Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Tragedy unfolding in Hong Kong

This really is turning into an horrific incident a fireman included in the 94 fatalities thus far with hundreds still missing.

Pray for them out there.

Hong Kong was our home for 40 years so particularly poignant for us - truly horrific!

Clearly the world has not leant from Grenfell Tower on many levels.

Not least of which is flammable bamboo scaffolding that has been used in the far East for very many years. Because it’s cheaper than steel.

Bamboo is cheaper, but it is also lighter, quicker to install and take down, flexes in typhoon/hurricane conditions rather than breaking at the joints and does less damage if it does fall, sustainable and apparently doesn't burn all that easily - I suspect the main culprit is the netting and cladding and whatever the contractor was storing around and on the scaffolding. Awful for all concerned. Apparently the contractor has been issued a warning and been fined before for non-compliance with building regs!

Link below to a recent and interesting Chinese contractor’s resume on the use of bamboo scaffolding for high rise buildings.

https://www.ajbuildscaffold.com/bam...-guide-to-safety-cost-and-sustainability

If this was in UK the client would be equally in the soup for failing to appoint a competent contractor.

I guess the initial cost and tradition let this happen coupled with poor onsite supervision.