Allowing HDB Homeowners to Replace Entrance Doors with Fire-rated Ones under Home Improvement Programme

88 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board can consider allowing homeowners to replace their entrance doors with fire-rated doors under the Home Improvement Programme, regardless of whether their flats require fire-rated doors in accordance with the Singapore Civil Defence Force's Fire Code.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Housing and Development Board blocks are designed and built in accordance with the prevailing Fire Code. Generally, each residential unit is designed as a fire compartment with concrete walls and floor and a fire-rated entrance door to minimise fire spread between units. However, there are situations where a fire-rated entrance door is not required. For example, the entrance door need not be fire-rated if it is more than three metres away from an exit staircase and facing an external corridor. This is because the external corridor is designed for efficient dispersion of heat and smoke, mitigating fire spread between units.

Under the Home Improvement Programme, flats are provided with fire-rated doors only where required by the Fire Code. This approach ensures both regulatory compliance and financial prudence.