A household shelter in a Punggol HDB flat is a civil-defence space with protected structural elements, a specialised door and ventilation fittings. Before adding shelving, cladding or flooring, compare the exact proposal with SCDF’s permitted and prohibited works.
SCDF prohibits alterations likely to weaken shelter structures and tampering with the shelter door or frame. Its guidance contains specific allowances and limits for some finishes and removable fixings, so neither “all drilling is allowed” nor “every fixing is banned” is a reliable rule.
Give your renovation contractor a drawing showing the proposed material, fixing method and location. Ask it to identify the applicable guideline before work starts, and seek HDB or SCDF clarification if the design does not clearly fit the published conditions.
Find your answer
Identify the surfaces and fittings involved · Check storage and decorative ideas separately · Preserve door information and ventilation · Keep the agreed scope available on site
Identify the surfaces and fittings involved
Separate a proposal for the shelter interior from one for the external face of a shelter wall. SCDF’s conditions distinguish them, including how some finishes and fixings may be used.
Mark the door, frame and ventilation fittings on the plan. A cabinet drawing should show the actual installation method rather than merely labelling everything as “removable”.
Check storage and decorative ideas separately
SCDF’s list does not permit internal wall tiles, internal cornices or a second layer of floor tiles. It also sets conditions for permitted shelving fixings and how quickly fixtures must be removable when required.
Do not treat an attractive photograph of another flat as proof that its construction method is permitted. Ask what lies behind the finished surface and how the design will comply.
Preserve door information and ventilation
SCDF says the shelter door notice must not be removed or covered. Ventilation covers and nearby architectural finishes are also subject to detailed conditions; do not simply seal openings for a tidier appearance.
If your contractor proposes a decorative treatment, request a clear explanation of access, ventilation and removability before ordering the material.
Keep the agreed scope available on site
Retain the drawing, relevant guidance and written work description with your renovation records. Make sure the installer carrying out the work has the same instructions as the person who prepared the quotation.
For the wider approval process, see our renovation permit and scope guide. This article does not approve a shelter design or provide a DIY drilling specification.
Back to contents · Official sources
Official sources and current checks
Official guidance checked on 17 October 2026. Confirm the current requirements and approved scope for your particular premises before commissioning work. This independent eduKatePunggol guide does not provide technical certification, renovation approval or installation services.
