
"During the inspection, the sauna-like structure was found to have been removed. However, several other fire safety infringements were detected including storage of items along the common corridor which resulted in obstruction to means of escape via the staircases," SCDF said.
The common area outside a flat in Serangoon Central after the sauna was removed. Other items, such as a wooden cabinet and numerous potted plants remain. (Photo: CNA/Koh Wan Ting)
According to regulations, residents are supposed to ensure a minimum clear escape passage of 1.2m along the common corridor. They are also not supposed to place items in common areas such as lift lobbies and staircases.
"SCDF would like to remind the public that a cluttered common area can impede the evacuation of residents and hamper firefighting efforts during a fire," it said in its statement.
"Residents are strongly encouraged to do their part to maintain a safe living environment by ensuring that their means of escape are unobstructed and that common areas in their premises are kept clutter free."
It also advised residents to approach the town council to arrange for the removal of bulky items.
"SCDF will be following up with enforcement action against the responsible person or entity," it added.
Under the Fire Safety Act, the person or entity responsible for such fire safety infringements will be issued with a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice - a written warning to rectify the fire hazards.
If the infringement is serious, a person could be issued with a Notice of Offence which carries a composition fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,700) upon rectification of the fire hazard.
Those who fail to rectify the breach may be taken to court, where they may be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or both.
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This comes after several other violations were detected, including the storage of items along the common corridor, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Tuesday (Jul 16) in response to queries from CNA.
Even though the wooden sauna had been disposed of, checks by CNA found that items such as potted plants and a sofa remained in the common area.
SCDF said it received public feedback on Jul 10 regarding the sauna at Block 427.
Photos of the wooden structure – placed on a metal platform outside the owner's house – went viral after they were uploaded on social media platform Reddit earlier that week.
When CNA visited on the morning of Jul 11, the sauna was still present but appeared to have had some features removed.
The wooden structure, visible from the lift landing, appeared to be in disuse and was not connected to an electricity source.
An infrared home sauna unit in the common area of a Housing Board block in Serangoon Central, and after its removal from the area. (Photos: CNA/Try Sutrisno Foo, Koh Wan Ting)
At about 2.40pm, the wooden cabin had already been dismantled and moved to the ground floor by town council staff.
The town council said the removal was done at the request of the owner, whom they did not identify. However, neighbours whom CNA spoke to described the owner as a woman in her 50s or 60s.
In response to CNA, Marine Parade Town Council said that it had been engaging the owner to reduce the clutter outside her unit over the years, and that she had "made some effort in doing so".
Neighbours noted that while the sauna had been present for a long time, it did not pose an inconvenience.
POTTED PLANTS, SOFA, CABINET
After the sauna was removed, numerous potted plants, a sofa and a wooden cabinet remained in the common area outside the owner's flat.
Dozens of potted plants were arranged in a row along the common corridor under the owner's window, while more were seen at a staircase landing leading down from her flat.
SCDF said it acted on public feedback and conducted an inspection on Jul 11.
Two officers arrived shortly after the sauna's removal and were observed taking measurements of the corridor's width and photos of the area. They declined to speak to the media.
"During the inspection, the sauna-like structure was found to have been removed. However, several other fire safety infringements were detected including storage of items along the common corridor which resulted in obstruction to means of escape via the staircases," SCDF said.
The common area outside a flat in Serangoon Central after the sauna was removed. Other items, such as a wooden cabinet and numerous potted plants remain. (Photo: CNA/Koh Wan Ting)
According to regulations, residents are supposed to ensure a minimum clear escape passage of 1.2m along the common corridor. They are also not supposed to place items in common areas such as lift lobbies and staircases.
"SCDF would like to remind the public that a cluttered common area can impede the evacuation of residents and hamper firefighting efforts during a fire," it said in its statement.
"Residents are strongly encouraged to do their part to maintain a safe living environment by ensuring that their means of escape are unobstructed and that common areas in their premises are kept clutter free."
It also advised residents to approach the town council to arrange for the removal of bulky items.
"SCDF will be following up with enforcement action against the responsible person or entity," it added.
Under the Fire Safety Act, the person or entity responsible for such fire safety infringements will be issued with a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice - a written warning to rectify the fire hazards.
If the infringement is serious, a person could be issued with a Notice of Offence which carries a composition fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,700) upon rectification of the fire hazard.
Those who fail to rectify the breach may be taken to court, where they may be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or both.
Continue reading...