Report Bangkok Building Collapse Blamed on Design Flaws, Says PM

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I believe the notion that the original building design was flawed and/or the actual construction of the building didn't follow what the original design called for.

 

However, I DON'T believe that all the prior, pretty substantial reporting and testing of the construction materials that found substandard steel and substandard concrete being used was somehow all totally in error. As i recall, some of those findings were made based on testing done and publicly reported by Thai government entities, among others.

 

Especially given that the latest news reporting here and the PM's comments don't give any explanation at all of what happened with the prior public reporting of substandard construction materials being used.

 

Thai police general heading the investigation, BKK Post, June 9:

 

"We have evidence of forged engineering signatures, substandard materials and violations of basic safety standards.

 

The cement and steel used, to give one example, didn't meet the specifications outlined in the contract's terms of reference." [emphasis added]

...

There are clearly three core failures: design, supervision and construction materials. All contributed to the building's collapse and the resulting deaths."
 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3045011/suspect-list-grows-as-state-audit-office-building-probe-widens

 

 

[Photoguy21]

Poor material and poor construction would more likely be the case. Designs have to be approved prior to construction starting. If the drawings were wrong, which I don't really believe, then the approvers (usually more than one has to approve a construction drawing), then those that approved them are also guilty.

[MikeandDow]

There was several factors that brought down  this building  but they have not mention the main cause   CORRUPTION !! 

[RocketDog]

20 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Don't want to upset the Chinese masters about their inferior steel reinforcement what a joke

 

You hit the nail directly on the now-buried head.

 

I'm prepared to believe the design was poor and/or poorly implemented but have absolutely no doubt that some of the materials were sub-standard as well.

 

I've bought enough Chinese products here (as if I had any practical choice) to know how they roll.

[ignore it]

2 hours ago, Negita43 said:

A "week" shaft god that's a long time

A gift from God.

[TheFishman1]

Marvelous they discovered building flaw I guess when you have Chinese building stuff and passing our brown envelope so they don’t get it inspected it is business as usual TIT

[Negita43]

4 hours ago, ignore it said:

A gift from God.

Are you really?

 

[jojothai]

12 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Let's not forget another warehouse collapse in Chonburi, using same sub-standard steel, from factory that was shut down for producing substandard steel. Is this just to redirect attention from the high speed train link to China also using same steel?

How do you know there was substandard steel used at the Project?
Where were the test results published? Do not confuse rumour or suspected issues with fact.
The article clearly states "Contrary to earlier reports suggesting substandard materials, the study confirmed that the steel and concrete used met necessary standards. "
what knowledge do you have of the high speed train project to make any statements that the same "substandard steel" was used?
I know for a fact that the reinforcing steel for the thai high speed rail contract by the same construction company was tested and all found to be within standards. Samples were taken and tested very shortly after the collapse.
Credit to the Thai companies who acted quickly to alleviate any concerns.
Unless you have facts, do not create fiction out of something you do not know.

[still kicking]

8 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

There is a bridge in Brooklyn for sale for all those who believe this crap.

Not on Rama2, I hope.

[jojothai]

8 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Thai police general heading the investigation, BKK Post, June 9:

 

"We have evidence of forged engineering signatures, substandard materials and violations of basic safety standards.

 

The cement and steel used, to give one example, didn't meet the specifications outlined in the contract's terms of reference." [emphasis added]

...

The article states "highlighting that the disaster was not due to material quality."
I am not criticising your opinion contradicting that, but would be grateful to know what information or test results you have to know whether the materials were ok or not?
So this Pol Maj Gen understood the specifications and had the results? Or was stating an opinion on steel reinforcing rumours without the facts. How do you know.
I personally think the fault was in design or not being constructed in accordance with requirements, or a combination of both. 
One of the videos shows clearly that the "concrete" in the bottom columns failed in shear well above the base which indicates something that should not be expected due to substandard reinforcing. IMHO, the reinforcing should have failed not the concrete and thats not what I see on the video.
I am a chartered civil engineer and have done enough designs to seismic codes to have an opinion.
I also know that steel reinforcing from the same contractor JV used on a high speed rail contract was sampled and tested independently within a number of days and found to meet standards.
The concrete would have been from a Thai ready mix plant and records are all well documented as in any western country. So it would take a lot of effort to falsify them.
I do not see any reason for the authorities to lie about the standard of materials, as being implied by some people. This may be Thailand, but testing records after the incident would have to be falsified, and i do not see people taking that risk when this is such a prominent case.
This has yet to go to court for trials of the individuals and we may (or may not ) find out more then.

 

[tomazbodner]

11 hours ago, jojothai said:

How do you know there was substandard steel used at the Project?
Where were the test results published? Do not confuse rumour or suspected issues with fact.
The article clearly states "Contrary to earlier reports suggesting substandard materials, the study confirmed that the steel and concrete used met necessary standards. "
what knowledge do you have of the high speed train project to make any statements that the same "substandard steel" was used?
I know for a fact that the reinforcing steel for the thai high speed rail contract by the same construction company was tested and all found to be within standards. Samples were taken and tested very shortly after the collapse.
Credit to the Thai companies who acted quickly to alleviate any concerns.
Unless you have facts, do not create fiction out of something you do not know.

First of all, sorry for late response. Didn't realise that I didn't click Submit button yesterday when this was written.

 

As you likely would know (I am just reading post above this one), the same steel can be suitable for one purpose but not another. SKY steel was unsuitable to use for a high rise building, according to several experts, some quoted in links below. If I recall correctly it was the outdated process manufacturing the steel that made it hard on the outside but too soft on the inside. I don't remember the name of that process, but you could probably fill in here.

 

The rest that was written yesterday:

I've had some links in history that were republishing of articles and no longer work (originals are/were behind paywall) so I can't show all, but here are some of those that cover tests on materials removed from SAO building construction site after results were known, and that's in contrast to the claim of the cover article in this thread that the concrete met all necessary standards. There are also articles about the collapse of the warehouse in Amata, and photos of the same type of SKY rebars, with logos clearly visible. And finally the articles about the company producing steel with outdated process that's even no longer used in China, and making steel substandard for high rise construction being shut down last year by Thai government for variety of violations.

 

I wanted to add a Khaosod article of why the truth will be suppressed and facts manipulated to make a certain chicken-shaped country look good, but that's an opinion piece and speculation, so I decided not to. It specifically pointed to positive spin to alleviate any concerns on other projects by the same players.

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/steel-samples-fail-tests-after-building-collapse-in-thailand

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2992846/substandard-steel-used-in-collapsed-bangkok-tower

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3027775/saos-steel-brand-found-at-collapsed-factory-in-chon-buri

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-says-collapsed-bangkok-tower-used-substandard-steel

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40050096

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40048642

https://thai.news/news/thailand/sky-steel-ltd-scandal-safety-breach-sparks-nationwide-investigation-in-thailand-2025

https://www.business-humanrights.org/pt/latest-news/thailand-steel-samples-from-collapsed-skyscraper-may-indicate-use-of-substandard-materials-industry-group-says/

https://www.worldconstructionnetwork.com/news/substandard-steel-under-construction-tower-collapse/?cf-view

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-01/collapsed-bangkok-skyscraper-used-substandard-steel-bars-probe-finds

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40048278

 

[ignore it]

13 hours ago, Negita43 said:

Are you really?

 

week v weak

God v god

 

 

 

[jojothai]

2 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

As you likely would know (I am just reading post above this one), the same steel can be suitable for one purpose but not another. SKY steel was unsuitable to use for a high rise building.

 

I wanted to add a Khaosod article of why the truth will be suppressed and facts manipulated.

 

Thanks and your points are understood.

It was stated that they used SD reinforcing which is supposed to be better for seismic resistance. The design would have identified what type, and designs are checked by an independent registered professional engineer

Steel and concrete testing records are not easy to falsify. It would be very deliberate, and easy to find out by later testing. Wrong type or grade could have been used, but then thats not substandard material, its using incorrect material.

I expect that people here will be aware that the truth may not be told.

However its no reason to post what could be seen as slanderous comments concerning the issue.

Posters should be careful what they post so that they do not break any applicable laws.

They should be aware of what can happen if you post criticism on social media, as a particular example what has happened concerning restaurants that has been well publicised.

[jojothai]

22 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Poor material and poor construction would more likely be the case. Designs have to be approved prior to construction starting. If the drawings were wrong, which I don't really believe, then the approvers (usually more than one has to approve a construction drawing), then those that approved them are also guilty.

You are correct concerning the designs.

Here, in all my experience the designs are required to checked by an independent registered engineer.

Reason for posting is to add that the construction drawings have to checked and approved by the supervising engineer for compliance with the design.

So, the supervising engineer has to be potentially accountable, as well as the design approver.

The supervising engineer also has a responsibility for checking / verifying quality of materials.

[newnative]

I still think it's the trifecta--poor materials, inferior design, and bad construction.  

[VocalNeal]

On 7/1/2025 at 8:32 AM, hotchilli said:

After a testing agency have already said the re-bar was of sub-standard quality...

 

If the requisite per design  re-bar was actually installed?

[metisdead]

A post with defamatory comments and a reply has been removed:

 

7. You will not post defamatory or libelous comments. Defamation is the issuance of a statement about another person or business which causes that person or business to suffer harm or loss. A statement does not have to be false to be defamatory. Libel is when the defamatory statement is published either as a drawing, picture, painting, motion picture, film, or letters made visible by any means or by broadcasting, dissemination or propagation by any other means. Defamation is both a civil and criminal charge in Thailand and elsewhere in ASEAN.