Window safety in Singapore homes in 2026: checks every six months, stainless steel rivets — and fines of up to S$10,000 if a window falls

Summary

In Singapore, keeping a home's windows safe is the owner's job, and owners who neglect it can be fined or jailed. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) says owners and occupants should check and maintain their windows at least once every six months. If a window falls because it was not maintained, the owner can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to one year, or both. A BCA order in force since 2004 also requires the aluminium rivets in casement windows to be replaced with stainless steel ones; failing to do so carries a fine of up to S$5,000, up to six months' jail, or both.

Window installation and retrofitting must be done by a BCA-approved window contractor using a trained window installer, and in HDB flats the contractor must also be listed with HDB. BCA counted 35 fallen windows in the first 11 months of 2023, down from 49 in the same period of 2020.

What this means for Singapore homeowners, landlords and contractors

Who does what

Sources: BCA window safety pages (updated 22 May 2026) and release of 12 Dec 2023; HDB (accessed 29 Oct 2026).

What owners should check

BCA's routine is check, clean, change. For casement windows, check that fasteners are not rusty or loose, clean and oil the joints and moving parts, and have all aluminium rivets changed to stainless steel. For sliding windows, check that the safety stoppers and angle strips are in place, clean the tracks so panels slide smoothly, and have worn stoppers and angle strips replaced. BCA's current guidance also covers PVC corner brackets and louvre windows.

These are the parts that fail. Of the 35 windows that fell in the first 11 months of 2023, 19 were casement windows, 15 were sliding windows and one was a louvre window, and no injuries were reported. BCA linked the casement cases to corroded aluminium rivets that could no longer hold the panels firmly, and the sliding cases to missing or worn stoppers and angle strips that let panels dislodge under excessive outward force. Since 2006, 406 people had been fined and 94 prosecuted for fallen windows, BCA said in December 2023.

Rules for window contractors

BCA requires window installation or retrofitting to be carried out by an approved window contractor and a trained window installer. Approved contractors are registered with BCA's Contractors Registry under workhead RW01, and builders registered under GB1 or GB2 may also install windows. A trained installer needs at least 12 months of practical window installation experience and a pass in the Safety of Windows course, and may only work as a director, partner, sole proprietor or employee of an approved contractor or builder.

When retrofitting casement windows, contractors must replace all aluminium rivets at the variable geometry stays with Type 304 stainless steel rivets, and should report casement windows still fitted with aluminium rivets to BCA. After retrofitting, the contractor gives the owner a signed report: Form A for a private flat, Form B1 for an HDB flat. For installation or rectification works, the completion certificate (Form D, or Form SB for a safety barrier) must reach BCA within 14 days. Contractors and installers who fail these duties face a fine of up to S$5,000, up to six months' jail, or both.

Full-height windows and safety barriers

Some homes have safety barriers built into three-quarter-height or full-height windows. BCA defines these as barriers that prevent falls where there is a vertical drop of 1,000mm or more. Replacing or reinstating one needs a Professional Engineer to design the work and submit structural plans to BCA, unless it follows BCA's standardised designs, and an approved contractor or builder with a trained installer must still carry it out. In HDB flats, HDB says the replacement of full-height windows is strictly not allowed, although permission may be granted where a damaged frame needs complete replacement.

Illustration: a resale flat with old casement windows

Illustration only. A buyer collects the keys to a resale HDB flat with casement windows.

• In the first week, the owner checks each window's fasteners, stoppers and tracks, following BCA's check, clean, change routine.
• The owner hires a contractor from HDB's list of approved window contractors to confirm the rivets are stainless steel and replace any aluminium ones.
• The contractor hands over a signed Form B1 report, which the owner keeps with the flat's records.
• The owner sets reminders to check the windows again every six months.

FAQ

How often should I check my windows? At least once every six months, BCA says.

Who can install or replace windows? A BCA-approved window contractor, or a GB1 or GB2 builder, using a trained window installer. In an HDB flat, the contractor must also be listed with HDB.

What happens if a window falls from my home? If it fell because it was not maintained, the owner can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to one year, or both, according to BCA.

Education only — not tax, legal or investment advice. Check BCA's and HDB's current rules before window works start.

What to do next

• Diary a window check every six months, and follow BCA's check, clean, change steps.
• If your casement windows still have aluminium rivets, book an approved window contractor to replace them with stainless steel.
• Check the contractor in BCA's directory of approved window contractors (workhead RW01), or on HDB's list for an HDB flat, before work starts.
• Keep the signed report or completion certificate from every window job with your property records.
• Landlords: add a window check to every tenancy handover, and give tenants a clear way to report loose or damaged parts.
• Find a verified renovation contractor: https://proprkey.com/en/pros?segment=trades
• Window contractors and builders can apply for a paid, verified Pro Finder listing: https://proprkey.com/en/pros?segment=trades