While bamboo scaffolding is a time-honored craft heritage, a devastating fire has prompted Hong Kong to rethink the future of construction, putting safety, culture and cost at the forefront of decision-making.
November 27, 2568 at 07.18:XNUMX a.m. Bloomberg News reported that The Hong Kong government is preparing to phase out the use of bamboo scaffolding, a long-standing construction practice. After the worst fire in a residential area in over 60 years
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire at Wang Fuk Court condominium on November 26. One issue under investigation is whether the materials used to renovate the building, such as bamboo frames wrapped in green plastic netting, may have contributed to the fire spreading faster.
Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world where bamboo scaffolding is still widely used in construction. Over the decades, the crisscrossing bamboo latticework has become a familiar sight in the city, whether building new skyscrapers or renovating old ones. However, the use of such materials has come under increasing scrutiny, and the recent tragedy has prompted the government to expedite policy changes that had previously been announced to increase the use of metal scaffolding in public construction projects.
Why does Hong Kong still rely on “bamboo scaffolding”?
The use of bamboo scaffolding is a millennia-old tradition from mainland China that flourished in Hong Kong in the 1960s, when the economy boomed and construction boomed. Although mainland China has largely turned to metal scaffolding, Hong Kong still has thousands of skilled workers skilled at tying bamboo into strong, lightweight, inexpensive and readily available structures. Bamboo is also more flexible than metal scaffolding and can be easily cut to size, making it ideal for cities with tight spaces and close-knit buildings.
Risks of bamboo scaffolding
Bamboo scaffolding has long been linked to construction accidents in Hong Kong, such as last year's collapse of a scaffolding structure at a luxury development in Kai Tak, which killed two workers and led to manslaughter charges. This is because dry bamboo is flammable and can help flames spread faster. In October, for example, a fire broke out in the Chinachem Tower building in the central business district, injuring four people.
Vincent Ho, Founder of the Hong Kong Building Safety Institute specify that Bamboo becomes more flammable as it deteriorates and requires a lot of labor to constantly monitor its condition.
however Lee Kwong-sing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Security Professionals Association said Bamboo is not a particularly flammable material, but the plastic tarpaulin used to cover the structure in case of a fire at Wang Fuk Court may not have fireproofing properties, causing the fire to spread quickly.
Officials also pointed out that exterior coverings found at the scene burned faster than standard materials, and that flammable foam found at the scene also accelerated the fire's spread.
What are Hong Kong's new scaffolding regulations?
Last March The government has announced that at least 50% of new public construction projects must use metal scaffolding, citing bamboo's physical limitations, such as inconsistent strength properties, rapid deterioration and flammability, while metal is stronger and more durable. The government also wants Hong Kong's construction practices to be in line with those of mainland China and other developed countries.
But the new regulations have long been opposed by industry, who argue the problem stems from a lack of safety measures, not the bamboo's inherent weakness, and fear that switching to metal scaffolding could put local bamboo experts out of work and damage the city's cultural heritage.
However, following the fire at Wang Fuk Court on November 27, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced that The government will move forward with the elimination of all bamboo scaffolding and encourage workers to switch to metal scaffolding instead.
Although fire-resistant steel scaffolding reduces the risk, But Vincent Ho cautions that other construction materials, such as netting, wooden flooring and protective panels, also need to be properly fire-proofed.
refer : www.bloomberg.com
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