Substandard Steel Likely in Collapsed Thai Government Building

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has acknowledged suspicions that substandard steel may have contributed to the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building during last Friday's earthquake. Speaking on the progress of the ongoing investigation, she highlighted concerns over the steel used in the building's construction.

 

The Ministry of Industry has conducted tests on steel samples from the collapsed site, revealing two substandard types measuring 20mm and 32mm, both from the same source. In light of these findings, a meeting is planned to delve deeper into the investigation, either today or early next week.

 

Industry Minister Akanat Promphan announced further inspections, carried out with a government-appointed fact-finding committee. This includes collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Town Planning, as well as police, focusing on potential structural weaknesses suggested by the contractor's blueprints.

 

In addition to construction materials, the collapse has led to questions about the project’s budget and safety measures. Teerajchai Phunthumas of the People's Party stated that the Auditor-General will be called to explain the victim compensation process and the costly project budget.

 

 

 

The tragedy left 15 confirmed dead and many missing, prompting Mr. Teerajchai to also involve the Council of Engineers and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry. They will be tasked with clarifying the construction processes and procurement of materials used.

 

Originally approved in 2020 with a budget exceeding 2 billion baht, the SAO building was supposed to be completed by 2023 but was delayed by more than a year. The collapse has heightened public concerns over the structural integrity of government buildings, given the investment and alleged standards that should have been met.

 

As the investigation unfolds, officials aim to determine the exact causes and ensure accountability, as well as safeguard future projects from similar failures, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

 

[MikeandDow]

wonder what tests they plan to do??

 

[Ralf001]

Just now, MikeandDow said:

wonder what tests they plan to do??

 

Tensile, yield and elongation.

Possibly torsion and flexural as well.

I doubt any chemical testing.

[MikeandDow]

9 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Tensile, yield and elongation.

Possibly torsion and flexural as well.

I doubt any chemical testing.

would have to be chemical they need to check the boron level in the steel  yes think the standard Bend Test, sharpys, Elongation, wonder if they going to check concrete composition 

[MikeandDow]

 they really dont say what is wrong with the reo  steel not to spec, profile of the reo, depth ridges on the bar ?? 

[Mike_Hunt]

Are they referring to the rebar? 

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

would have to be chemical they need to check the boron level in the steel  yes think the standard Bend Test, sharpys, Elongation, wonder if they going to check concrete composition 

Can be done without chemical testing.

 

Thai German institute does ICP-MS.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, carlyai said:

Over the last years we have watched Gaza being bombed and the size of the steel in the rubble looked much thicker than this building rubble.

 

   I read that in the voice of Baldrick from Blackadder

[Gknrd]

Where did the steel come from?

[MikeandDow]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Can be done without chemical testing.

 

Thai German institute does ICP-MS.

oh forgot about Mass Spectrometry  wonder how far they are going,  the steel is just a part of this not the whole cause  its a big can of worms they have !! if the steel is not to spec you are also looking at the mill/heat cert being forged  that means where the billet was cast as well

[soi3eddie]

 

Reassuring that there are steel and concrete professionals in this forum. Maybe they could volunteer to assist the Thai government. No need for an investigation really. We have all seen the films of other Bangkok buildings (not built by Chinese Railway Company No. 10) swaying in the air that did not collapse or kill people. 

The collapsed building was clearly substandard and the constructor MUST be held to account - despite trying to remove documentary evidence from the death zone (as if any evidence was needed). How many Thai government workers will now not feel safe going to work in government offices!

[Ralf001]

35 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

oh forgot about Mass Spectrometry  wonder how far they are going,  the steel is just a part of this not the whole cause  its a big can of worms they have !! if the steel is not to spec you are also looking at the mill/heat cert being forged  that means where the billet was cast as well

yeah the mill cert is key.

[Ralf001]

16 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Reassuring that there are steel  professionals in this forum. Maybe they could volunteer to assist the Thai government. No need for an investigation really. We have all seen the films of other Bangkok buildings (not built by Chinese Railway Company No. 10) swaying in the air that did not collapse or kill people. 

The collapsed building was clearly substandard and the constructor MUST be held to account - despite trying to remove documentary evidence from the death zone (as if any evidence was needed). How many Thai government workers will now not feel safe going to work in government offices!

 

Not sure who you are alluding to but all steel we buy come with mill certs..... thats how it is done.

 

Maybe you should get a clue before posting your nonsense.

[MikeandDow]

43 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Reassuring that there are steel and concrete professionals in this forum. Maybe they could volunteer to assist the Thai government. No need for an investigation really. We have all seen the films of other Bangkok buildings (not built by Chinese Railway Company No. 10) swaying in the air that did not collapse or kill people. 

The collapsed building was clearly substandard and the constructor MUST be held to account - despite trying to remove documentary evidence from the death zone (as if any evidence was needed). How many Thai government workers will now not feel safe going to work in government offices!

And so should the workers not feel safe !! it is not only the constructor to be held account but also the goverment to allow a  corrupt contractor to build theses project,  where was the goverments due dillagance in allowing this contract who had never build a tower outside of china before, was there any goverment checks NO !  who approved the design the goverment they must have know that this type of design was not recommend as quake proof 

how do you prosecute an international company without evidence  

i agree with the above poster you need to get a clue before posting this nonsence  

[MikeandDow]

58 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

yeah the mill cert is key.

If the mill/heat cert is forged  god knows whats in it!!   big big can of worms,  where is all that steel  gone  it could be in pipe plate  ect   you are looking at 400 tonnes up  in a Basic oxygen furnaces,

[Nick Carter icp]

This probably isn't the first time that they've used substandard materials 

Wonder how many other buildings had substandard materials used ?

[Patong2021]

If the government shows that the materials used were substandard and intentionally selected, then some people are going to get hit with a  very large financial obligation.

 

There was a Course of Construction property insurance policy in place. It was reportedly a prorata participation placement of Dhipaya Insurance (40%), Bangkok Insurance (25%), Indara Insurance (25%) and Viriyah Insurance (10%) and subject to a  policy limit of Baht 2.24 billion.

 

Insurance policies are subject to some basic conditions and local law that excludes coverage for intentional criminal activity. You cannot intentionally burn down your home and then expect to be compensated by the insurer.

 

If the investigation shows that the  project owners intentionally used  substandard materials  that violated the specs and building codes they may have their claim denied. Property damage arising from Intentional  wronfgul acts,  or Negligence is usually excluded in a policy contract. This would in turn initiate a claim of negligence against the engineering and architecture firms for a failure to supervise. 

 

Good luck in having reinsurers agree to pay until the issues are settled.

This could take years to settle.

[liddelljohn]

A lot of Chinese steel for construction and marine use is very poor quality  ,  crystalline  and brittle  ,, I have seen the results  when cranes , ships frames , barges and structures  snap without warning   ,,,on examination the breaks are always crystalline  , and look like quartz  ,

Saw a Chinese made 2200 SWl   crane with a 80m boom snap  lifting a jacket offshore in 2009   , the load was only 1170 tons   but the boom snapped  and all the boom and cables and load fell on the deck of the vessel, Lucky No one was killed ,,,

Coming out of Labuan in 2012 on a  Chines built  ship ship there was a bad sound like thunder ,,, and 5 frames  had bent and snapped in normal weather not a Typhoon , ships pumps stopped the flooding   and the job was cancelled  ship went into Singapore for repairs  but it was riddled with crap steel.

 

Was in Denmark in 2015  on a British registered Chinese  builts off shore vessel doing ROV cable surveys   that the Danes  condemned  as structurally Unsafe , it was only 6 years old ,,, It was banned in all EU waters  but was deemed safe for UK waters  , it was a heap of junk ........

 

[SunnyinBangrak]

4 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

oh forgot about Mass Spectrometry  wonder how far they are going,  the steel is just a part of this not the whole cause  its a big can of worms they have !! if the steel is not to spec you are also looking at the mill/heat cert being forged  that means where the billet was cast as well

I'm guessing the cement will not be scrutinized. For obvious reasons, unless it wasn't from Siam Cement. Probably why all the talk is of substandard rebar and design issues.

[MikeandDow]

6 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I'm guessing the cement will not be scrutinized. For obvious reasons, unless it wasn't from Siam Cement. Probably why all the talk is of substandard rebar and design issues.

They say ( the goverment ) are checking everything   they should be checking the cement content  and the concrete, I dont think they know how big of a can of worms they have opened, if the mill/heat certs have been forged this can effect other countrys who have bought the steel as well