On November 26, 2025, the worst high-rise residential fire since the 1990s occurred in Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po District, Hong Kong. Multiple buildings were engulfed in flames, and the fire spread rapidly, causing serious casualties and social shock. As of now, at least 44 people have died, 62 are injured, and 279 are missing. Authorities have arrested three construction company managers and consultants on suspicion of gross negligence.
01 Hidden Dangers Behind The Fire – Flammable Scaffolding & Netting
Reports indicate that the building in question was undergoing large-scale exterior wall repair/renovation work, using traditional bamboo scaffolding covered with safety netting/construction netting and protective netting. Following the incident, experts and the public immediately focused on its fire resistance performance. According to reports from the police and fire departments, the fire spread exceptionally rapidly. The combination of burning debris, strong winds, and flammable covering materials caused the fire to spread quickly from the scaffolding to the exterior walls, balconies, and interior spaces, forming a “fire ladder/fire wall” that left residents almost no time to escape. Furthermore, media reports also indicated that chaotic construction management and workers smoking contributed to the fire’s spread.
02 With Regulations—Why Did This Tragedy Still Occur?
In fact, as early as March 2023, the Hong Kong Buildings Department (BD) issued a notice—”Use of Fire Retardant Protective Net/Screen/Tarpaulin/Plastic Sheeting on Façade of Building under Construction, Demolition, Repair or Minor Works”. The notice clearly stipulates that in any exterior wall construction/repair/demolition project, if protective netting/screening/tarpaulin/plastic sheeting is used to cover scaffolding or facades, materials with appropriate fire retardant properties must be used. Recommended standards include domestic GB 5725-2009, British BS 5867-2:2008 (Type B), American NFPA 701:2019 (Test Method 2), or other standard materials with equivalent flame retardant performance.
However, according to the current police investigation and on-site evidence, the protective netting/construction netting/shed netting/canvas used in the Wang Fuk Court incident are suspected of not meeting fire retardant standards and are flammable materials. This is one of the important reasons why the fire spread rapidly and caused such a tragic consequence (Source: Global Times).
This tragedy also highlights that even with existing regulations and standards, negligence in material procurement, construction management, and on-site supervision, such as choosing low-cost, low-compliance netting, can lead to disaster.
03 Standards Updated – New Standards for Flame Retardant Net Materials
Taifeng as a professional supplier specializing in the R&D, production, and sales of flame retardants, we have noticed that the domestic mandatory standard GB 5725-2009 for fireproof/safety nets has been updated to GB 5725-2025 (released on August 29, 2025, and implemented on September 1, 2026). Compared to the old version, the new standard has stricter requirements for flame retardant/fireproof performance: In the old version, GB 5725-2009, the test method GB/T5455 Condition A was used for safety nets, with a vertical ignition time of 12 seconds and after flame and smoldering times not exceeding 4 seconds.
The new version of GB 5725-2025 still applies GB/T 5455 (2014 edition) condition A, vertical ignition for 12 seconds, to warp-knitted and impregnated safety nets; for twisted woven safety nets, the test method specified in GB/T 14645 applies, with an ignition time of 30 seconds and after flame and smoldering times not exceeding 2 seconds.
The new standard significantly improves the flame resistance and fire-retarding ability of safety nets. This is of great significance for ensuring safe construction and compliant construction practices.
04 Our Appeal — Controlling Fire Safety from the Source
We are deeply saddened by the tragic Wang Fuk Court fire and deeply reflect on the following: For all companies and construction units engaged in the construction, scaffolding, and safety netting market, simply having scaffolding and covering it with netting is far from enough—it is essential to choose certified safety netting that meets the latest flame-retardant standards (such as GB 5725-2025) from the source of materials. At the same time, construction units and regulatory authorities must strictly implement relevant regulations and notices; otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Taifeng as a leading global supplier specializing in halogen-free flame retardants for 24 years, we are willing and prepared to provide material and technical support for building fire safety. We hope to cooperate with more companies to provide solutions for compliant, high-standard flame-retardant netting/canvas/plastic sheeting, promoting building safety.
Finally, we express our deepest condolences to the victims of this fire and extend our sympathies to all affected families. We also hope that all sectors of society will learn from this lesson—making “flame retardancy” not just a slogan, but a real line of defense for life.
Post time: Dec-10-2025
