All Homes Required to Have Circuit Breaker Installed from July 1 2025: New Safety Mandate Rolls Out in Singapore
Singapore has mandated the installation of residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) in all Housing Board (HDB) flats and private dwellings by July 1, 2025. Non-compliance may result in a fine of $5,000.
- HDB Commitment: Free installment for one- and two-room flats built before July 1985.
- Subsidized Installations: Up to 95% subsidy for larger flats.
- Private Residences: Owners must ensure RCCBs are in place.
Why RCCBs? RCCBs are vital safety devices that disconnect the electricity when a leak is detected, which could be from worn or faulty wiring, appliances, or insulation. Since July 1985, new homes have included RCCBs as a standard.
Summary of Required Electrical Safety Upgrades in Singapore Residences
How much HDB home owners might pay
The new regulations will affect those whose homes were built before July 1985 and do not have a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) installed.
| Flat type | One- and two-room | Three-room | Four-room | Five-room | Executive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of cost borne by home owners | Fully funded | 5% | 7.5% | 10% | 12.5% |
| Estimated amount payable* | – | $25 | $37.50 | $50 | $62.50 |
*All amounts stated are estimates and are subject to goods and services tax. The final amount will be determined only upon completion of the RCCB installation and necessary rewiring works.
Table: STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS Source: HDB
Affected Units:
- Targeted installations include 83 one-and two-room flats and approximately 6,400 three-room or larger flats constructed pre-July 1985.
- Total HDB flats as of 2022: Approximately 1.1 million.
Assistance Programs: Homeowners can partake in the following:
- RCCB Installation Assistance Programme: Assists HDB owners with obtaining subsidies for the installation.
- Alternatively, homeowners may hire independent contractors without a subsidy.
Work on the aforementioned HDB flats began in December 2022 and will continue over a two-year span. To the end of April, RCCB installations are completed in six one-room and 53 two-room flats.
For RCCB installations in private properties, exact figures are not provided, but few are anticipated to lack RCCBs, with most having undergone renovations post the 1985 policy change.
Licensed electrical workers must conduct installations and rewiring, ensuring compliance and enhancing electrical safety.
Exemptions: There will be no fines for homeowners with existing RCCBs that are found to be faulty or not covering all circuits, provided it’s not due to improper installation.
Following a fatal incident involving an incorrectly installed water heater and RCCB in a Jurong flat, the importance of proper RCCB installation was highlighted. It tragically led to three deaths in the household. The residence had an RCCB that did not cover all circuits, preventing it from tripping when the heater leaked electricity, emphasizing the need for comprehensive electrical protection.
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