Regular inspection of buildings with construction age of 15 or more is the need of the hour.
From the major cities in India, Mumbai has been witnessing the maximum cases of structural collapses. During 2010 and 2015, there have been approximately 13,470 incidents of structural collapse in the country, and Mumbai alone accounted for 1,366 of these. This amounts to over 10% of the total incidents. The collapse of buildings, specifically old constructions, has been continuously increasing in recent years.
ANAROCK Property Consultants, which is a real estate services firm, in its report released on Monday said that many collapses happened due to negligence of residents living in these old constructions.
Most of the times, these old buildings are left dilapidated and never refurbished, even where residents had noticed severe cracks beginning to appear in the building. Because no actions were taken despite warnings, the buildings eventually collapsed. The life span of any building depends on many factors, including quality of building materials, external weather conditions, structural design and age of the structure.
The report comes close on the heels of crash of the 117-year-old five storey Hussaini building in Bhendi Bazar last week killing 33 people and injuring 14 others.
According to the report, over the last few years, there have been continuous incidents of collapsing old constructions in India. As per data shared by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), more than 14,000 people have died from 2010 to 2015 due to dilapidated building collapses. At an average, 2,700 people lose their lives in different structural breakdowns every year.
The age of construction is one the most crucial factors related to a building stability. Over time, construction materials deteriorate; old buildings are always at greater risk because of deteriorated building materials like mud mortar and galvanised pipe plumbing systems.
ANAROCK Property Consultants chairman Anuj Puri observed that buildings approaching a construction age of 15 years or more should be regularly inspected, repaired and, if needed, redeveloped. "Since checking all aspects of construction may not be possible for individual residents, the services of an independent auditor must be employed. This can provide a primary line of defence against building collapses. Some initiatives are already being promoted by the Planning Commission in India to ensure continuous quality certifications and audits via entities such as Durocrete Construction Quality Rating Agency and the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC),’’ he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "building collapse")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}