Hong Kong Buildings Department Admits No Flammability Tests on Scaffold Nets Before Fatal Fire

A public inquiry into the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court has revealed alarming lapses in safety oversight, with the Buildings Department (BD) admitting it never conducted its own flammability tests on the scaffold nets that covered the building. This admission, made by BD's assistant director Karen Cheung, places a significant question mark over the department's reliance on contractor-submitted fire retardancy certificates. The inquiry heard that the BD primarily checked the origin and recognition of these certificates, rather than verifying the actual fire-resistant properties of the materials used.

The testimony highlighted that scaffold nets, identified as a critical element in the fire's rapid escalation which claimed 168 lives, were not subjected to independent testing by the BD. While the department could verify the validity of certificates, it did not perform its own laboratory or on-site tests. This practice has drawn criticism, especially since the tragedy prompted authorities to implement mandatory laboratory testing for scaffold nets before they can be deployed on worksites.

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In terms of scaffolding nets, we really had not conducted tests before.

Further complicating the issue, the inquiry revealed a complex web of responsibilities and jurisdictional gaps. While the BD is empowered to regulate certain building works, government-subsidised housing complexes like Wang Fuk Court fall under the purview of the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit (ICU). However, the ICU stated it lacks the authority to regulate 'temporary construction materials.' Similarly, the Fire Services Department indicated that issues like substandard netting and flammable materials were outside its remit. This fragmentation of responsibility underscores a systemic failure in ensuring safety, leaving residents vulnerable despite existing regulations. For Hong Kong, this tragedy and the subsequent revelations demand a thorough review of inter-departmental coordination and a more proactive approach to safety inspections, moving beyond mere certificate verification to direct material testing.

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The Building (Construction) Regulation empowers the BD to take action against works that cover windows with opaque materials, including foam boards, for long periods, the official also said, but government housing complexes like Wang Fuk Court are outside its purview.