On November 26, 2025, a level-5 fire at Hung Fook Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, shocked the city, claiming 44 lives, including a heroic firefighter, while dozens were injured and hundreds went missing.

Official investigations confirmed that flammable expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels used to cover windows during repairs melted and dripped when the fire broke out, releasing highly toxic black smoke and becoming a deadly conduit for the flames to enter the buildings. At the same time, experts pointed out that the walls of this old housing estate, completed in 1983, which already had only traditional cement mortar plaster and virtually no insulation, were severely deteriorated, becoming unbearably hot in summer and covered in condensation and mold in winter.

Following the incident, the Hong Kong Labour Department, Buildings Department, and Fire Services Department launched a large-scale surprise inspection of all exterior wall repair works across Hong Kong, focusing on the fire resistance of scaffolding netting, protective film, and temporary window protection materials. Any construction site using EPS panels was required to immediately rectify the situation and replace them with fire-retardant/non-combustible materials that meet BS 476 or higher fire resistance standards.

Glass wool and rock wool are becoming the preferred choice for homeowners and contractors.

Temporary protection: 20-30mm aluminum foil-faced glass wool boards are lightweight, quick to install, and offer comparable protection against gravel and water damage to expanded polystyrene boards, while achieving "zero combustion and zero toxic fumes" even in the event of welding sparks.

Permanent insulation: 100-150mm thick rock wool/glass wool external insulation systems can reduce the thermal conductivity of older buildings like Hung Fook Estate from 0.8-1.2 W/m·K to approximately 0.035, lowering indoor temperatures by 5-7°C in summer, saving more than half on air conditioning costs, while maintaining an A1 non-combustible fire rating.

As thousands of housing estates built in Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s enter a new round of major exterior wall renovations, glass wool and rock wool are facing an unprecedented replacement wave.

May the departed rest in peace, and may the living be mindful.

The loss of 44 precious lives and the devastation of 44 families serve as a stark reminder: there are no "never again" when it comes to safety, and no "good enough" approach to fire prevention.

Choosing glass wool or rock wool is not just about compliance; it's about respecting and protecting the lives of every resident.

Let us work together to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Our deepest condolences to the victims of the fire at Hung Fuk Court, Tai Po, Hong Kong.