Risk list planned to prevent construction catastrophes

Photo: SCANPIX

Estonia needs not fear repeat of Riga’s Maxima tragedy; no public buildings, here, are known to have been built pursuant to such projects.

To avoid a tragedy of the Riga Maxima kind, Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority (TSA) intends to check projects of all potentially risky buildings in the land. Who and if goes into «risk list», and on what basis, is yet to be decided.

For that, TSA needs help by local project bureaus, builders and civil engineers. «Obviously, we will not be able to check all public buildings, nor do we need to, as a very large part of these are absolutely safe,» TSA deputy director Kaur Kajak told Postimees.

To avoid waste of time, TSA needs to equip its partners with primary tasks to base the risk list upon. Therefore, at the end of yesterday’s working day, TSA held an extraordinary meeting, with participation of representatives from economy ministry, construction companies, engineers and institutions of higher education. 

As initially assessed by participants at the meeting, Estonia needs not fear repeat of Riga’s Maxima tragedy, as, to their knowledge, no buildings exist in our country with like constructions or project solutions.

Still, that would not mean Estonia is totally free from potentially hazardous public buildings – especially considering recent criticism by designers that customers prefer the so-called budget projects.

As claimed by economy ministry, designing and construction of crowded buildings in Estonia does substantially exceed Latvia’s level, as our requirements are stricter, with double checks in place to weed out possible building errors. For instance, it is required in Estonia that design projects undergo additional expert assessment by other licensed designers. Unlike in Latvia, public buildings in Estonia must also undergo expert assessment of construction – in the building permit phase. 

As stated by the ministry, it is difficult to forecast future steps as long as we do not know whether the Riga catastrophe was caused by design errors or mere human negligence.

As a possible reason for the collapse of the Maxima roof in Riga, poor quality of building materials has been mentioned. A version little less likely: the design of beams supporting the roof was slightly altered during the construction process, perhaps causing the collapse.

According to professor Jarek Kurnitski, director of building design institute at Tallinn University of Technology, alterations ought not to be dangerous when it comes to design projects. Provided, of course, the changes are made by experienced designers. 

«Use of overly cheap materials may become a problem. I know that, in this regard, many building companies have been under pressure by contacting entities, in Estonia as well,» said Mr Kurnitski.

As another source of danger, the professor named the low-cost budget project designs: «The kinds where certain nodes will just not be shown.» A telling example being the incident at the Solaris cinema, in Tallinn, where ceiling collapsed into an empty hall – due to poor fastenings. «There, the fastenings’ design had just been omitted; the builder put these in place as he saw fit.»

According to Mr Kurnitski, civil engineers are under pressure since the latest economic crisis, as contracting entities prefer the so-called budget projects. «We need to consider that these decisions may equal playing with human lives,» he stressed.

Rescuers finish searches in ruins

Last night, Latvian rescue workers finished working at the collapsed Maxima store, in Riga. During four days, 54 dead bodies were brought out, three being their own colleagues. In the collapse, 39 people were injured; 29 of these, including 11 rescue workers, were hospitalised.

According to rescue service, two areas previously unsearched were covered yesterday. After rescuers finished working, the ruins were checked with rescue dogs. 

Re&Re, the company that built the store, has confirmed its readiness to accept total responsibility, should they be proven guilty. Re&Re is cooperating with all administrative agencies involved, and has handed over project documentation.

Maxima employees: building had defects

Employees of Maxima store at Zolitūde micro-district, Riga, had long before detected faults in the building. 

Talking to TV channel TV 3, the employees recalled how, after last winter, builders working in the store told them that cracks had appeared in the foundation, urgently requiring to be supported, mediated TVNET.

Signalisation regularly went off in the building and only once, the employees recall, were buyers then directed to leave the store. Meanwhile, no one restricted new people from entering.

«All storage facilities were soaked, the staff dressing room was totally under water. In storage rooms, ceilings were fastened with supports, which later were removed. Life goes on – without these, we were told,» recalled the employees.

This fall, as earth started to be hoisted onto the roof, the black humour amongst the staff was: preparing the grave for us, aren’t they?