Buildings Department Mandates Phased Repairs for Multi-Building Maintenance Projects
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Buildings Department has issued a circular requiring that future large-scale maintenance projects involving multiple buildings must carry out exterior wall repairs in phases. The directive also mandates that building professionals and contractors ensure all stairwell and elevator lobby windows remain properly closed during maintenance work. The Housing Bureau submitted documents to the Legislative Council Housing Affairs Committee highlighting that some older buildings still retain openable windows in these areas, recommending temporary warning measures and a long-term review of replacing them with sealed fire-resistant windows.
Key Points
- The Buildings Department Commissioner issued the circular last Thursday, requiring phased exterior wall repairs for projects involving multiple buildings
- Building professionals and contractors must ensure stairwell and elevator lobby windows are closed during large-scale maintenance
- The Housing Bureau recommended temporary warning regulations to ensure windows stay closed, with long-term review of using sealed fire-resistant windows
- The Independent Checking Unit has inspected 29 buildings across 5 Home Ownership Scheme estates and Tenants Purchase Scheme estates since December 2025
- By September 2026, the unit conducted 316 inspections including 277 scaffold checks and 39 spot checks, issuing 24 corrective warnings
Why It Matters
These new requirements address fire safety concerns in older Hong Kong buildings during maintenance work. The phased approach prevents situations where multiple buildings simultaneously have open scaffold access, reducing risks of fire spread and unauthorized entry. With the Independent Checking Unit actively enforcing these standards across 29 buildings and issuing corrective warnings, the policy demonstrates the government's commitment to improving building safety in aging residential estates .
These new requirements address fire safety concerns in older Hong Kong buildings during maintenance work. The phased approach prevents situations where multiple buildings simultaneously have open scaffold access, reducing risks of fire spread and unauthorized entry. With the Independent Checking Unit actively enforcing these standards across 29 buildings and issuing corrective warnings, the policy demonstrates the government's commitment to improving building safety in aging residential estates .