Reasons for Dubai building collapse revealed

BUILDING COLLAPSE: A senior Dubai official has given reasons why the building in Deira collapsed last month.

A building in Deira collapsed last month because its structure was weak and incorrect building materials had been used, Dubai Municipality has revealed.

The building, located near the Ramada Hotel across the street from the Dubai Police HQ, was in the final stages of completion when it collapsed on August 16. Eleven construction workers narrowly escaped death when the six-storey building fell to the ground.

Hussain Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, said that the collapse was due to faults in the building’s structure.

"There were faults found in all three of the categories," he told UAE daily Gulf News in comments published on Monday. "There was an engineering fault, misuse of building materials, and the structure of the building was found to be weak. That is evident from the fact that the building collapsed on itself from its middle."

A committee was set up to identify the causes of the collapsed building by Dubai Municipality the day after the collapse.

The investigation report will be released to the media after it has been viewed by the Executive Council. Lootah said.

The building next to the collapsed building will be demolished because of damage to its structure, he said.

Arabian Business identified Sharjah-based Al Hazza Building Contracting Company as the contractor working on the project.

The firm has insured the building for a contract value of AED70m with National General Insurance (NGI).

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READERS' COMMENTS

I am not surprised
Posted by VC, Dubai on Sunday 13 September 2009 at 09:42 UAE time


Well the answer is GREED.
Nobody had time, before the economic crisis, to validate what was going into the buildings. Everybody had their hands full with work. All statutory authorities were flooded with designs waiting to be verified, designers had their tables full and contractors had their orders books saturated with work. Everybody was running to create the biggest, the best. Well Done! Bravo! Some works are simply breathtaking and not imaginable in any other part of the world.
So can we get back to basics now and get our act right from here on!

what is the construction crew make up?
Posted by Hal-Luke Savas, London, United Kingdom on Saturday 12 September 2009 at 22:42 UAE time


I am almost sure answer lies in the make up of the construction crew. Having worked in Middle East for 25 years or so, I came to notice that some crews treat construction as 'finish it at any cost'.. in short quality is not the main aim but to finish it earliest and hang tiles on it to hide whatever is behind. Does anybody know what was the top construction crew make up on this project ?
Hal-Luke Savas MBA FCIM MBIFM ICIOB affCIBSE
londonmanagement@aol.com

Building in Dubai
Posted by ARABI, UAE on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at 11:15 UAE time

I hope to see all those involved in the construction of the building taken to COURT.

Building Collapse
Posted by Atheek Ahmed, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at 09:48 UAE time


As per DM regulations full time Architectural and Engineering Consultants to be available on the site.DM has given full authority to the consultants for monitoring the quality and standards.Approved drawings from DM might be not fully implemeted.Its not the fault of the company but its fault of the team depolyed on this project on behalf of the contractor and consultant.

see any thing wrong in the

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