A government probe has found that substandard, non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting contributed to the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court, sparking urgent calls from industry figures for a comprehensive risk-management system to close loopholes in construction material safety.
Speaking on a radio program on Tuesday (Dec 2), engineering sector lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok described the practice of using compliant netting in selected buildings to pass inspections as "hair-raising" and "utterly outrageous."
Considering the diverse range of materials at the construction site, Lo stressed the importance for the contractors to make sure the materials align with the standards.
However, he pointed out "grey areas" where not every item undergoes testing, calling for a proper risk management system to decide which materials can be accepted on documentation and which require laboratory testing.
Regarding the standards for these distinctions, Lo admitted that the current practices are unclear, underscoring the need for an urgent review.
Lo further criticized the decision to conduct large-scale exterior repairs on all eight buildings of Wang Fuk Court simultaneously, stating that the two-year-long project not only inconveniences residents but also raises safety risks.
He highlighted the foam materials used for window sealing could be another key factor contributing to the rapid spread of the fire.
Due to their highly flammable nature and the release of toxic gases under high temperatures, these foams can cause windows to shatter quickly, allowing flames to spread into the units.
Speaking on the same program, Hong Kong Construction Sub-Contractors Association Lawrence Ng San-wa stated that the material inspections are generally stricter on new construction sites, as any fire would cause massive financial and reputational damage to developers and contractors.
Ng criticized the alleged cost-cutting measures as "completely absurd," particularly when the renovation project already had a price tag of HK$300 million. He pointed out that the savings from using non-compliant netting amounted to only around HK$100,000.
Investigation revealed that 7 of 20 samples failed safety standards as the contractor had purchased 2,300 substandard rolls of netting at HK$54 each, while replacing some with HK$100 rolls on select buildings after last October's scaffolding fire in Central, as it was afraid authorities would conduct large-scale inspections after the incident.
