Ban combustibles on exterior building works, fire expert urges after deadly blaze

A fire engineering expert has called for a ban on combustible materials during external building works to prevent a repeat of a deadly fire that killed 168 people in November 2025. Asif Sohail Usmani, testifying at a public hearing, stated that fire-rated scaffolding nets alone are insufficient to stop fires.

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combustible materials should not be used on apartment complex exterior walls during building works

Usmani recommended prohibiting materials like wooden planks and cardboard on outer walls. He suggested alternatives such as fireproof windows if a complete ban is impractical. He acknowledged that this would increase industry costs but stressed its necessity, noting that it would not affect traditional bamboo scaffolding poles.

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fire-rated scaffolding nets alone could not be relied on to stave off fires

Citing the Grenfell Tower fire as an example, Usmani explained that fires can still occur even if individual components meet standards. He noted that in the Wang Fuk Court fire, substandard scaffolding nets may have caused "secondary ignitions," igniting wooden planks and other materials. The fire spread rapidly, exacerbated by recessed lightwells that created a "chimney effect" and a "leapfrog effect" allowing fire to move between flats.

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such a move was necessary and would not entail replacing bamboo scaffolding poles

Usmani also pointed to combustible materials within the lightwells and the fire's spread to neighboring buildings as critical factors. He urged a holistic assessment of fire risks, considering the building's structure and materials beyond just the scaffolding nets.

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non-fire-retardant scaffolding nets could have caused “secondary ignitions” that exacerbated the spread of the blaze as wooden planks, foam boards, and bamboo poles caught fire