'10kg concrete slab' falls onto toilet bowl in Toa Payoh, almost hits domestic helper

What should have been a typical day at work almost ended in tragedy for one domestic helper. 

She had been about to clean the toilet of her Toa Payoh flat on Feb 26 when a slab of concrete fell from the ceiling, narrowly missing her, reported Today. 

A photo of the scene after the incident showed a large chunk of concrete smack in the middle of the toilet bowl. The floor was also littered with debris.

The incident was a "close call", said Alan Fu, whose 90-year-old father and 30-year-old nephew live in the three-room Housing Development Board (HDB) flat together with the domestic helper, who is in her 20s. 

Fu, 55, added that the concrete slab was about 50cm in length and weighed an estimated 10kg.

An investigation by HDB the next day (Feb 27) found spalling concrete in the 53-year flat's toilet and kitchen, a spokesperson told AsiaOne. 

Spalling concrete occurs when the steel bars embedded in the ceiling slab corrode, causing the concrete cover to crack and bulge.

This is part of "natural wear and tear" that occurs in older buildings and will not affect the building's structural integrity.

It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain their flat and keep the ceiling in good condition, HDB said.

Fu admitted to Today that he had not been aware whose responsibility it was to fix the ceiling. 

The family has agreed to carry out repairs under the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme, which means that HDB will co-pay 50 per cent of the repair costs and facilitate the repair process. 

But Fu is still unsure of the final costs, which are likely to amount to "a few hundred dollars", he said.

Other homeowners have previously reported similar issues with their flats. 

In November last year, a 3.4kg block of limestone fell from the ceiling of a Cassia Crescent flat and nearly hit a tenant.

An elderly couple living in Marine Terrace also had chunks of concrete falling from their kitchen ceiling back in 2017. 

Regular maintenance can prevent spalling concrete. According to HDB, homeowners should:

• Repaint the ceiling regularly to prevent carbonation, one of the causes of deterioration of the steel bars in ceilings.
• Seal any cracks and holes to prevent further damage.
• Ventilate the room. Humid and moisture-rich areas such as the bathroom are more prone to carbonation.

Spalling concrete should also be repaired at the first sign of damage. Leaving the damage untreated may result in it deteriorating and spreading to a larger area. 

kimberlylim@asiaone.com