Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday that a bathroom ceiling in a flat in Yishun collapsed due to wear and tear. The newspaper said that the flat owner returned home from work to discover the disaster.The incident happened yesterday in her HDB flat unit at Block 240 Yishun Ring Road. The flat owner was identified as Madam Zhang, a 34-year-old civil servant.
She discovered that the ceiling had collapsed when she went to use the toilet in the master bedroom, but could not push the toilet door open. She only managed to pull it open with her husband’s help.
Madam Zhang promptly informed HDB about the ceiling collapse only to be told that it was normal, and due to the age of the flat. The flat was about 30-years-old. HDB covered more than 50 percent of the cost for repairing the flat under the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme.
HDB further said that flat ceilings constructed at that time were made of lime and so are prone to peeling. It further added that the condition can develop after several years due to the corrosion of the metal bars in the ceiling.
HDB assured that such flats are structurally sound, but advised flat-owners to paint and repair their ceilings from time-to-time.
Madam Zhang was fortunate that the ceiling did not collapse when she or someone from her family was using it.