Does Thailand Really Deserve To Succeed?

[midas]

This is in todays Bangkok Post :-

No pubs inspected in year since law took effect

BSA: Entertainment venues not on list

By: KANANA KATHARANGSIPORN

Published: 8/01/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Business

Not one pub or entertainment venue in Bangkok has been inspected for compliance with building safety codes since new inspection requirements took effect on Dec 29, 2007.

This is despite the fact that entertainment venues are among the nine types of buildings subject to mandatory inspection by Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) officials.

Safety concerns about nightspots have risen to the fore since the New Year's Eve blaze that killed 64 people at the Santika club in Bangkok.

Chollachai Thammaviwatnukoon, president of the Building Safety Inspectors and Officers Association (BSA), said the association did not find one pub or entertainment venue on the list of inspected buildings.

The Interior Ministry is responsible for the Building Control Act nationwide but enforcement is the responsibility of each province and district.

According to the BMA, a total of around 5,900 buildings in Bangkok were required by law to be inspected. Though 3,000 were inspected, only 200 received inspection certificates (Ror. 1).

"We cannot say the 200 buildings getting a Ror. 1 certificate are all safe. Sometimes, safety systems might be out of order after an inspection," he said, and suggested buildings should be inspected by experienced inspectors who can anticipate and estimate any possible damages.

According to the law, buildings must be inspected for structural strength, safety equipment installation and efficiency, escape routes and evacuation plans. They must be inspected annually but a major one is required every five years. "The building inspection fee is only 50 satang to 10 baht per square metre, up to the grades, while safety systems like sprinklers cost 1,000 baht a sq m. It's very negligible compared to the possible loss and damages," said Mr Chollachai.

There are 1,700 licensed inspectors who are engineers and architects and 200 licensed inspection firms. The BSA sets standard inspection fees.

To prevent future scenarios like the Santika blaze, he suggested all high-use buildings should have a main safety system and an annual inspection.

"Owners know their buildings best. They should invest in safety," he said, listing signs, exits, emergency lights, and preparedness of staff as essential.

Mr Chollachai added that the 2,800 buildings that failed to get certificates had common problems: no fire exits, blocked fire routes and no alarms.

The BSA, the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) and the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) yesterday issued a joint communique' about fire safety based on the Santika pub disaster. They plan to meet the prime minister next week to urge the government to strictly enforce the law.

EIT president Prasong Tharachai said the National Disaster Committee should take an active role in prevention and a penalty for buildings without an inspection certificate should be heavier.

The maximum penalty under the law is 60,000 baht plus a maximum of 10,000 baht daily for buildings that haven't been inspected. The rate also depends on the authorities' discretion, so it could be reduced to one baht.

He suggested the government not allow a change of usage for any building once permission is issued, increase punishment for buildings with no fire insurance and set an appropriate ratio of people per square metre in entertainment venues and restaurants.

"Pubgoers should look for exits before they enter a pub. Sometimes, sprinklers might not work," he added.

For how long can Thailand justifiably hide behind the title of developing economy without using this

as an excuse for laziness, lack of will and corruption? This attitude is prevalent in so many ways

and so often here. But here we are talking about gambling with the safety of people's lives.

Tourists coming here surely have the right to expect that the venues they are visiting are at least

safe to occupy? There is no excuse for this tardiness

Edited January 8, 2009 by midas

[samgrowth]

No pubs inspected in year since law took effect

Not one pub or entertainment venue in Bangkok has been inspected for compliance with building safety codes since new inspection requirements took effect on Dec 29, 2007.

This is despite the fact that entertainment venues are among the nine types of buildings subject to mandatory inspection by Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) officials.

Safety concerns about nightspots have risen to the fore since the New Year's Eve blaze that killed 64 people at the Santika club in Bangkok.

Chollachai Thammaviwatnukoon, president of the Building Safety Inspectors and Officers Association (BSA), said the association did not find one pub or entertainment venue on the list of inspected buildings.

The Interior Ministry is responsible for the Building Control Act nationwide but enforcement is the responsibility of each province and district.

According to the BMA, a total of around 5,900 buildings in Bangkok were required by law to be inspected. Though 3,000 were inspected, only 200 received inspection certificates (Ror. 1).

Question is, what has Apirak, the previous governor has been doing all this time?

he has been BMA all along (only until recently). No inspection done that is required by BMA?

Or is he busy in providing mobile toilet to PAD protestor at the Govt House.

Edited January 8, 2009 by samgrowth

[noahvail]

This is in todays Bangkok Post :-

No pubs inspected in year since law took effect

BSA: Entertainment venues not on list

By: KANANA KATHARANGSIPORN

Published: 8/01/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Business

Not one pub or entertainment venue in Bangkok has been inspected for compliance with building safety codes since new inspection requirements took effect on Dec 29, 2007.

Your post title, "Does Thailand Really Deserve to Succeed," sounded really interesting. But you seem to be basing your argument on the idea that because no pubs or clubs were checked and that tourists deserve a safe place to spend their money... There's so much more to wanting Thailand to succeed than your quote. But to resond to your question, been to a club in NYC or Boston or London or Paris recently? Google club fires and see how many fatal fires happened in "developed" nations where - oh gee - maybe inspectors were paid off? Meh...LoS is no different in that regard!

For how long can Thailand justifiably hide behind the title of developing economy without using this

as an excuse for laziness, lack of will and corruption? This attitude is prevalent in so many ways

and so often here. But here we are talking about gambling with the safety of people's lives.

Tourists coming here surely have the right to expect that the venues they are visiting are at least

safe to occupy? There is no excuse for this tardiness