In the US there are complex, well-designed building and fire codes promulgated by individual cities in accordance with national and international codes. For instance, in New York City, the building codes require that anywhere there are flammable materials in tall buildings, automatic sprinkler systems must be installed, but in China sprinkler systems seem to be a rarity outside of office buildings.

Also, most US cities require buildings to have easily-accessible fire extinguishers on every floor. While most of the offices I have been in have them, most of the apartments I have seen do not. Fire extinguishers make the difference between a single room being destroyed versus a whole floor or even a whole building.

Another key feature of an effective building and fire code is the provision of escape routes. The Shanghai fire demonstrated the tragic consequences of ignoring this, as residents were trapped inside and some were forced to cling to the scaffolding, while others jumped to their deaths.

While China is constantly updating and improving its building and fire codes on both the national and local level, enforcement remains uneven and lax. Without effective enforcement and accountability, all the laws and regulations in the world mean nothing. In major US cities, all large buildings are required to have personnel responsible for fire safety who conduct drills and ensure things are up to code. And city officials regularly conduct inspections to keep buildings in compliance.

In China, enforcement is problematic due to the large population, but that does not mean it is impossible. A large population also means a lot of manpower. The government could mandate that all apartment buildings have volunteers in charge of fire safety on each floor. They could be induced to accept the responsibility in return for breaks on rent or tax incentives.

And although China is attempting to ensure all new buildings are up to code, there remain thousands upon thousands of older buildings like the one in Shanghai, built in the 1990s, that still need to be retrofitted. This too is tricky because it means added costs for land owners, which in turn means driving rents even higher than they are.

But at the same time, if the government were to mandate safety renovations, it would be a boon for the labor-intensive construction industry, which fits with China's current economic mode.

The fire in Shanghai was a warning beacon. As China transforms into a high-rise nation, these buildings and the millions who live in them are at risk unless drastic action is taken.

The author is an editor at People's Daily Online English edition and a freelance journalist from the US. [email protected]