Bangkok: The president of the Structural Engineers Association has identified the causes of a recent building awning collapse that resulted in injuries and has called for inspections of older buildings. Professor Dr. Amorn Pimanamas, who is also a professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, commented on the incident that occurred at the Mo Mi intersection on Rama IV Road. The collapse of a two-story building's balcony/awning onto the road and cars near Wat Traimit, Charoen Krung Road, led to one injury, with the victim being the son-in-law of the homeowner, who reportedly died.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Amorn outlined four potential causes for the collapse. Firstly, the building is old and likely constructed a long time ago, leading to deterioration and rust in the reinforcing steel due to exposure to weather elements. Secondly, the structure is cantilevered, meaning it has only one anchor point, making it more susceptible to falling. Thirdly, the presence of heavy objects on the balcony could have contributed to the collapse. Lastly, there is a need to check if any additions were made to the balcony.
Dr. Amorn emphasized that similar collapses of concrete balconies in old buildings have occurred frequently, highlighting the need for regular inspections. He urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to have inspectors or civil engineers, who are local officials under the Building Control Act, conduct regular checks on older buildings to ensure their structural soundness.