Request for Change from Traditional Formwork to Special Formwork Method "Not Accepted"
Charge of "Failure to Confirm" Acknowledged for Non-installation of Props on 3 Floors
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] In relation to the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, there are indications that Hyundai Development Company (HDC) ignored the supervision team's request for a structural review regarding the change in construction method.
The investigation headquarters for the newly built apartment collapse accident in Seo-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Police Agency) announced on the 28th that they conducted an investigation of two supervisors on the 27th.
These supervisors reportedly testified that "HDC ignored the request for a structural review concerning the change in the slab construction method on the 39th floor, which was the starting point of the accident."
HDC and the subcontracted reinforced concrete company initially decided to use the traditional formwork installation method for the 39th-floor slab pouring, but later changed to a method using 'deck plates' (special formwork) that minimizes the installation of supports, known as the cantilever method.
The supervisors judged that the change in construction method constituted a design change and requested HDC to submit materials after a structural review, but stated, "We never received the materials."
According to the standard specifications from the National Construction Standards Center, for buildings of a certain number of floors or higher, when pouring concrete, supporting props called dongbari must be installed on the three floors below.
Regarding the removal of dongbari in violation of this regulation, they admitted the charge, saying, "There is responsibility for not verifying this."
Currently, the police are focusing on the removal of dongbari and the unauthorized installation of cantilever ('┴'-shaped retaining walls) as causes of the accident.
On the PIT floor (pipe and equipment floor) below the 39th floor, seven cantilevers supporting the deck plates were installed, with an estimated weight exceeding 40 to 50 tons. It is reported that further investigation is needed to determine whether the cantilevers failed to bear the load and broke, causing the impact.
The cause analysis will proceed through the National Forensic Service and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Construction Accident Investigation Committee.
On this day, the police plan to summon current and former site managers of HDC and the subcontractor's site manager again to intensively question them about negligence based on the investigation results so far.
So far, a total of 11 people have been criminally charged in this case, including four HDC officials: the site manager, construction manager, and safety management responsible staff. The others include one subcontractor site manager, three supervisors, and one subcontractor representative charged with contract irregularities.
They are accused of violating their duty of care related to the new apartment construction site, resulting in casualties.
The subcontractor representative, who was scheduled to be summoned the previous day on charges of illegal subcontracting, had the summons temporarily postponed due to reasons such as hiring a lawyer.
Meanwhile, the accident occurred around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th when the exterior walls from the 23rd to 38th floors of Building 201 collapsed at the apartment construction site.
As a result, three workers died and three went missing. It is presumed that they were responsible for window installation and fire-fighting equipment work on the 28th to 34th floors of the collapsed building.
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