Case Study: Lessons from the Hong Kong Scaffold Fire — How SIP Failures Can Turn Deadly

Dec 8

Case Study: Lessons from the Hong Kong Scaffold Fire — How SIP Failures Can Turn Deadly

In March 2023, a high-profile fire engulfed a Hong Kong construction site, leaving multiple workers injured and causing extensive damage to a commercial tower. Preliminary investigations revealed that unsafe scaffolding, flammable insulation materials, and improper painting procedures played major roles in escalating the blaze.

For companies like Loonglobal Engineering operating in the SIP space (Scaffolding, Insulation, and Painting), this incident serves as a painful reminder that compromised safety in any one of the three trades can lead to fatal consequences.

1. What Went Wrong in the Hong Kong Incident?

While the full investigation is still ongoing, early findings revealed:

Timber bamboo scaffolding wrapped with plastic sheets caused a chimney effect
Insulation materials stored on-site were not fire-rated, accelerating the spread
No compartmentalization or flame arresting features in place
Paint and solvent containers left near hot work zones

The fire spread vertically through scaffolding within minutes, leaving little time for evacuation.

2. The Risks of Overlapping Trades

SIP works often run concurrently on high-rise and industrial projects:

Scaffolds act as access platforms for insulation and painting
Painting may involve hot work (spraying, drying)
Insulation may include flammable foams or vapor sealants

When coordination fails, safety gaps multiply.

3. How to Prevent Similar SIP Failures

At Loonglobal, we implement multi-discipline safety planning:

Use fire-rated insulation materials only (e.g. Class 0 or ASTM E84 Class A)
Scaffolds include fire blankets and fire watch protocols
Paint works are segregated from insulation storage zones
On-site SIP coordination briefings daily
Hot work permits strictly enforced with gas checks and spark control

We treat scaffolding not just as a structure — but as a potential ignition pathway if not controlled.

4. Fire-Safe Insulation is a Must

Singapore WSH regulations already prohibit many flammable materials, but compliance still varies in overseas projects.

Loonglobal Engineering ensures:

All materials carry non-combustibility reports
Cladding is closed seam to prevent chimney effects
No flammable storage near scaffolds or enclosed zones

5. Final Thoughts

Tragedies like the Hong Kong fire remind us that scaffolding, insulation, and painting are deeply interconnected. Failing to treat them as a single safety system can cost lives.

At Loonglobal Engineering, we design SIP systems as one integrated package — reducing fire risk, boosting productivity, and protecting every worker on-site.

alson Loong