Dad wants grilles to keep kids safe, but management of condo says no

When he bought a $2 million double-storey penthouse at 19 Shelford condominium, off Adam Road, in February, he thought he had secured a good future for his two children because good schools are nearby.

Then, Mr Zou Xiang, 41, a software engineer, realised that the balcony of his fourth-storey unit did not have grilles.

Instead of a low wall, it has horizontal railings, which makes it easy for young children to climb up or slip through the gaps between the railings.

PREVENTION: Mr Zou Xiang got a contractor to install four panels of 'invisible' grilles, but after only two panels were installed, the condo management stopped the works. PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO

Realising the danger, he tried to protect his son, four, and daughter, three, by installing grilles on the balcony.

But the condo's management committee (MC) rejected his application and subsequent appeal.

When he tried to go ahead with the installation, the MC stopped the workers and even called the police.

At 5.30pm yesterday, the dispute took a surreal turn when the MC sent him a letter to tell him that his balcony has been classified as a "roof garden".

This came after Mr Zou wrote to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and was told that he should be allowed to install the grilles because his children's safety takes priority over design.

According to the MC's letter, since the balcony is a roof garden, the BCA by-law that structures and devices can be built on windows and balconies for the safety of children does not apply.

A shocked Mr Zou questioned how the 16 sq m balcony could be classified as a "roof garden" when it is on the lower floor of his two-storey unit, which has no access to the roof.

"I feel like they are playing a word game with me," he told The New Paper yesterday.

"Over the past two months, the term 'roof garden' has not once been mentioned to me. How can they be so unsympathetic towards the safety of children? This is too much."

When TNP checked with the BCA, its spokesman said: "Safety is important, especially where young children are involved.

"Therefore, owners shall not be prevented from installing any structure or device to prevent harm to children under the prescribed by-laws of the Building Maintenance (Strata Management) Regulations 2005."

Mr Zou first wrote to the MC on May 23, about a month before he moved into his new home, to seek approval to install the grilles.

What followed were several exchanges between them without approval being granted.

In July, the family had a close call when their domestic helper caught their son leaning precariously over the balcony's ledge while waiting for his father to return from work.

His horrified parents cable-tied sheets of green plastic mesh over the railings to prevent the children from climbing up.

Mr Zou said: "But it was not foolproof as my children could still fall over any time."

Then, on Aug 3, they read about a three-year-old girl who died about a month after falling from the balcony window of a fourth-storey flat in January.

That was the last straw for them. They decided to go ahead and install the grilles.

Mr Zou said: "We knew we were risking it by going ahead without permission. But we couldn't wait any more. While we wait, tragedy could strike at any time."

They hired a contractor to install four panels of "invisible" grilles across the balcony on Aug 17.

But that afternoon, after two panels had been installed, council members entered their apartment and stopped the workers. They confiscated the workers' visitor passes and called the police.

When TNP approached the condo's MC on Tuesday, the managing agent said that only council members could comment and he would try to get a response from them.

But there was no response by press time last night.

LOST SLEEP

Mr Zou said he has lost sleep over the dispute and will rush home after work to make sure his children are safe.

His wife also calls their helper at least three times a day to ensure the children stay away from the balcony.

Mr Zou said: "Previously, I could work peacefully, but now I am constantly worried about my children while at work."

Mr Zou has contacted his Member of Parliament, Ms Sim Ann (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), for help and was told that he should raise the matter again at the next general meeting and try to settle the dispute amicably.

When contacted by TNP, Ms Sim said: "At times, condo residents approach me concerning disagreements with their MCs.

"In such cases, we would speak with the MC to understand their side of the story and see if the issue can be resolved.

"If both sides think we can be of help in facilitating further discussion, we are always glad to try."