Lift firm faces probe over missing fire door frames

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said on late Thursday it has referred a registered lift contractor to the police for possible fraud after inspections found that fire-resistant door frames were missing from 48 newly installed lifts at two public housing estates. The contractor, Taizoom Elevator Company (HK) Limited, carried out replacement works on 39 lifts at Pok Hong Estate in Sha Tin and nine lifts at Tsui Ping (North) Estate in Kwun Tong between February last year and July this year. Although the company submitted fire-resisting rating certificates for the doorsets, only the fire doors themselves had been installed – the corresponding door frame components were missing, the EMSD said. While the lifts can continue to operate safely, the absence of the door frame components is a non-compliance, the department said. It added that preliminary evidence suggests the company was guilty of serious negligence or misconduct, and that the case may involve criminal offences including fraud and making false statements. The EMSD said it has instructed Taizoom to install the missing components within a month at its own cost. Each lift will need to be suspended for one to two days, with work scheduled during non-peak hours to minimise disruption. The department...