On October 16, 2026, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of Hong Kong announced the discovery of 48 elevators at two residential estates that were missing fire-rated landing door frame components after being installed by contractor Taizoom Elevator under a replacement project.
Hong Kong authorities suspect the company showed signs of serious negligence, made false declarations, and may have committed criminal violations.
Taizoom Elevator must rectify all violations within one month and also faces investigation.
Specifically, the EMSD conducted surprise inspections and found numerous serious deficiencies in the elevator replacement project at Tsui Ping Estate in Kwun Tong District and Pok Hong Estate in Sha Tin District.
The violations were found in the fire-rated door assemblies of the elevators. According to the EMSD, contractor Taizoom submitted fire resistance certification for the door assemblies, including the door frame components. However, in reality, only the fire-rated door leaves were installed as required, while the corresponding door frame components were missing.
Despite the incomplete installation, Taizoom still declared the work as completed.
The EMSD assessed the absence of these components as a serious construction defect that violates current regulations.
At the same time, the EMSD stated that it does not rule out the possibility of criminal conduct related to fraud and the provision of false information, and has referred the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for further investigation.
Professor Ho Wing Yip of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University said these components are used to connect the wall to the fire-rated elevator doors, preventing fire and smoke from passing through gaps into the elevator car and shaft in the event of a fire.
According to him, the absence of these components reduces fire containment capability. Although it does not directly cause danger, the deficiency still creates fire safety risks for the building.
He acknowledged that the contractor had made efforts to accept responsibility and committed to completing the replacement within one month, but stressed that such negligence during installation remains unacceptable.
Despite discovering the missing fire-rated door frame components, authorities affirmed that the affected elevators remain safe during normal operation.
The department has required Taizoom to review all elevators at the two estates, promptly install the missing components, and bear all rectification costs. The work is expected to be implemented soon and completed within one month.
At the same time, the EMSD will inspect all elevators installed by Taizoom in Hong Kong within three days, focusing on cross-checking fire resistance certification and inspecting door frame components.
Other contractors must also inspect the elevators they installed and report the results within one month. The EMSD will conduct random checks for verification.
At the same time, the EMSD is conducting a comprehensive review of elevator management and supervision activities, from installation and modernization to inspection, maintenance, and approval. The review is expected to be completed in 2026; any deficiencies found must be addressed immediately.
