Ceiling panel in Square 2 mall falls, possibly due to prolonged moisture exposure; no injuries
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The repaired ceiling at the escalator landing on the B1 floor of Novena Square 2, seen on April 11.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
SINGAPORE - A ceiling panel in Square 2 mall in Novena fell on the morning of April 11, possibly due to prolonged moisture exposure.
No injuries were reported, and the building remains structurally sound, said the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
It said in a media reply that a ceiling panel that was part of the enclosure of an air-conditioning air handling unit fell at around 9am.
According to Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao, the incident happened at the basement level of the mall, with debris falling onto an escalator.
BCA said its preliminary findings suggest prolonged moisture exposure and a recent air-conditioning drainage pipe leakage as possible causes for the dislodgement of the air handling unit enclosure.
The agency’s engineers conducted an inspection and found that the mall remains structurally sound.
The air handling unit is stable and poses no safety concerns, said BCA. The affected area has been cordoned off as a precautionary measure.
BCA said it will be issuing a Notice to Maintain requiring the building owner to appoint a professional engineer to inspect similar air handling unit enclosures and carry out rectification works, if necessary, to ensure safety.
Savills Property Management, which is a managing agent appointed to oversee the mall’s operations, said it is aware of the incident and that the affected area was immediately cordoned off.
Deputy managing director Tang Chee Charn said: “We are currently working closely with the relevant authorities and parties to investigate the situation and determine the cause of the incident.
“The safety and well-being of tenants, shoppers and staff are always our top priority.”
Additional reporting by Fatimah Mujibahv
