Bangkok: "Ekanat" inspects the steel bar standards of the State Audit Office building, fearing links to international steel capital. He points out that if substandard ribbed steel bars are used, the structure will be brittle and easily broken.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry, revealed that following the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building, which was under construction, due to a recent earthquake, Mr. Ekkanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, has commanded the Sudsoi team and relevant officials to gather evidence at the site of the collapse. Should any substandard steel bars be discovered, full legal action will be pursued, extending to steel factories if necessary.
The structural analysis of the 30-story Office of the Auditor General of Thailand's building suggests the use of rebar sizes DB16, DB20, and DB25 as the primary reinforcement for the concrete structure. These are especially crucial in the columns, floor beams, and foundations to withstand weight, compression, tensile, and shear forces. Should the rebar fail to meet standards and engineering principles, it could result in a brittle structure prone to breaking. Steel with excessive carbon or boron content becomes strong yet brittle, posing a higher risk of breaking rather than bending during earthquakes or severe impacts, leading to potential structural collapse.
The production, import, and distribution of substandard steel pose significant risks to lives and properties and constitute a crime that demands serious attention. Mr. Ekkanat has prioritized this issue, taking legal action against seven manufacturers and distributors, including jointly registered companies and foreign entities. Recently, a large multinational steel factory was shut down for failing to meet safety standards. Moreover, SD 40 and SD 50 ribbed steel products did not pass the TIS 24-2559 standard, as tested by the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand. Consequently, legal measures have been implemented to eliminate the root cause of potential accidents and dangers to the public.
