HDB HIP Door Replacement Guide: Main Door & Gate

HDB HIP door replacement is an optional improvement offered to eligible flats under HDB’s Home Improvement Programme. Residents can opt for a new main door and grille gate. HDB determines, using SCDF’s Fire Code, whether a flat requires a fire-rated or non-fire-rated main door. An HFAD is installed as part of the associated fire-safety work when residents opt for the fire-rated door replacement. This guide is for homeowners, residents’ committees, renovation contractors and interior designers who want to understand the difference between the two door types, what to inspect at handover, and what should not be altered afterwards.

How HDB HIP door replacement works for the main door and gate

The Home Improvement Programme is HDB’s programme for ageing-related maintenance inside flats. HDB’s HIP page states that it was introduced in 2007 for flats built up to 1986 that had not undergone the Main Upgrading Programme, and MyNiceHome notes that it was extended in 2018 to flats built between 1987 and 1997. A block proceeds only if at least 75% of eligible Singapore Citizen households vote in favour.

For doors, the HIP scope covers a new entrance door, described by HDB as a decorative timber or laminated timber door with enhanced resistance to scratches, and a new grille gate. HDB also lists a handrail at main entrances with steps and an HFAD in the living room among the newer items.

Who decides between a fire-rated and non-fire-rated door?

HDB decides, flat by flat, based on SCDF’s Fire Code. Residents whose flats require a fire-rated door can opt for it. If a flat does not require one, HDB offers the non-fire-rated door under HIP.

The distinction matters because HDB’s home care guide describes the main entrance door as a fire safety barrier and the gate as a safety barrier. In a parliamentary reply on block-wide fire alarms, the Minister for Home Affairs explained that HDB blocks are designed so that each flat is a fire compartment, which limits the spread of fire (see MHA’s reply).

It helps to separate four kinds of statement when you read about HIP doors:

Fire-rated vs non-fire-rated main door compared

The table sets out what HDB has published. Where HDB has not stated something, the table says so rather than assuming.

Where your flat is not in a HIP precinct, or the door belongs to a commercial, institutional or industrial building, fire-door requirements follow that building’s approved fire-safety provisions, not HIP. A fire-rated door for a school, hospital or office is specified per project, so the HIP rules above should not be applied to it. Teams working on those projects can see fire-rated timber door options for the general product category.

What the Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) does

An HFAD is an automatic smoke or heat detector that sounds an alarm to give occupants early warning of a fire, according to SCDF. SCDF states installation is mandatory for new residential premises, and for existing residential premises carrying out fire safety works where plans were submitted on or after 1 June 2018. It is not mandatory for existing premises not carrying out such works, though SCDF encourages it.

When a household opts for the applicable fire-rated door replacement under HIP, an HFAD is installed as part of the associated fire-safety work. HDB also lists an HFAD in the living room under EASE improvements and notes that an executive maisonette is offered two devices to comply with the Fire Code. HDB’s MyNiceHome guidance says the device can be tested using the Test/Reset button on its front, and that maintenance details are in the user manual left in the flat.

The HIP grille gate

HDB lists two gate options: a wrought iron grille gate, or a mild steel entrance gate with an interior thumb-turn knob. HDB describes the gate as a safety barrier rather than the fire barrier, so its checks differ from the door’s. For handover, confirm the thumb-turn operates smoothly from inside, the bolt slots fully, and the gate swings without catching the door or frame.

Readers comparing materials for other gate projects can read about metal gate options for HDB and BTO homes.

Handover inspection checklist

The checklist below combines HDB’s published maintenance points with general good practice. Items marked “general” are not HDB requirements.

Before replacement

• Confirm from HDB or HIP documents whether your flat has been assigned a fire-rated or non-fire-rated door.
• Clear the entrance area, and note any existing items near the door and gate that may be disturbed (general).
• Photograph the existing door, gate and frame condition for reference (general).

On handover

• Door opens and closes without rubbing the frame or floor.
• For a fire-rated door, the door closer is present and the door closes by itself.
• Hinge screws are tight, especially the top hinge.
• Gate bolt and thumb-turn operate smoothly, and the gate does not clash with the door swing.
• The HFAD is in place, and its Test/Reset button produces the test signal.
• Check for scratches, dents, uneven clearances, rubbing or failure to close. Ask the HIP team to assess clearances against the installed door system’s specification, and report defects through the HIP channels HDB provides.

Door closer, hinge and bolt maintenance

HDB’s gate and door guide offers simple fixes for everyday faults. The table summarises them and keeps HDB’s advice separate from general practice.

For deeper servicing guidance, such as hinge replacement or closer adjustment on other projects, see commercial door maintenance guide.

Common mistakes and misconceptions

• “Every HDB door must be fire-rated.” HDB’s wording is that it determines the requirement per flat under the Fire Code, so avoid assuming.
• Removing the door closer because the door slams. HDB states the closer on a fire-rated door must not be removed. Adjust or repair it instead.
• Treating the gate as a fire barrier. HDB describes the gate as a safety barrier and the main door as the fire safety barrier.
• Assuming a closer proves the door is fire-rated. Confirm with HDB documents instead.
• Drilling or cutting before checking. Lock installation, peepholes or signage fixings may affect a door’s construction. Ask first.

Illustrative scenario: a renovation contractor receives a work order for a flat that recently went through HIP. Before quoting a digital lock or a door repaint, the contractor checks the HIP documents for the door type, asks HDB about modification limits, and records the condition of the closer. This avoids damaging a component that may be safety-relevant.

After HIP: renovation and digital lock considerations

HDB’s HIP guidance tells residents who want a digital door lock to ask the supplier for certification meeting SCDF’s fire-safety requirements. SCDF states that, from 1 March 2024, a digital lock installed on a fire-rated door must be certified for fire resistance, either with the door or individually. Check the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for the exact lock model and confirm that its fire rating is at least equal to the door’s. The installation must follow the applicable certification and manufacturer’s instructions; check compatibility before drilling or cutting.

For certification documents and retrofit checks, read our guide to digital locks on fire-rated doors.

For door measurements, opening direction and frame coordination on non-HIP projects, a door measurement guide for renovation projects may help.

Questions to ask before changing anything

1. Has my flat been assigned a fire-rated or non-fire-rated main door?
2. Is the door closer part of my door, and how should it be adjusted?
3. Does HDB allow the lock, peephole or fixing I plan to install?
4. Who is responsible for defects found after HIP handover?
5. Where can I find the HIP package specification for my precinct?

FAQ

Conclusion

HDB HIP offers optional main door and grille gate replacement, with HDB deciding per flat whether the door is fire-rated or non-fire-rated under SCDF’s Fire Code. The fire-rated option is paired with an HFAD, and the closer on a fire-rated door must stay in place. Key practical points are to confirm the door type, inspect closers, hinges and bolts at handover, and verify any post-HIP modification with HDB. Requirements and packages can change, so check your project’s details with official sources.

Project teams can review HongRui’s door and gate manufacturing services to compare available materials, applications and installation considerations.