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Building Works
Read our guidelines on laying and replacement of floor finishes.
For flats with existing floor finishes The laying of flooring over existing finishes should not involve the following:
For Flats without existing floor finishes
Read our guidelines on demolition and erection of walls.
Read our guidelines on laying and replacement of wall finishes.
Read our guidelines on installation of false ceiling/ cornices.
Read our guidelines on renovation in kitchen.
Read our guidelines on alterations to the refuse chute hopper.
The HS in your HDB flat is designed to serve as a civil defence shelter. It is fitted with a steel door, along with strengthened floor, walls and ceiling to protect occupants in the event of a wartime emergency.
Like other structural components of the flat, the following features of the HS must not be tampered with during renovation:
Fixtures that cannot be removed easily in an emergency should not be placed or installed in the HS as these may hamper your efforts in preparing your HS for occupation in the event of a wartime emergency.
The HS is only to be occupied during a wartime emergency. During a wartime emergency, the SCDF will inform residents to prepare their HS for occupation. To find out how to prepare your HS for occupation, please refer to SCDF Emergency Handbook (Chapter 4 on Wartime Emergencies - Shelter Protection) for more information. You can download a copy of the SCDF Emergency Handbook via https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/community-volunteers/publications.
Read our guidelines on replacement of main door, internal door, or front gate of your flat.
The replacement door and/ or frame must be half hour fire-rated and the frame must have a self-closing device.
Note: The fire-rated door must also have an accreditor's label.
Installation of localised home smoke/ fire alarm system within the unit is required by SCDF FSSD.
Read our guidelines on renovation at the sold recess area.
Read our guidelines on renovation at approved rented common area outside your flat.
Read our guidelines on renovation to the existing staircase of an executive maisonette.
Read our guidelines on renovation of bathrooms and toilets. Newly built flats have a 3-year restriction period in place for the removal of wall and floor finishes in bathrooms and toilets.
Read our guidelines on installation of awning.
Flat owners are to engage a Qualified Person (QP) or Professional Engineer [PE(Civil)] to design the awning such that it complies with the following requirements and requirements from relevant authorities (e.g. BCA, URA, SCDF) and submit the plans to HDB for approval
Awning must be fixed directly above the frame of the full height sliding glass door and at a maximum height of 2.8 metres from the finished floor level
Awning should remain open sided as viewed from the external façade
Awning can be either a fixed awning using lightweight non-combustible material or a retractable awning
Where both the awning and its supporting structure are of non-combustible material, the horizontal projection of the awning shall be kept within the footprint of the balcony or at maximum of 2 metres
Where both the awning and its supporting structure are of combustible material, the horizontal projection of the awning shall be kept within the footprint of the balcony and not exceed 1.4 metres
Where there are awnings installed adjacent to each other (serving different residential units), there shall be either a separation distance of at least 3 metres between the awnings or separated by an existing fire rated wall which must be higher than the height of the awning
The design of the awning must blend in with the existing façade. The colour of the awning should be neutral colours, specifically light grey, mid grey or off-white
As the awnings are installed at the exterior of the flat, flat owners and the subsequent buyers have to undertake to maintain the awning and engage a PE(Civil) to carry out a 5-yearly inspection to certify that the awnings remain safe
Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the awning to prevent stagnant water and litter from collecting on top, in case of mosquito breeding
Installation of awning at open-to-sky balconies at intermediate floor units
Flat owners are to engage a Qualified Person (QP) and/ or Professional Engineer [PE(Civil)] to design the awning such that it complies with the following requirements and requirement from relevant authorities (e.g. BCA, URA, SCDF)
Building plan approval from Fire Safety & Shelter Department (FSSD) has to be obtained before submission to HDB for final approval
The awning and its supporting structure must be made of lightweight minimum 1 hour fire rated material. The horizontal projection of the awning shall be kept within the footprint of the balcony or at maximum of 2 metres
Read our guidelines on other miscellaneous items.
If you wish to change ownership of your flat without a sale (i.e. without monetary consideration), find out more about the types of ownership changes and the eligibility conditions.