Metal shelves have more advantages compared to bamboo shelves? Former Hong Kong Polytechnic University professor: multiple factors combined lead to tragedy.

Recently, a massive fire in Hong Kong's Hong Fu Court has sparked deep concerns in society regarding building safety. A reporter interviewed Zhou Yunji, a special consultant and chief professor of aviation safety at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China, and retired professor of building science and fire engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, to analyze the logic of fire spread and the challenges of investigation from a professional perspective. In response to the government's identification of the issue of "inadequate fire-retardant netting", Professor Zhou pointed out that the design of fire-retardant netting is primarily for small fires and may have limited effectiveness against large fires. Through on-site imagery and analysis of fire dynamics, he speculated that the fire likely rapidly spread through three stages: "combustible material accumulation upward flame formation due to air suction horizontal wind assistance", and particularly highlighted the difference in this "horizontal spread" from the common vertical spread pattern. Regarding the safety controversy between bamboo and metal scaffolding, Professor Zhou stated that their differences in extreme fires are limited: bamboo, although flammable, can often retain its load-bearing structure, while metal can soften and deform under high temperatures. Both need to be evaluated as part of a comprehensive building safety plan. In the face of the heavy casualties, he emphasized that fire prevention and control is a "systematic engineering" project property management, owners, tenants, and construction units must cooperate to build a security system, and the long-term cultivation of a safety culture is essential. Fire investigation faces challenges due to severe burning at the scene, and a complete report will take a considerable amount of time.