Falling windows from high-rise buildings a pane-ful problem in densely populated Singapore

It’s raining windows in high-rise-filled Singapore

SINGAPORE — Singapore will hold a “Window Safety Day,” backed by threats of dire punishment, to highlight a growing problem of windows falling from high-rise apartment buildings in the densely populated city-state.

Last year, 71 window frames along with their glass panes fell off buildings compared to 44 in 2008, the government’s Housing Development Board and the Building and Construction Authority said in a statement Friday.

It did not give statistics for this year, but said sliding windows accounted for 40 percent of the fallen windows from January to May.

The wobbly windows apparently have not caused much damage on the ground. Since 2004, five known injuries have been recorded.

More than 80 percent of Singapore’s 5 million residents live in high-rise apartments, most of them built and sold by the Housing Development Board.

The statement said the government — known for strictly regulating virtually every aspect of public life — will hold “Window Safety Days” on June 6 and Dec. 12, when homeowners and tenants will be urged to ensure proper maintenance of their windows.

The safety day will also serve to remind homeowners that they face up to a year in jail and a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,150) if they are responsible for falling windows because of poor maintenance.

They can also face a penalty of six months in jail and a SG$5,000 ($3,570) fine if any fallen casement windows are found to have aluminum rivets instead of stainless steel rivets required by law.

The statement said windows dislodge and fall mainly because aluminum rivets holding the window frames become corroded and give way.

Homeowners installing new sliding windows should ensure that safety features such as angle strips and safety stoppers are included, it said.

“With more than 80 percent of the Singapore population residing in high-rise buildings, it is crucial that everyone does his/her part in ensuring that the built environment we live in is safe from falling objects,” the statement said.