askST: How can I make sure my home renovation is carried out safely?

askST: How can I make sure my home renovation is carried out safely?

SINGAPORE – On Wednesday (June 8), a fake ceiling became detached from the concrete ceiling in a family’s learn bed room and arrived crashing down on their beds.

The structure was put in considerably less than fifty percent a yr ago, and reportedly weighed around 100kg. Even even though no one was hurt, the incident remaining the household traumatised and their bedroom in ruins.

Renovation experts Jackie Lai, a council member of the Singapore Interior Style Accreditation Council (Sidac), and Kelly Chin, who sits on the council of the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (Sids), make clear what to glimpse out for when it arrives to installing fake ceilings, and property renovation in basic.

Q: What things would bring about false ceilings to detach?

Ms Chin: Untrue ceilings can slide if they are not accurately secured to the concrete ceiling and lack assistance constructions. Inappropriate ceiling anchor bolts can also induce a false ceiling to collapse.

Mishaps can materialize as a final result of shoddy function or when inferior components are utilized.

Q: What permits are desired for renovation do the job and what can be completed to assure that these incidents do not recur?

Ms Chin: HDB can require all contractors or businesses which put in fake ceilings to be registered and accredited, or retrain or upskill their employees every single two to 3 yrs to make absolutely sure everyone has the right talent sets.

Mr Lai: Flat homeowners are demanded to interact HDB-registered renovation contractors.

Even nevertheless the set up of a phony ceiling does not involve a permit, contractors ought to even now comply with HDB’s renovation guidelines.

For commercial units, it is compulsory to submit shop ceiling drawings and use accredited elements. In some circumstances, a pull-out take a look at might be demanded. (The test includes attaching a acceptable exam rig to the bolt, screw, anchor or correcting, which is then place underneath the tension load degree specified in the style to decide how potent and safe the fixing is.)

Q: How can dwelling owners assure that they have engaged accredited or reputable contractors and interior designers?

Mr Lai: They must have interaction interior designers who are accredited by Sidac, these kinds of as skilled interior design and style consultants and renovation inside designers.

Unqualified folks and providers convey disrepute to the inside design and style sector with their poor workmanship and lousy service.

Home house owners who have presently engaged a contractor can also seek the services of an accredited interior style and design consultant as added insurance.