After the Hongfu Garden fire exposed the safety shortcomings of the building foundation, galvanized ground piles were included as core protective components in the Hong Kong building safety upgrade plan. This basic component treated with hot-dip galvanizing technology, with a protective barrier formed by a zinc layer, can not only resist corrosion in Hong Kong’s humid environment, with a service life of over 30 years, but also demonstrate excellent fire stability in the event of a fire – the zinc layer can block direct contact between flames and steel, delay heat conduction, and maintain structural integrity even in the face of high temperatures above 538 ℃, avoiding the risk of foundation collapse and exacerbating disasters. Its spiral design can effectively disperse gravity to the deep layers of the foundation, adapting to various types of soil such as sand and clay. In scenarios such as old building maintenance and scaffold fixation, it can be quickly installed with stable bearing capacity, making up for the shortcomings of traditional ground piles that are prone to corrosion and have poor fire resistance.

    The SAR government recently issued new regulations on building foundation safety, clarifying that from 2026 on wards, non combustible foundation components such as galvanized ground piles must be used for external wall maintenance and high-rise building reinforcement projects in Hong Kong. At the same time, all ground pile products are required to comply with the Geosspec 1 technical standard in Hong Kong, covering the entire process of material testing, installation acceptance, and long-term monitoring. To promote implementation, the Architectural Services Department has partnered with the Construction Industry Council to conduct training on galvanized ground pile construction skills, providing transformation subsidies for traditional ground pile practitioners. Several building materials companies have prepared national standard spot goods to meet the rapid adaptation needs of the market. Industry insiders have stated that although galvanized ground piles have a slightly higher initial cost, they can be reused and can reduce maintenance costs in the later stages. Combined with their core advantages in fire prevention and corrosion resistance, they will become an important guarantee for the safety of high-density urban buildings in Hong Kong. The government is also studying the “layer by layer construction of foundation engineering” model to further reduce fire risks.