Electricians serving Bukit Merah.

Homes in Bukit Merah and what they mean for electrical work

The housing here

Most homes in Bukit Merah are HDB flats. The Census 2020 dwelling data counts about 59,700 resident households in the Bukit Merah planning area. About 90% of them live in HDB flats, about 9% in condos and apartments, and very few in landed homes. Roughly 11,000 households are in 1 and 2 room flats, 15,700 in 3 room flats, 17,400 in 4 room flats and 9,800 in 5 room and executive flats.

For electrical work, the age of the block matters most. HDB's property information dataset lists 426 residential blocks in HDB's Bukit Merah town. That town does not share the census planning area's boundary. About 63% of its units are in blocks completed in 1986 or earlier, 4% in blocks completed from 1987 to 1997 and 33% in blocks completed from 1998 onwards. The median block completion year is 1977. The original wiring, DB boxes and socket layouts in older blocks were not planned for the number of appliances many homes run today.

HDB's Home Improvement Programme started in 2007 for flats built up to 1986. In 2018 it was extended to flats built from 1987 to 1997, and upgrading the electrical supply is one of its essential improvements. A precinct is only upgraded if at least 75% of eligible Singapore citizen households vote yes. Check your own flat's history with HDB rather than assuming it was done.

Planning a job

Under EMA's rules on engaging licensed workers, work on wiring, socket outlets, switches, lighting points, consumer control units or circuit breakers needs an EMA Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW). Licences are held by individuals, so ask which LEW will do your job or take charge of it.

• HDB flats: HDB's renovation approval guidelines require an EMA licensed electrical worker for electrical work. If your flat does not have higher electrical loading, you need an HDB permit before new 15A power points can go in for an aircon or other high-load appliance.
• Condos: BCA's guide for condo owners says to follow your MCST by-laws and check with the MCST before renovation. Changes to common property need the MCST's prior written approval.
• Mixed jobs: if the work also touches water heater plumbing, HDB's plumbing guidelines say a PUB licensed plumber must do it. For a gas hob, EMA's gas safety page says only City Energy or a Licensed Gas Service Worker can do home gas installation works.

Tripping power is the most common call. When the electrician arrives, tell them which breaker in the DB box went off and what was running at the time. That helps them tell a faulty appliance apart from a damp socket or an overloaded circuit.

In an older flat, ask the electrician to check the condition of the DB box and the existing wiring, not just the item you called about. A new socket or light on worn wiring may just move the problem somewhere else.