‘NAIA-3 failed safety requirement’

The materials and specifications used to build the mothballed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) failed to meet safety requirements, the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) has reported.

ASEP conducted an inspection of the terminal after a portion of NAIA-3’s ceiling collapsed last March 27, just four days before the terminal’s scheduled test run.

In its report to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), ASEP cited five concerns. The structural engineers said the ceiling was constructed without the benefit of detailed shop drawings containing the ceiling plan, as well as the as-built conditions of the ceiling area, which should have included the positions of existing utilities, connection details of the ceiling framing system and other important information that could have better guided the construction.

ASEP also observed that some materials used, like the wall angles, did not meet the minimum required specifications and that there had been a wrong choice of ceiling or wall components.

The structural engineers’ fourth concern was that the quality of work was not at par and in accordance with minimum acceptable practice, thus diminishing the overall factor of safety of the total ceiling system.

However, ASEP said laboratory tests of its individual components reveal that safety factors have been met.

ASEP said its first four observations "singly or in combination, brought about a series of joint failures that triggered a chain reaction leading to the collapse of a portion of the ceiling."

The structural engineers also noted that the collapsed ceiling system was completely enclosed and lacked access for inspection and maintenance — one reason why investigation was more difficult and took longer than expected.

The ASEP report was mentioned in a statement made over the weekend by lawyer Perfecto Yasay Jr., spokesman for businessman Lucio Tan’s Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp. (AEDC).

Yasay said the report should not be taken lightly, especially the part on the quality of materials used.

Based on its findings, ASEP made five recommendations, including the inspection of similarly built ceiling systems and the use of more appropriate materials that will meet minimum required standards.

The structural engineers also called for the reinforcement of the ceiling framing system through such means like additional braces and independent angular supports.