IoT Fire Detection System to Cover 7+ Story Old Buildings, Lawmaker Welcomes Expansion
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The government announced in the 2026 Policy Address that the Internet of Things (IoT) Fire Detection System will be extended to buildings with 7 or more stories by the end of this year, covering all 14,000 target buildings under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Chapter 572). Legislative Council member Fang Guoxian welcomed the expansion, calling it a major breakthrough that leverages technology to benefit the public.
Key Points
- Approximately 14,000 composite and residential buildings built on or before March 1, 1987 must upgrade fire safety measures to modern standards under Chapter 572
- Traditional fire safety systems, including hose reel systems, water tanks, pumps, and manual alarm systems, can cost up to HK$600,000 with additional annual maintenance fees
- The IoT system costs approximately HK$200,000 and can be installed within two weeks without structural or spatial limitations
- The system was first approved for buildings with 6 or fewer stories in April 2026, and is now extended to 7-story and taller buildings
- The system has been included in the Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme to ease the financial burden on eligible building owners
- Fang Guoxian identified three major challenges for old building owners: coordination difficulties due to scattered ownership, technical constraints from building structures, and prohibitive costs for elderly owners
Why It Matters
This expansion brings affordable fire safety solutions to the majority of Hong Kong's aging building stock, many of which lack management corporations or property management companies. With the subsidy scheme covering the IoT system, elderly and low-income building owners can now comply with fire safety requirements without facing financial hardship or legal consequences .
This expansion brings affordable fire safety solutions to the majority of Hong Kong's aging building stock, many of which lack management corporations or property management companies. With the subsidy scheme covering the IoT system, elderly and low-income building owners can now comply with fire safety requirements without facing financial hardship or legal consequences .