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After the massive fire in the towers in Tai Po area of Hong Kong, serious questions have been raised on bamboo scaffolding. This 2000 year old technology caused the fire to spread rapidly from building to building. The possibility of inflammable material and deficiencies in safety standards has become the biggest issue in the investigation.
After the massive fire that broke out in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, bamboo has now come into focus. A new debate has erupted on the city’s construction traditions, especially bamboo scaffolding. Initially this bamboo itself caught fire and within no time many towers were engulfed in flames and smoke. Till the time of writing the news, 55 people have been confirmed dead in the accident. The investigation now focuses on how the fire spread so quickly. Bamboo scaffolding, considered the identity of Hong Kong, is a thousands-year-old tradition here. This technique dates back to the Han Dynasty (2000 years ago) and is still commonly seen in the construction and repair of city skyscrapers today.
Being flexible, cheap and environmentally friendly, it has been adopted in modern construction for a long time. But after this accident, serious questions have been raised on this technology. Experts say that bamboo is flammable by nature and the weather in Hong Kong is very dry at this time. In such a situation, any spark can cause fire to spread very quickly. Professor Jinyan Huang of Hong Kong Polytechnic University said that since the bamboo poles are placed vertically, the fire keeps running upwards without any obstruction. It is also believed that some plastic nets, canvas and safety covers installed on the buildings did not meet the fire standards.
What was the controversy regarding bamboo?
During investigation, the police also found flammable polystyrene sheets bearing the name of the construction company, which were covering some of the windows. Officials said the presence of such boards was “unusual” and a key part of the investigation would be whether these materials fueled the fire. The debate regarding bamboo scaffolding was already going on this year. Hong Kong’s Development Bureau recently announced that metal scaffolding will be mandatory in 50% of new public projects built after March 2025. The reason given for this was the safety of the workers, but now after the fire this issue has become more heated.
Why is it not easy to remove bamboo?
According to Labor Department data, between 2018 and 2025, 24 accidents related to bamboo scaffolding resulted in death. In October, another building covered with bamboo scaffolding caught fire in the business district of Hong Kong. However, it is not easy to completely eliminate the use of bamboo. Many local people consider it a cultural heritage and the decisions to remove it are also being opposed. Bamboo is used not only in the construction of buildings but also in traditional Cantonese opera theatres.
What are the rules for making scaffolding?
By law, every scaffolding project in Hong Kong must comply with government regulations, including requirements such as thickness of bamboo, strength of plastic strips and use of fireproof net. Despite this, the question of how the fire reached seven buildings in Tai Po is now the biggest issue before the investigating officers. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said a task force would investigate whether the buildings’ exterior walls and safety materials met fireproofing standards. He promised that if anyone violates the rules, strict action will be taken against him.
