1/ I don’t often speak in my professional capacity as a Hong Kong–born, UK-chartered construction professional (MRICS, MAPM, NECReg, among others). But I need to address inaccurate reporting about bamboo scaffolding in the Hong Kong Tai Po fire.
(1/9)
The bamboo scaffolding of Hong Kong is built by true professionals who dedicates their whole life to it, but still baffles me how this is still used in 2025. Here some photos I took earlier this year.
I don’t quite understand where does this “bamboo scaffolding led to the fire” come from.
The bamboos scaffolding after the fire is still mainly intact. It’s the netting that’s flammable, not the bamboo scaffolding. It started with the netting, as multiple videos show.
(1/3) Regarding the Hong Kong fire: CNN quoted PolyU’s Prof. Huang saying bamboo is flammable, implying the bamboo scaffold was the main driver.
But multiple clips show the netting and wrap igniting, not the scaffold; most bamboo poles remained intact.
Cheat Sheet v.2
Dieselbrain and Co updated this, plus included a bit more helpful information
imgur link: https://t.co/Rr2FNMX2rN
more comprehensive info can be found here: https://t.co/WI6kE6KbFF https://t.co/2ApoxxD0QT
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