All eyes are on an ancient approach to construction after tower blocks in Hong Kong were destroyed by fire.
Devastating images and video of the inferno tearing through bamboo scaffolding around buildings within the Wang Fuk Court housing estate were beamed around the globe yesterday.
No less than 65 people have been killed with one other 290 people missing.
The reason for the hearth is currently unknown but three people have been arrested.
Hong Kong is certainly one of the few places on this planet that also use bamboo scaffolding as a consequence of speed, low-cost cost and tradition.
Its use dates back to the Han dynasty 2,000 years ago and has helped construct vast swathes of the region’s skyline.
What safety measures are required when using bamboo scaffolding?
Employees are required to finish a proper training in bamboo scaffolding akin to an apprenticeship or a yr long full-time basic craft course.
A ‘competent’ person is someone who possesses 10 years’ experience using the fabric.
Before the scaffolding is erected, the strength of the bamboo have to be ensured, including assessments of its ability to withhold weight, wind and other aspects.
Storage of the bamboo is crucial. It ought to be kept in a dry area and in a vertical position to forestall the buildup of waste water inside which causes them to decay.
Mao Jue and Kao Jue are the 2 forms of bamboo utilized in scaffolding.
With a diameter of no less than 75mm and a 10mm thickness, Mao Jue is principally used to create the vertical and diagonal lengths of the scaffolding structure.
Kao Jue is used for the remaining of the ledges, bracings and rakers of the structure with a minimum diameter of no less than 40mm.
Will Hong Kong move away from using bamboo scaffolding?
In March, the Hong Kong Development Bureau announced that fifty% of latest public constructing works are required to make use of metal scaffolding moderately than bamboo.
This was put in place to make sure site safety and in addition encouraged metal use in maintenance where possible.
Nonetheless, under this directive, private projects are still allowed to make use of bamboo.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Bamboo Scaffolding Employees Union has previously said it opposes the retirement of the normal material.
In January, the union said previous accidents were often a results of poor site safety management moderately than the scaffolding itself.
In response to the Construction Industry Council, there are about 2,500 registered bamboo scaffolders in Hong Kong.
There’s a priority that these expert staff could lose their livelihoods if Hong Kong does change to metal frames.
How flammable is bamboo and what other risks are related to it?
Bamboo accommodates high sugar content which also makes it flammable.
Also, the green plastic mesh commonly draped over the scaffolds canquickly burn.
One other risk of using this natural material is that its strength varies with species, age and moisture.
Between January 2018 and August 2025, there have been 24 bamboo scaffolding related deaths, in keeping with Hong Kong’s Labour Department.
What are the hearth safety standards in Hong Kong?
Changes were made to Hong Kong’s Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance after a hearth broke out in a 60-year-old constructing April 2024, killing five people.
Enforcement authorities are actually in a position to perform fire safety works for constructing owners who fail to comply with standards.
The brand new changes also made it an offence to obstruct fire safety works with penalties including fines and imprisonment.
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