More than 20,000 buildings across the country will have to undergo third-party safety audits before the end of next year or owners will face up to three months in jail or a fine of 60,000 baht.The director-general of the Department of Public Works and Town Planning warned people not to take it for granted but be sure that they will be fined 10 000 THB per day if they not obey the new law.
The country’s largest local authority, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, has far more building inspectors, but they have at least 5,000 buildings to assess. The code will apply to nine types of buildings:
– those higher than 23 meters;
– those with more than 10,000 square meters (sq m) of usable space;
– those with more than 1,000 sq m of community space or used by more than 500 people;
– theatres;
– service buildings above 200 sq m;
– hotels with more than 80 rooms;
– residential buildings larger than 2,000 sq m;
– factories over one storey or larger than 5,000 sq m;
– commercial billboards higher than 15 metres, larger than 50 sq m or standing atop buildings on an area over 25 sq m.
Under the code, the building’s structural endurance, fire safety equipment, electrical system, air conditioners, lifts and waste treatment must undergo a major inspection every five years or a minor one annually.
Property owners need assessment papers to renew operation licenses.
To make the profession popular and accountable, the council on Monday publicized 800 questions and answers on the websites http://www.coe.or.th and http://www.dpt.go.th.
Construction companies have apparently got lots of request from property owners to make the buildings smaller and shorter and some hotels are dividing themselves in to Hotel 1 and Hotel 2 each with 40 rooms.
