The Labour Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government published the “Bamboo Scaffolding Work Safety Code” and the “Metal Scaffolding Work Safety Code” addendum in the HKSAR Government Gazette on July 31, which took effect immediately to enhance the safety of scaffolding. One of the causes of the Hongfuyuan fire in Hong Kong last year was that some of the protective nets used for exterior wall maintenance did not meet flame retardant standards. The people involved in the case only installed a small amount of protective nets that met flame retardant standards on the scaffolding, thereby obtaining qualified results in the test. The contents of this safety code addendum include: first, standardizing the material of scaffolding bottom panels, taking into account anti-fall strength and fire properties; second, prohibiting flammable sheets; second, making it mandatory for all protective materials such as protective nets, tarpaulins, canvas, etc. to meet flame retardant standards; and third, unifying slope grid design and installation specifications and strictly following official bamboo shed construction guidelines.

The Labour Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government published the “Bamboo Scaffolding Work Safety Code” and the “Metal Scaffolding Work Safety Code” addendum in the HKSAR Government Gazette on July 31, which took effect immediately to enhance the safety of scaffolding. One of the causes of the Hongfuyuan fire in Hong Kong last year was that some of the protective nets used for exterior wall maintenance did not meet flame retardant standards. The people involved in the case only installed a small amount of protective nets that met flame retardant standards on the scaffolding, thereby obtaining qualified results in the test. The contents of this safety code addendum include: first, standardizing the material of scaffolding bottom panels, taking into account anti-fall strength and fire properties; second, prohibiting flammable sheets; second, making it mandatory for all protective materials such as protective nets, tarpaulins, canvas, etc. to meet flame retardant standards; and third, unifying slope grid design and installation specifications and strictly following official bamboo shed construction guidelines.