Poor Steel Could Cause Building Collapse In Philippines: Experts

Business Mirror reported that the recent surge in earthquakes that shook northwest Japan, southern China, the Flores region of Indonesia and several provinces of Mindanao has raised concerns among the Philippine steel industry authorities. The grave fears are that thousands of high-rise buildings across the country, built over the past 10 years using substandard steel bars and other locally sourced products, could be at risk in the event of a massive earthquake hitting the country.

Former chairman of the Philippines Association of Civil Engineers, Mr. Emilio Morales, expressed concern about the recent earthquakes in the region, that is, the stability of local steel rods for high-rise buildings. Mr. Morales said substandard building materials, in particular reinforced concrete rods, are still being used to construct high-rise commercial buildings and residential condominiums in key business districts. He explained that “Being close to the Pacific Rim is the main reason that certain types of steel materials are not recommended for use in high-rise buildings in the country. Non-standard building materials, especially rebar, cannot withstand 7.2 magnitude earthquakes. ”

Morales added that major local steel producers changed their steel rebar production process about 12 years ago without notifying the government or the public.

He said China began to ban QT steel rods and Taiwan banned them immediately two years ago, despite the inconclusive results of metallurgy tests conducted on QT rebar. As a precaution, government testers in Taiwan decided that QT steel is only strong on the outer layer due to the hardening process.

Mr. Morales said the Philippines' steel testing standards are not so rigorous that a product made from Grade 40 steel can pass as Grade 60 due to the QT coating.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit northwest Japan last Tuesday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Sichuan province in southern China last Monday, killing a hotel in Yibin's Changning country, southwest of the province, killing 11 people and injuring 122 others.

Also last Monday, a 5.5 quake struck the Flores region of Indonesia, and Mindanao was hit by six quakes, including the provinces of Agusan del Sur, West Davao and Surigao del Sur. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Luzon two months ago, shaking and destroying buildings in Metro M