An investigation is currently underway regarding the manufacturing and distribution of steel reinforcement in Fiji. Engineers Fiji has confirmed they are conducting a due diligence exercise following inquiries from SunBiz about the quality of locally produced steel.
Terence Erasito, president of Engineers Fiji, stated that they would provide a thorough response to the queries once the investigation is concluded, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, which operates under Fiji Standards.
Concerns have been raised about the potential dangers of using substandard reinforcement steel in construction projects. Erasito explained that structures in Fiji are typically built according to New Zealand standards. He emphasized that using inferior quality steel could result in non-compliance with both the Fiji National Building Code and New Zealand standards, compromising the structural integrity.
Such non-compliance could have serious implications for various structures, including buildings, bridges, towers, and wharves, which need to withstand seismic forces in a ductile manner. It is crucial for these structures to allow occupants to exit safely during an earthquake.
Erasito highlighted that the reinforcing steel must possess ductility, meaning its chemical composition should enable it to deform without losing strength. If the steel contains excessive carbon or impurities, it could lead to premature failure and catastrophic structural collapses, underscoring the importance of utilizing compliant steel in Fiji’s construction industry.
On another note, Erasito reiterated the need for the government to finalize and endorse the Chartered Professional Engineers of Fiji Act. While the government maintains that Fiji has an Engineers Registration Act from 1976, the Attorney-General’s office has not yet responded to queries regarding amendments proposed in a 2020 Bill.
He also urged the Ministry for Local Government, which manages 13 municipal councils, to ensure uniformity in requiring all development projects in Fiji to be certified by a Chartered Professional Engineer. This applies to projects ranging from residential home certification to larger infrastructure developments, such as airfields, ports, roads, jetties, and bridges.
Erasito noted that professional engineers play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of civil society and called for the government to recognize this responsibility while fostering a professional environment for engineers in Fiji. He pointed out inconsistencies in how development applications are processed across different councils, which adversely affects developers, investors, and homeowners and needs to be addressed.