Elevator Shaft Work Confirmed After Bangkok Tower Collapse

Thailand’s State Audit Office (SAO) clarified in a statement that elevator shaft wall modification work at its 30-story, under-construction tower in Bangkok was in full compliance with regulations in the wake of a deadly building collapse on March 28, The Nation reports. The collapse was the result of an 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, that trapped nearly 100 workers inside and resulted in at least 60 deaths. The SAO statement said the construction contractor found that the elevator shaft wall thickness and decorative materials would have caused the corridor width to violate building code regulations, and a revised design with additional steel reinforcement was approved. Explaining the construction contract involved a design team, a construction contractor and a supervision team, the SAO emphasized that “all actions were taken transparently, in strict compliance with the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act of 2017 and relevant regulations to ensure structural safety, legal adherence and financial accountability.”