The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has unveiled new rules to boost fire-safety for external scaffolding nets. This Thursday, December 11, 2025, Bernadette Linn, secretary for development, announced that only nets with valid fire-retardant certification and test reports can be used on construction sites.
Key measures include:
- Mandatory sampling and lab testing in designated centers (results within one week) ✅
- Random on-site checks by regulators 🔍
- Rules cover repair, maintenance, new builds and demolition, with some flexibility for unoccupied structures 🏗️
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) will coordinate bulk procurement and testing services, and roll out 5,000 subsidized training places to help practitioners adapt. A new source-tracking labeling system will standardize net movement from manufacture to site.
These steps mark a fresh push to raise safety standards in Hong Kong's construction industry and protect workers and surroundings from fire risks.
Reference(s):
HKSAR government introduces new rules to ensure scaffolding net safety
cgtn.com
