FIRE SAFETY CONCERNS ON EXISTING SUPERTALL BUILDINGS AND PROPOSED UPGRADING IN HONG KONG

Many supertall buildings of height over 300 m were constructed all over the world in the past decades. However, very few researches reported on fire safety for such supertall constructions. Several big postflashover fires had occurred in tall buildings. Consequently, there are new challenges that fire safety provisions for existing supertall buildings are insufficient. For example, total evacuation took over 2 hours as experienced before without using elevators. Occupants do not like to stay at the refuge floors waiting for rescue after the quick collapse of World Trade Centre in 2001. There are difficulties in setting up firefighting ladders in downtown area as experienced in the Garley Building Fire. Fire safety concerns in supertall buildings in Hong Kong were surveyed and reported in this paper. Upgrading works were proposed to enhance fire safety for existing supertall buildings. An effective fire detection system would satisfy better the life safety objective and response in firefighting. More reliable fire detection systems should be installed.