Engineering and lift experts told CNA TODAY that one main hurdle in retrofitting older HDB blocks with lifts that serve every floor is the lack of space to install new lift shafts.
This could be worked around if the HDB block already has existing lift shafts that stop on alternate floors, in which case it may be easier to install lift entrances that can then serve every floor, said Mr S. Yogeesweran, co-chair of the Lift and Escalator Inspector Registry at the Institution of Engineers, Singapore.
But such a solution would not work for several older HDB blocks which were previously built with lift entrances fitted at intermediate levels, said Mr Foo Teik Yong, technical director at TUV SUD A-Reliance, a firm providing lift consultancy and installation services.
This refers to lifts which stop at a half-storey, or a mid-level point between two storeys. Residents have to walk up or down a flight of stairs to access their respective floors.
In such cases, adding new lift entrances on every level would not solve the problem, as the entrances would still open at mid-landings between floors, and residents would still have to climb or descend a flight of stairs, said Mr Foo.
Mr Yogeeswaran said that this major limitation in older HDB blocks, where there is a misalignment between the lift landing and the unit’s floor level, is unfortunately rooted in the original building design.
It cannot be easily rectified as altering the lift landing to match each unit’s floor height may not be practical or structurally feasible.
“As of now, there is no practical solution to this problem. However, one potential workaround is for affected units to consider removing the front steps and installing a compact lifting platform at the entrance, though this may only be viable on a case-by-case basis,” he added.
To circumvent this, Mr Foo said that installing an external lift-well or external lift tower with entrances directly at each floor may seem ideal, but this also depends on factors such as available space and finding a suitable placement for the lifts that ensures easy accessibility, even for residents with disabilities.
On the viability of alternatives such as installing stair lifts or gradual ramps, the experts said that these too would require extra land space, which may not be available.
A stair lift is a motorised chair or platform that glides along a rail mounted to a staircase, offering those with mobility issues an option to move between floors without climbing the stairs.
To install stair lifts, however, Mr Yogeeswaran said that the existing stairway landing space must be widened to enable people to still smoothly travel up and down the stairs during an emergency.
Mr Foo added that a stair lift system may also not be user-friendly to elderly users if no one is around to help them operate it.
As for ramps, Mr Yogeeswaran said they might be unfeasible as such ramps would require a gentle angle in order for it to be useful in the first place.
That means the ramps would typically need to take up considerable space – an option that may simply not be viable at some older HDB blocks or estates without significant redesign or land acquisition.
MAKING AN IMPERFECT SITUATION WORK
Members of Parliament (MPs) overseeing affected blocks told CNA TODAY that alternative lift types or infrastructure such as ramps and chair lifts are suggestions they have also sought to explore with residents and HDB.
Speaking to CNA TODAY, Mr Christopher de Souza said options such as installing bubble lifts along the HDB block’s facade or building a separate lift shaft building connected to the HDB block by a concrete bridge were explored, but ultimately found to be unfeasible for various reasons.
Mr de Souza is the MP for Ulu Pandan under Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. Currently, about three blocks in his constituency – Blocks 2, 3 and 4 on Queen’s Road – still lack full direct lift access.
Having walked the estate grounds with engineers from MND and HDB, Mr de Souza said that in his estate, two blocks are located very close to or above the underground tunnel serving Farrer Road MRT station.
To tile and construct new lift shafts could affect the tunnel’s structural integrity, which would compromise commuters’ and residents’ safety.
Mr de Souza said the possibility of building a separate lift shaft building connected to the HDB block by a concrete bridge, which would grant residents direct lift access via the backs of their homes such as through the kitchen instead, was also discussed.
However, this would create a lot of concrete structures between the HDB blocks, which would compromise ventilation for the units and ultimately not be ideal for residents.
At the same time, residents in the estate were not overly keen on the alternative of installing stair lifts, as this reduces space in the stairwells for those who need to transport goods or bulky items up and down the stairs, said Mr de Souza.
Through his interactions with residents during house visits, Mr de Souza has also tried to help match residents selling flats on lift-accessible floors with others who need direct lift access.
“It’s very much a local way of resolving community needs. It’s not perfect, but in this difficult situation, we will try to make it perfect,” he said.
“We are determined to make this imperfect solution as perfect as possible for residents.”
To combat the risk of social isolation, Ms Ng Ling Ling, MP for Jalan Kayu under Ang Mo Kio GRC, said the town council is also exploring partnering with medical transport service providers to offer on-demand assistance to residents with mobility difficulties in affected blocks.
If implemented, these providers could be called upon to help residents move safely between their units and the ground floor or nearest lift lobby.
Presently, six blocks in her estate – Blocks 514, 522, 531, 532, 536 and 538 along Serangoon North Avenues 3 and 4 – still do not have full direct lift access.
