Air-conditioner bracket and compressor come loose, dangle from 5th floor of Tampines block

It is a concerning sight — an air-conditioner bracket and compressor dangling precariously — outside a fifth-floor Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Tampines.

AsiaOne was alerted to the incident at about 2.45pm on Sunday (Sept 13) by a resident from the block.

Photographs of the incident shared with AsiaOne by the resident show the compressor hanging only by its connecting pipes and cables.

Meanwhile, the bracket is partially dislodged and only one of its two arms is still affixed to the facade.

A netting is used to cordon off the ground floor area beneath the stack of flats, while a town council worker, dressed in green shirt, is seen speaking with residents.

At about 3.30pm, a police fast response car is also seen parked near the block.

AsiaOne understands that the relevant agencies have gotten in touch with the flat owner, who will be carrying out urgent rectification works.

Subsequent checks by AsiaOne at 5.20pm show that both the bracket and the compressor have been removed.

Under the Building Control Regulations, flat owners face a maximum fine of $20,000, jail of up to 1 year, or both, if an air conditioning condensing unit and/or its structural supporting system, open panel, frame, and tray fall due to a lack of maintenance.

Flat owners should only engage Building and Construction Authority trained air conditioning unit installers to replace or install their air conditioning condensing units.

In July 2022, the police had to forcibly break into a 10th-floor flat at Block 55 Chai Chee Drive after a similar situation occurred.

In that instance, the owners were not around and the police had to effect the entry for safety reasons.

Since January 2022, amendments to the Police Force Act have allowed officers to make forced entry into any place in case of medical emergencies, or to protect people from injury or death. 

Prior to the amendments, police officers were not allowed to make forced entry into any place even if they hear a person in distress but believe that no crime has been committed. 

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editor@asiaone.com