Debated in Parliament on 22 Nov 2023.
Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in each of the past three years, what is the number of false alarms emitted by the Home Fire Alarm Devices (HFAD) that are installed in public rental flats; (b) what measures has HDB put in place to ensure that false alarms triggered by HFAD in unoccupied rental flats are attended to as soon as possible; and (c) what measures will be taken to reduce the number of such incidents of nuisance.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) does not track the number of false alarms triggered by HFADs. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) only tracks HFAD false alarms that occur at unoccupied public rental flats. In the past three years, HDB has been alerted to seven such cases. In these cases, HDB would promptly arrange for a contractor to gain access into the flat to reset the HFAD.
For false alarms triggered in occupied rental flats, HDB would contact the tenant as soon as possible so that the tenant can reset the HFAD or allow a contractor to access the flat to reset the HFAD.
To minimise false alarms, home owners are encouraged to regularly test their HFADs and maintain them according to the HFAD manufacturers’ guidelines. HFAD testing can be done by pressing the "Test" button on the device. Owners of HFADs should contact their HFAD supplier if they suspect their HFADs to be faulty. Residents in HDB public rental flats who encounter such issues can contact the HFAD supplier, HDB or SCDF.
For public rental flats that are returned to HDB, HDB will check that the HFADs are working, as part of sprucing works before handing over the flat to the next tenant.
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