The Tai Po fire has reignited scrutiny of Hong Kong’s long‑standing use of bamboo scaffolding after flames spread rapidly across buildings wrapped in scaffolding and mesh. Authorities have arrested 15 people connected to renovation work and say substandard mesh and flammable polystyrene likely accelerated the blaze. Officials will inspect bamboo scaffolding citywide and consider wider use of metal scaffolding while a task force probes materials and accountability. Experts stress the bigger problem was how external coverings and scaffolding allowed the fire to spread so quickly.
Deadly Hong Kong Blaze Sparks Scrutiny of Centuries‑Old Bamboo Scaffolding
Buildings in Hong Kong that were engulfed by smoke and flames were wrapped in the familiar sight of bamboo scaffolding and green mesh — a construction method prized locally for its flexibility, low cost and sustainability. The deadly fire in Tai Po has intensified questions about whether that tradition can meet modern fire‑safety demands.
What happened
The fire in Tai Po remains under investigation. Authorities have arrested 15 people connected to renovation work at the complex, which was encased in scaffolding and protective netting at the time. Officials say substandard mesh and highly flammable polystyrene boards used to seal windows likely accelerated the blaze, allowing flames to spread rapidly between buildings.
Materials and fire risk
Experts note that bamboo itself is combustible and that vertically oriented scaffolding can act as a channel for fire to climb quickly up a façade. “This is a very dry season in Hong Kong, so the likelihood of ignition of this bamboo is very high. Once it’s ignited, the fire spread will be super‑fast,” said Xinyan Huang, associate professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He added that vertically arranged poles provide little resistance to upward fire spread.
Regulation, inspections and policy responses
Hong Kong’s leader announced citywide inspections of bamboo scaffolding and said officials are considering a broader shift to metal scaffolding. The Development Bureau has already required that 50% of new public building projects begun from March onward use metal scaffolding to enhance worker protection and align with modern standards. Authorities also said they will examine whether protective nets, tarps and other coverings met fire‑retardant requirements.
Tradition versus modernisation
Bamboo scaffolding is part of Hong Kong’s built heritage and remains ubiquitous across the city. Supporters — including some workers and unions — defend it, pointing to strict codes and routine inspections that govern how scaffolding is built, tied and maintained. The regulatory code specifies bamboo thickness, weaving and tying materials, pole spacing, and requires that façade coverings should have appropriate fire‑retardant properties in line with recognized standards.
Broader perspective from fire safety experts
Several fire‑safety experts have emphasized that the central issue is not just the initial ignition source but the combination of external materials and conditions that allowed the fire to spread across multiple buildings. “What matters most here is that the fire was able to spread beyond the spot and building where it started,” said Anwar Orabi, a lecturer in fire safety engineering. He added that scaffolding and façade coverings may have acted as a vertical “highway” for flames and embers.
Official actions: A task force will investigate compliance with fire‑retardant standards and pursue accountability where laws and regulations were broken, officials say.
As investigators continue their work, the incident has intensified a public debate over how to balance cultural traditions, worker safety and modern fire‑protection standards. Determining the specific roles played by scaffolding, mesh, polystyrene and other coverings will be crucial to shaping policy and preventing future tragedies.
Help us improve.
