Hong Kong industrial building fire safety

The Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 636) commenced on 19 June 2020 and provides a mechanism for improvements to certain industrial buildings. Official support material broadly identifies target buildings by construction on or before 1 March 1987, or first submission of plans on or before that date, subject to statutory definitions and exceptions.

A building now described as an industrial building, partly used for non-industrial purposes or occupied by different trades does not determine the legal position. Check building records and the actual Directions.

FSD and the Buildings Department may issue Directions within their respective areas to owners and/or occupiers. FSI work may involve alarms, hydrant and hose reel systems, exit signs, emergency lighting, ventilation shutdown or other specified systems. Building work may cover escape, fire resistance and rescue access.

Requirements, responsible parties, deadlines and evidence vary by building and location. A general online checklist cannot replace the Direction itself.

Common pipework, pumps, tanks, alarms, stairs and control equipment often cross title boundaries. The owners' corporation or management should maintain a master drawing, equipment list, directions register, responsibility matrix and works sequence.

Unit fit-outs, locked access, storage, partition changes or refusal of entry can prevent whole-building testing and work. Address these through formal notice, meetings and any necessary legal process, not an ad hoc decision to skip work.

Have an appropriate person assess immediate safety and interim precautions for a high-risk defect, then complete permanent work under an approved proposal. Extra patrols, a fire watch or notices do not by themselves comply with a Direction.

At completion, reconcile every Direction, drawing, test, certificate and authority confirmation. Routine maintenance and annual inspection continue afterwards.