Guidelines for safety assessment of structures during operation and use at level 1 and level 2 in Vietnam from February 19, 2025

Guidelines for safety assessment of structures during operation and use at level 1 and level 2 in Vietnam from February 19, 2025​ (Image from Internet)

The Minister of Construction issues Circular 14/2024/TT-BXD dated December 30, 2024, on the Procedure for assessing construction safety during exploitation and use.

Guidelines for safety assessment of structures during operation and use at level 1 and level 2 in Vietnam from February 19, 2025

Articles 8 and 9 of the Procedure for assessing construction safety during exploitation and use issued with Circular 14/2024/TT-BXD are as follows:

* Level 1 Assessment

- The sequence for conducting level 1 assessment is as follows:

+ Preparing documents and materials;

+ Studying documents and materials;

+ Conducting a visual inspection;

+ Compiling a report on the results of the construction safety assessment.

- Before the assessment, the assessing organization must prepare the documents and materials specified in Point b Clause 1 Article 38 of Decree 06/2021/ND-CP.

- The study of documents and materials aims to:

+ Determine the structural system and functional areas of the construction;

+ Identify critical areas that need inspection;

+ Identify important structures, special structures, static structures (transfer beams, cantilever beams, slender columns, large span structures, pre-stressed cables, bearings, etc.) that require inspection;

+ Determine the loads to assess functional use and overload capacity;

+ Determine the impact of renovation, repair on the construction structure.

- Visual Inspection

+ A visual inspection includes: examining the current structural condition; checking the loads affecting the structure; assessing the impact of renovation, repair on the construction structure.

+ Examining the current structural condition is to identify defects, damages, deformations of the structure, and signs of material degradation. If there are signs of structural defects, damage, deformation, or material degradation, the assessing organization must evaluate these issues and recommend measures (repair, strengthen the structure) if necessary or conduct a level 2 assessment for a part or the entire structure.

+ Checking the loads affecting the construction structure includes: comparing actual loads with design loads; assessing actual functional use against designed functionality; verifying actual loading against design loading.

+ Assessing the impact of renovation, repair on the construction is to identify and evaluate adverse effects on the construction structure.

- Construction Safety Assessment Report

+ The construction safety assessment report must reflect the actual inspection works performed and clearly express the assessments, conclusions, and recommendations (if any).

+ The main content of the construction safety assessment report includes: general information about the construction; information about the assessing organization; assessment object, assessment timing; list of documents, materials for assessment; results of surveys, inspections, assessments conducted; conclusions, recommendations (if any); full name, signature of the individual conducting the assessment; full name, signature, position of the legal representative, and legal seal of the assessing organization.

* Level 2 Assessment

- Level 2 assessment is conducted in the following cases:

+ When the level 1 assessment raises doubts about the safety of the construction's structure;

+ When the structure during exploitation and use shows unusual signs posing safety risks.

- Level 2 assessment includes two phases: preliminary assessment and detailed assessment.

Circular 14/2024/TT-BXD takes effect from February 19, 2025.

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