Reducing fire risk to zero would cost huge amount, Tai Po blaze inquiry hears
Mandating that only incombustible materials be used for renovation work at estates is unrealistic and would drive up project costs, committee told
The use of polyfoam boards to seal windows was among five key factors that led to the death toll of 168 people at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last year, experts said at the public inquiry session on Wednesday.
An expert appointed by the government said it would be impossible to eliminate the risk of fire at estates undergoing renovation work simply by banning the use of combustible materials near light wells.
“It’s a matter of risk management,” said Richard Yuen Kwok-kit, chair professor of architectural engineering at City University.
“We want to minimise the risk as far as practicable, but to reduce the risk to zero would require a huge price, which is impossible.”
Yuen explained that even fire-retardant scaffolding mesh and polyfoam boards would deteriorate over time.
He noted that an interdepartmental investigation task force set up to investigate the blaze had not examined the durability of safety nets or plastic coverings if they became brittle after prolonged use.