Housing and Development Board (HDB) residents often complain about plants, cabinets and personal belongings that block their shared corridors; wondering if such clutter was allowed.
In a recent case highlighted to the media, an HDB corridor was spotted filled with cardboard boxes and clothing racks which belonged to a porridge shop at 101 Yishun Avenue 5.
Concerned residents reached out to the Chinese language newspaper Shin Min Daily News, highlighting the fire hazard posed by their neighbour, whose shop was located on the ground floor.
The unit above the store is said to be used by the staff as living quarters. However, the shop’s goods and the workers’ belongings extended beyond the flat itself.
The cardboard boxes “piled up like a mountain,” said an individual who tipped off Shin Min Daily News.
Reports noted that the two adjacent units involved were linked directly to the shop downstairs through a flight of stairs installed. The boxes and clothing racks fully obstruct the two front doors of the units.
Nearby residents hope that authorities will investigate the matter, as they are “very worried a fire will break out.”
“The cardboard boxes which are stacked to the ceiling also completely cover the windows of the unit. That unit is located very close to the stairs, and this will affect the residents’ evacuation should a fire break out,” said a concerned resident.
According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), a minimum clear escape passage of 1.2m clearance must be maintained from the parapet wall where the shoe rack is allowed.
If the common corridor is less than 1.2m wide, no objects are to be placed.
“Excessive storage of combustibles, installation of fixed laundry rack at the common corridor and anything that can obstruct emergency crew access is not permitted,” notes SCDF.
Meanwhile, the porridge shop explained it receives about 20 boxes of youtiao and century eggs daily. As no one could collect the boxes on the same day, so they store them upstairs.
“We understand the residents’ concerns, which is why we get someone to check the cardboard box situation every day. We’ve also installed a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera so that rats and cockroaches do not become a problem,” said a person in charge of the shop.
He added that the cardboard boxes are cut up and reused as padding on plastic bags for takeaway orders.
They also expect the issue to be resolved within six months when preparation and cooking are transferred to their central kitchen. /TISG
“Like this can meh?” — Netizens point out multiple dangers from cluttered HDB corridor