ISLAMABAD: Sub-standard construction material was not only used in the 4-storey building in Sunder Industrial Estate in Lahore that had claimed 50 lives, but also the building was found erected in violation of the approved designs, reveals the enquiry report that Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) completed into the colossal loss of human lives that took place in the wake of collapse of the badly constructed building.
According to the enquiry report available with The News, the PEC has also declared the Building Control Department (BCD), Sundar Estate and Tahir Associates and VIP Associates, responsible for the collapse of 4-storey building that was constructed with substandard material.
The first two stories were built in 2012, third floor in June 2015 and fourth one constructed in October 2015.
The approval to construct the building was given by Building Control Department, Sundar Estate and the certificate about the structural strength of first two floors was given by Tahir Associates whereas VIP Associates issued the certificate confirming that third and fourth stories are up to the mark knowing the fact that substandard material was used with faulty structural frame.
It highlighted mentioning that the collapse initiated by the failure of end columns due to high slenderness ratio as the end column became slender due to non-provision of periphery beams.
And on top of that the additional two stories and load of machines had developed unbalanced moments in periphery columns which triggered the collapse.
The report also disclosed that the concrete used was not well graded having large aggregate size owing to which the building became prone to collapse.
It also mentions that the nearby residents and workers also witnessed cracks in the building that developed after the earthquake that hit Pakistan in 2015.
Dwelling upon the improper seismic detailing of reinforcement, the report also says that OMRF (Ordinary Moment Resisting Frame) construction was followed instead of IMRF (Intermediate Moment Resisting Frame) for Seismic zone of Lahore (2A) as per BCP (Building Code of Pakistan) Seismic provisions – 2007.
The enquiry report of PEC also mentions that the permission of construction was given in the absence of approved structural design.
It unfolds that poor quality and low strength construction materials were used, which had inadequate capacity to bear extra load.
The capacity of structure pillars (members) was inadequate to bear the loads of additional 3rd and 4th stories. It was also found that the capacity of structure members was inadequate to bear the load & vibrating loads. So much so the capacity of structure members was inadequate for Earthquake Zone 2A.
The PEC has recommended that the construction should only be allowed after approval of architecture design by approved architect or consultant of industrial estates saying that the critical stages of construction must be supervised by the approved engineering agency that include i) Footing ii) Beam and iii) Column. The PEC also recommended that every construction site must be supervised by PEC registered Professional Engineer.