The fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong on November 26th has sparked much discussion about whether it was related to the bamboo scaffolding erected on the building's exterior？As someone who has long worked in the scaffolding industry, I can say that bamboo scaffolding itself is not the problem; it's just that bamboo, being a flammable and explosive material, needs to be kept away from open flames. However, in construction projects, sparks from welding or electrical malfunctions are unavoidable. Bamboo can easily ignite when exposed to these sparks, and once a fire starts, it can spread rapidly along the bamboo, causing the entire scaffolding system to collapse, seriously endangering the safety of workers and the project.
Why are people still use bamboo scaffolding?
First, bamboo scaffolding is easy to maintain. Like Hong Kong is a coastal area with a humid climate, steel scaffolding is prone to rust and corrosion, requiring frequent maintenance. Local construction workers generally believe that bamboo scaffolding is more corrosion-resistant than steel scaffolding and better suited to humid conditions.
Second, it is simple to install. Because bamboo is lighter than metal, it is easier to transport. Erection does not require complex scaffolding accessories,a single rope is sufficient to build a stable scaffold.
Third, bamboo scaffolding is easy to store. Storage space is scarce in Hong Kong, making it difficult to store goods. Bamboo scaffolding can be directly destroyed after use, eliminating additional storage costs and reducing project costs.
Fourth, bamboo scaffolding is very cheap, costing several times less than metal scaffolding, which is a crucial factor in cost control.
With the development of scaffolding manufacturers, the use of metal scaffolding has become increasingly convenient. Systems like ringlock scaffolding, cuplock scaffolding, and frame scaffolding are very easy to assemble, requiring virtually no accessories for rapid setup. Metal scaffolding is typically made from high-quality steel or aluminum. The surface is galvanized for effective corrosion and rust prevention. Storage is also simple; modern modular scaffolding systems are easily disassembled and require no extra accessories, allowing for stacking multiple layers for storage, reducing floor space.
Conclusion
Overall, while bamboo scaffolding is inexpensive, it is extremely dangerous. For the safety of construction projects, metal scaffolding is the better choice. Modern metal scaffolding is quite convenient and quick. As for the cost, you can choose the appropriate scaffolding system based on the actual situation of the project, such as ringlock scaffolding, cuplock scaffolding, frame scaffolding, Kwikstage scaffolding, etc.
