Mr. Pakin Ekkathikom, Director of Building Resource Management at Plus Property Co., Ltd., the leading figure of the 'Touch Property' business, which provides comprehensive engineering systems for buildings under the Plus group, revealed the procedures for inspecting buildings after an earthquake. This follows the preliminary damage assessment manual for building structures post-earthquake issued by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, Ministry of Interior. The damage assessment can be divided into two levels: preliminary inspection and detailed inspection by experts in areas that may pose a risk to the building's structure.

1. Preliminary Inspection assesses whether the observed damage affects the building's integrity. This initial assessment will be conducted by individuals with a basic understanding of structural engineering, such as building inspection companies that typically conduct annual inspections. These companies are certified by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and will inspect the site immediately after an incident. This preliminary inspection can be done visually, checking for damage that may impact the building being assessed, including external damage and structural damage to floors, beams, columns, walls, roofs, ceilings, and roofing materials.

The preliminary damage assessment of buildings after an earthquake is primarily based on the preliminary damage assessment form for building structures issued by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning in 2017, which categorizes building damage into three levels:

1) Green Level - The building structure has minor or no damage and can be used normally.

2) Yellow Level - The building structure has moderate damage and can be used, but caution is required due to the risk of falling debris from structural components.

3) Red Level - The building structure has severe damage and may collapse, or it poses a life-threatening risk, thus cannot be used further.

If the preliminary inspection finds the building at a green level, people can return to use the building normally. For yellow level buildings, they can be used again, but urgent repairs may be necessary to prevent danger to users. However, if the building is at a red level, it must be closed immediately, prohibiting access due to structural deformation and loss of load-bearing capacity, and it must undergo a detailed inspection next.

2. Detailed Inspection by Specialized Experts will be conducted only for buildings that have been preliminarily inspected and found to have damage that could be dangerous if used further (red level) or for certain buildings that require high assurance. This involves engineers specialized in assessing building damage, such as civil engineers, conducting a detailed inspection, which may be complex and require advanced inspection tools to evaluate the building's performance.

Once the damage assessment results are known, they must be reported to the authorities. Currently, local government agencies have issued letters requesting building owners/occupants to conduct inspections and report damage, along with evaluating methods for improvement, repair, or reinforcement of the building to ensure safety, stability, and strength for use according to engineering principles and relevant laws within two weeks, allowing the public to safely return to the building. This process helps build confidence in the transparency and reliability of building inspections.

“Currently, almost all buildings that have undergone preliminary inspections in Thailand are at green and yellow levels, meaning they can still be used under safety requirements. The preliminary inspection process conducted by certified officials relies primarily on physical observation. This follows the standard guidelines of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, designed for quick and efficient execution. Overall, the buildings in Thailand are capable of withstanding earthquake vibrations at a good level, while systematic monitoring and repairs will help reassure the public that they can safely return to using the buildings under appropriate engineering principles,” Mr. Pakin concluded.