Property Management Services Authority Issues “Handling Fire Safety Work” Code of Conduct

The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) announced today that the Code of Conduct entitled “Handling Fire Safety Work” to be issued pursuant to Section 5(1) of the Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) would be gazetted within this month. The respective Best Practice Guide has also been prepared. The Code and Guide provide practical guidance for licensed property management companies (PMCs) and property management practitioners (PMPs) on fire safety in respect of fire service installations, equipment and structural components in common parts of property, as well as the storage of dangerous goods in property.

Dr James Wong, Chairperson of the PMSA said, “Fire service installations and equipment of a building are for use by firefighters when there is fire incident. Members of the public can also use them for fighting fire if the condition permits and safety is observed. Therefore, fire service installations and equipment have to be maintained properly, such that they could effectively prevent fire and smoke from spreading within building, thus safeguarding occupants’ lives and properties. In addition, there should not be excessive or inappropriate storage of dangerous goods in common parts of property thus threatening fire safety. The PMSA appeals for licensed PMCs and PMPs to act in accordance with the guidelines stipulated in the Code and Guide, and help remind and assist owners of properties where they provide property management (PM) services to properly manage and maintain fire service equipment in common parts of the property, so as to prevent casualties and/or property loss in case of fire.”

Chairperson Wong added, “An owner of a property co-owns with other owners the common parts and facilities of the property, including the fire service equipment. Therefore, owners have duty to properly manage and maintain the fire service equipment in the common parts of the property so as to ensure fire safety.”

Chairperson Wong emphasised, “It is evident in recent major fire incidents causing injuries and casualties that buildings have to strengthen fire service installations and equipment as well as their repair and maintenance. They must also comply strictly with the requirements of the Fire Services Ordinance. The PMSA aims that the Code and Guide formulated will drive the PM industry to assist owners of properties which they manage to pay attention to and strengthen the concerned work.”

The PMSA has formulated the Code of Conduct and the respective Best Practice Guide with reference to relevant legislation and codes, including the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95), the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations (Cap. 95B), the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation (Cap. 95F), the Code of Practice on Building Management and Safety issued by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, and the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment issued by the Director of Fire Services, and in consultation with the PM industry, recognised professional bodies, owners’ organisations, the Home Affairs Department, the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department, etc., and has appropriately reflected the feedback received from the consultation in the Code and Guide.

The PMSA is concerned about building fire safety. In addition to formulating the Code and Guide, the PMSA had also organised a continuing professional development (CPD) webinar for the PM industry last August and invited representative from the Fire Services Department as guest speaker to share with the industry on fire equipment legislation and how PM staff could enhance building fire safety work. The full version of the webinar has been uploaded to the PMSA website (https://www.pmsa.org.hk/tc/blogs/pmsa_20231011). PMPs who have watched the video material will earn recognised CPD hours under the CPD Scheme of the PMSA.

Besides the aforementioned Code and Guide, the PMSA has already issued a total of 21 Codes of Conduct and their relevant Best Practice Guides regarding various other PM aspects, including “General Code of Conduct”, “Complaint Handling Mechanism of Property Management Companies”, “Effective Control over Property Management Business by Property Management Companies”, “Handling Moneys Received on behalf of Clients by Property Management Companies”, “Obligations of Property Management Companies regarding the Ending of their Appointment”, “Prevention of Corruption”, “Prescribed Conditions on Licences”, “Protection on Personal Data”, “Handling Payment for or Arranging Payment to be Made by Clients”, “Provision of Prescribed Information and Financial Documents to Clients” , “Carrying out Procurement for Clients and Prevention of Bid-rigging”, “Handling Emergencies”, “Handling Scaffolding Works”, “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works”, “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services”, “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management”, “Distribution and Display of Promotional Material”, “Tree Management Work”, “Obligations of Property Management Company under the Building Management Ordinance”, “Handling Building Works” and “Handling Instrument of Appointing a Proxy”.

  The above Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides can be downloaded from the PMSA webpage: https://www.pmsa.org.hk/en/regulatory-framework/codes-of-conduct

​​​​​​​The PMSA will continue to issue other Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides timely, covering different PM areas in order to provide guidance to the industry, including but not limited to the following: