To avoid incidents like the collapse of the seven-storey residential building Alaya in January this year, the Lucknow Development Authority launched a structural audit (SA) policy. The audit would be done every five years.
The policy aims to check the safety and structural integrity of buildings that are more than four storeys and have a height of above 15 mtrs. For this the LDA contribute a panel of experts from IIT, NIT, Central Universities and reputed structural consulting firms. The panel will be finalised by the LDA Vice-Chairman.
This policy was passed during the LDA board meeting along with 37 other proposals in the agenda that were put up for approval. The structural audit is introduced on the lines of fire department NOC’s which ensures fire safety for multi-storeyed buildings. Similar to this, builders and owners will be required to get a structural audit of the buildings done by the third party in accordance with the largest guidelines of the National Building Code (NBC).
They must then submit certificates to the LDA upon completion of the structure. The structural audit should be repeated every five years. For the initial five years it will be the responsibility of the builder to conduct repair works within a month. Thereafter if it is an apartment, the Resident Welfare Association (RWAs) will have to take charge and get an audit done every five years.
Explaining the structural audit LDA VC Indramani Tripathi said that it involves everything connected to the building, including the strengths of the columns, beams, pillars, iron bars, plasters, sewage and discharge systems, water pipeline etc. At present in many cases in the authority objections are raised by the complainants regarding structural safety and requests are made for a structural audit, he added.
He said, “The need for structural audits if for the maintenance and repairs of existing structures timely which leads to the prolonged life of the building and safety of the occupants to avoid any mishaps and save valuable human life. The periodical structural audit will help find the present serviceability and structural viability of the structure.” Trjpathi further said that even after the issuance of certificate, if 25% of the occupants of any apartments complain about structural defects will probe it.
