The Fiji Institution of Engineers has carried out structural assessments on 249 identified properties.

Speaking at the launch of Help for Homes Initiative and Adopt A School website at the Suvavou House yesterday Warren Yee the president of institution said they had 22 assessment teams.

He said the teams were made up of approximately 70 professionals and para-professionals who had carried out structural assessments of more than 80 percent of the identified properties.

He said the properties were made up of schools and health facilities consisting of 2000 structures.

Mr Yee said over 50 percent of the structural assessments reports had been completed and would be used in assisting to determine medium and long-term priority needs and improving cost estimates of the cost to rebuild.

He said the work also allowed the engineers to recommend improving rebuild standards, identify common failure modes of the structure, assess materials performance to withstand future cyclones and identify areas that needed improvements in the Building Code.

He said the engineers predominantly worked in the private sector and Government collaborators had identified many opportunities for future partnerships with the Ministry of Trade and Tourism was expected to grow with FIE assistance in the Fiji Building Standard Committee.

Mr Yee said the FIE was committed to enhancing building standards and would work in particular to see the Building Standards Enforcement Agencies to operate better.

The agencies would also push for the registration and licensing of professional and builders working in the building industry and work on  improving materials standard with testing and compliance and building code adaptation.

While many of the home owners and generous donors were assisting FIE was concerned that initial short term and temporary structures would become permanent dwellings that would be vulnerable in future cyclones and natural disasters, he said.

The FIE will work with multi-lateral agencies and non-governmental organisations in particular organisation in the shelter cluster in the reconstruction and expand their assistance into the home rebuild sector.

Mr Yee said the Home Builders Guide was aimed at the home builder’s market and was packed with information, which every home builder should consult.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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