New Delhi: Bamboo scaffolding has been used in construction work for centuries, but it is the recent fire at a housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that has brought it into the limelight.
The city’s deadliest fire in more than a century has already consumed 94 lives in the eight-tower estate housing more than 4,600 people, with many more missing or presumed dead. Experts say the bamboo scaffolding and mesh surrounding the building could have added to the destructive force.
The BCC quoted Guan Yeoh, professor of engineering at the University of New South Wales, saying that the scaffolding around the building was like “waiting for a disaster to happen”.
What is bamboo scaffolding?
Bamboo scaffolding was first introduced into the construction industry in Hong Kong in the 1800s. It is a temporary structure used to support construction workers and materials; it can be used both inside and outside a building.
It is usually put together by speciality workers known as “spiders” who tie together plastic fibre straps and bamboo shoots to form a solid and secure scaffold structure without screws. In Hong Kong, it has traditionally been used to make temporary Chinese opera theatres.
It is still commonly used in several Asian as well as African nations such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Nigeria. The Great Wall of China was built using the scaffolding technique.
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What role did bamboo scaffolding play in the fire?
According to the Hong Kong Free Press, there are approximately 4,000 bamboo scaffolding workers in the city despite a decline in the industry due to the rise of metal scaffolding. A move by local authorities to pull back the scaffolding drew harsh public backlash after residents pointed out that it was an integral part of their cultural heritage.
Before Wednesday’s fire, most of the concerns regarding the scaffolding were about worker safety.
Al Jazeera, citing government figures, reported that between 2018 and 2024, there were 22 deadly accidents involving bamboo scaffolding.
Although cheap and able to withstand significant weight and pressure, bamboo has limited durability and is highly flammable. It is unlikely not to spot buildings engulfed in bamboo scaffolding and nets in Hong Kong.
While the cause of the fire in Tai Po is not yet known, authorities have made three arrests linked to a construction company that was overseeing the renovations, accusing them of “gross negligence,” since at the time the building was ensconced in bamboo scaffolding and safety nets.
All bamboo scaffolding projects are required by law to maintain certain safety standards, predominantly regarding the thickness of the bamboo, the strength of the nylon, and the spacing between poles, among others. The bamboo also needs to be air-dried for at least three months under indoor conditions before use. The safety protocols are regularly updated.
In India, there are specific rules regarding bamboo scaffolding, including the tying of joints, the age of the bamboo used, and the type of ropes used to build the structure.
At a press conference, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee Ka-chiu, said that a task force would investigate “whether the building’s exterior walls meet the fire-retardant standard.” Adding, “If there’s any wrongdoing, we’ll pursue accountability in accordance with laws and regulations.”
He promised that housing estates undergoing renovations or constructions will now be thoroughly inspected.
In a post on Facebook, Lee wrote, “The government has immediately arranged for inspections of all housing estates across the city undergoing major repairs, to examine the safety of scaffolding and building materials.”
(Edited by Ratan Priya)