16.12.2023
The Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers ( Spolmik ) on Thursday called on MPs to take action and develop legislation for regular building inspections in light of Wednesday’s balcony collapse in Limassol .
Early on Wednesday morning, a balcony collapsed in one of the residential buildings. No harm done.
Spolmik said that older buildings in Cyprus, many of which are not properly maintained, should undergo a building inspection. In addition, additions to buildings are regularly erected without the necessary studies, licensing and supervision, which leads to failures and collapses of structures.
For this reason, it is “crucially important to pass legislation to regularly inspect buildings.”
In addition, Spolmik called on the relevant authorities to “take action” on the issue, given that they have a “legal responsibility for licensing construction … and for implementing measures and facilitating actions to eliminate hazardous construction practices.” Additionally, individuals who undertake construction and renovation projects on their property “should consult with a structural engineer.”
Structural engineers exist to “advise and provide services for the proper study, planning and supervision of the safe execution of work for any necessary repairs, maintenance and seismic strengthening of load-bearing building elements, as well as rehabilitation of non-structural elements.”
Spolmik urged people to “outsource work to qualified professional contractors and craftsmen who have the necessary training, human resources and equipment.”
Returning to their calls for legislative action to ensure the safety of buildings in the future, they said new legislation must go hand in hand with “developing a culture of maintenance and developing a culture of professionalism”. They also referred to the Chamber of Science and Technology (ETEK), which itself spoke on the matter on Wednesday evening.
ETEK said that “the country is at a critical point in implementing measures to prevent such incidents and protect human lives” and called on relevant authorities to “take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of buildings under their jurisdiction.”
“Existing buildings are often outdated and in poor condition, a situation compounded by the lack of maintenance culture observed in Cyprus,” they added.
Limassol Municipality previously said there were “serious issues related to the responsibilities of those involved in the maintenance and repair” of the building where the balcony collapsed. They also said that as recently as 2019, the building had undergone maintenance carried out by its owners, but that “maintenance appears to have been ineffective.”
“The maintenance carried out created a misleading impression as to the safety of the building and serious questions were raised regarding the liability of those involved in its maintenance and repair,” they added.
