Facelift: Singapore funds major revamp of HDB lifts for $450m

This is to deter risks entailed by unintended movement of lift cars.

Singapore will bankroll the rehabilitation of some 20,000 HDB lifts for $450 million as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) urged lift owners to upgrade their older lifts with protective enhancements to prevent unintended movement or overspeeding of lift cars.

HDB unveiled its Lift Enhancement Programme (LEP), an initiative to support Town Councils (TC) in bringing older lifts on par with the newer ones.

“Under the LEP, HDB will fund about 90% of the TCs’ costs to install the recommended enhancement features. Lifts that are not yet equipped with some or all of the enhancement features, and have been in operation for 18 years or less as of the date of commencement of the LEP, would be eligible for the programme,” HDB explained.

TCs have 10 years to carry out the modernisation works that will be included in their maintenance and lift parts replacement regime. About one-third of all the lifts in Singapore are found in HDB estates. As with other lifts in Singapore, all HDB lifts are installed according to prevailing codes and standards at the point of installation.