Bomb Shelters in HDB Flats

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for National Development (a) how other non-public housing buildings provide for bomb shelters; and (b) whether HDB can consider other alternatives to the construction of bomb shelters in new HDB flats.

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Sir, the Civil Defence Shelter Act requires all residential developments to be provided with a shelter. Developers or owners have the option of providing household shelters within each residential unit or storey shelters to be shared by residents on each floor. Storey shelters could also take the form of a staircase shelter. This requirement applies to HDB flats as well as non-public housing, including private apartments, condominiums and landed houses.

HDB has built household shelters for most of its flats as they offer some advantages. For example, household shelters offer immediate protection as the residents do not need to leave their flats to search for shelter protection. Such shelters can also be used as a store room during peace time.

While some private apartments and condominiums provide staircase shelters, for HDB to do likewise requires it to fully enclose its staircases. This will incur high maintenance costs due to the need for 24-hour mechanical ventilation. Further, unlike private condominiums, HDB precincts are not gated. Hence, such an enclosed space may also pose security issues, and give rise to illicit activities within the space. Due to the high maintenance costs and potential security issues, HDB has, therefore, not adopted this option and has not incorporated such staircase storey shelters in HDB blocks.

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Sir, I thank the Minister of State for the reply. As HDB flats become smaller, there are quite a lot of requests from residents and new home-buyers who ask for a re-look at this policy and practice as every square footage becomes very precious real estate. Currently, bomb shelters are used primarily as store rooms for many of the residents. In fact, this does not really align with the objective of the Civil Defence Shelter Act that was just quoted. I was wondering if MND could consider taking the no-wrong-door policy and work with the Ministry in charge of Civil Defence to see if this practice can be re-examined and re-studied, and whether other alternatives could better address the need for Civil Defence, due to the request by many home-buyers for better use of this space.

Sir, it may be useful to go back a little in time to visit the purpose of bomb shelters. In 1987, the Government first introduced a comprehensive shelter programme, beginning with public places. Beyond the obvious underground MRT stations, at that time, public shelters were built in Secondary schools, community centres and other public buildings. In 1994, household shelters were incorporated in new HDB flats. In 1998, when the Civil Defence Shelter Act was reviewed, the Act specifically required that all residential units must have shelters, either in the form of household shelters or in storage shelters. At the same time, the practice of building shelters at void decks and underground in HDB precincts were discontinued. This is so that within 40 metres of the entrance of each household, they can get to the shelter.

In peace time, home shelter space is used as store rooms and maybe to put other items, but, in crises, this is really the place that will give protection to the households in terms of either preventing direct shock or collapse. Or even in the case of tremors from earthquakes. This is like buying an insurance policy. You only realise its usefulness when the time comes.

Having said that, HDB has improved the layout of the home shelters over time. It has reduced the setback requirement. In the past, it used to be four metres from the edge of the building, very specific as to where you can locate the home shelter. But now, the distance is shortened. So, it can be placed in different parts of the house. Over time, the internal space of the home shelter has been reduced, but yet, still satisfying the Civil Defence Shelter Act.

So, it is a necessary balance between practical use and against war-time, tension-time scenarios. I would be happy to convey your feedback to MHA which is overseeing the Civil Defence Shelter Act.

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