The Hsinchu City Fire Department recently released the investigation results of the Clear Sky Hui building fire. This major fire, which occurred on May 26, 2024, not only resulted in the tragic deaths of two firefighters but also sounded an alarm for building fire safety in Taiwan, particularly highlighting the importance of fire stopping engineering.

Cause of Fire and Spread Process

According to the fire department’s investigation, the fire originated in the pipe shaft on the west side of the first floor of Building D, likely caused by an electrical wiring short circuit. More concerningly, the investigation found that many penetrations were not properly fire-stopped, rendering fire compartments ineffective. This allowed dense smoke to escape through horizontal penetrations and rapidly spread to residential units through pipe shafts, greatly increasing the fire’s danger.

The Critical Role of Fire Stopping

This incident reveals the crucial role of fire stopping in building safety. Fire stopping is an important passive fire protection measure designed to prevent fire from spreading through gaps and openings in buildings. It includes various types such as penetration fire stopping, joint fire stopping, and perimeter fire stopping. An effective fire stopping system not only delays fire spread but also creates a safer environment for evacuation and firefighter rescue operations.

Challenges Facing Fire Stopping Engineering in Taiwan

However, fire stopping engineering in Taiwan currently faces many challenges:

1. Inadequate matching between CNS test methods and actual on-site conditions
2. Lack of professional design supervisors for quality control
3. Construction workers unfamiliar with certified methods
4. Inconsistent method selection and varying construction quality
5. Inability to solve on-site problems promptly
6. Some contractors may choose substandard materials or simplify construction procedures

These issues directly affect the effectiveness of fire stopping engineering, increasing building fire risks.

Learning from International Standards, Proposing Improvement Plans

Facing these challenges, we can learn from international standards such as UL QFCP and FM4991. These standards emphasize the importance of design supervisors, whose core responsibilities include maintaining quality management systems, maintaining technical expertise, and continuing education.

Based on the above analysis, we propose the following improvement measures:

1. Introduce a professional design supervisor system: Appoint fire stopping design supervisors with UL/FM certification to select and configure CNS test methods based on on-site openings, and provide training and guidance for construction workers.
2. Provide engineering judgment drawings: For situations beyond the scope of CNS test methods, fire stopping material manufacturers should provide engineering judgment drawings based on CNS or UL/FM tests as a basis for on-site construction.
3. Establish a third-party fire stopping inspection service mechanism: Commission third-party agencies certified to ISO17020 standards to conduct inspections and issue internationally recognized inspection reports.
4. Form a closed-loop management system: Create a complete quality management cycle from the design stage, with design supervisors developing construction plans, through standardized construction, third-party verification, problem correction, final acceptance, to periodic reviews.

Subsequent Actions by Government and Industry

The Ministry of the Interior has instructed the National Land Agency and the National Fire Agency to propose strategies for strengthening building management and disaster prevention, and has required local governments to inspect buildings with 16 or more floors in their jurisdictions. Central and local authorities will conduct joint fire and public safety inspections of high-rise buildings within one month.The Hsinchu City Government has stated that it has requested the construction company to provide rules for the use of pipeline materials and factory certificates, and has invited relevant units to conduct joint inspections to clarify whether the cable type and cable tray system construction methods comply with regulations.

Conclusion

By implementing these improvement measures, the quality of fire stopping engineering in Taiwan can be significantly enhanced. This will not only ensure that the value of CNS testing is fully realized in actual engineering but will also promote the professionalization and standardization of the fire stopping industry. Ultimately, these efforts will provide stronger safeguards for building safety in Taiwan, effectively reducing the risk of tragedies similar to the Hsinchu Clear Sky Hui fire from occurring again.In the face of increasingly complex building environments and rising safety requirements, improving the quality of fire stopping engineering is not just a technical issue but a crucial matter of life safety. We look forward to the joint efforts of government, industry, and professional organizations to establish a safer and more reliable building environment, providing solid protection for Taiwan’s urban development and public safety.