Gwangju Dong-gu (District Mayor Lim Taek) announced on the 28th that it is accepting applications for safety inspections to ensure the safety of small-scale, old private buildings that have been standing for over 40 years.
This inspection has been arranged to prevent safety accidents in aging buildings and to promote the safety of residents. Dong-gu completed inspections of 454 buildings last year and plans to conduct safety inspections on 400 buildings this year.
The buildings subject to inspection are those over 40 years old, including detached houses and Class 1 and 2 neighborhood living facilities that are under three stories and have a total floor area of less than 200 square meters, which are not required by law to undergo inspections. Buildings that have already been inspected or are subject to regular inspections under related laws, such as apartment complexes, are excluded.
The inspections will be carried out by construction experts who will visually examine the buildings on site. They will listen to the opinions of facility users and check for cracks and deformations in major structural components, uneven settlement, and the safety of surrounding retaining walls, fences, and embankments.
Based on the inspection results, a total of five grades will be given, ranging from excellent to poor. For buildings rated as inadequate or poor, a detailed inspection will be recommended, and depending on the results, repairs or reinforcements may be required.
Owners or managers of buildings wishing to undergo inspection should submit an application to the district office's Architecture Division or the local administrative welfare center by the 30th of next month.
Lim Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu, stated, "This safety inspection project is being promoted with the safety of local residents as the top priority," and added, "We ask for your interest and active participation."
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