Oral answer by Ministry of National Development on providing mobile phone reception coverage in the lifts of new HDB developments and ensuring persons can call for help in emergency situations

Mar 5, 2024

Question No: 5814

Question by: Dr Tan Wu Meng

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) to what extent is there a requirement and provisioning for mobile phone reception coverage in the lifts of new HDB developments; (b) whether there can be clear requirements specified to ensure that persons can call for help in emergency situations where they cannot exit the lift and cannot physically reach the lift alarm button or if the lift alarm button has malfunctioned.

Answer:

          Lifts in HDB developments are designed and installed in compliance with the prevailing Codes and Regulations, and requirements set by relevant Authorities.

2.       As part of IMDA’s quality-of-service standards, mobile operators are required to provide more than 85 per cent service coverage in each building. There is no requirement to provide mobile coverage inside lifts. It is challenging to ensure good mobile coverage inside lifts, due to the enclosed metallic structure of lifts.

3.       Lifts in HDB developments are equipped with and monitored by the Tele-Monitoring System (TMS), which can automatically detect a lift breakdown and alert the lift maintenance contractors.

4.       When the alarm button is pressed during a lift breakdown, an alert will be sent via the TMS to the Essential Maintenance Services Unit (EMSU), which will then dispatch a rescue team to assist anyone who may be trapped. Additionally, residents outside the lifts will be able to hear the alarm and can call the EMSU hotline displayed at the lift lobby for assistance. Lifts in HDB developments generally also have vision panels installed in the lift doors, which allow residents at the lift lobby to tell if a lift has broken down and whether there are affected users inside. The alarm button inside the lifts is usually one of the lowest buttons for easy reach and is checked regularly by the lift maintenance contractors.