Gwangjin-gu, Nationwide First to Mandate Installation of Structural Safety Inspection Wells

Mandatory Structural Safety Inspection Openings for New Buildings and Change of Use Permits... Expected to Prevent Accidents by Allowing Visual Internal Building Checks

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) has become the first in the nation to mandate the installation of structural safety inspection openings that allow visual inspection inside buildings to prevent safety accidents in advance.

This measure was established to strengthen safety management and minimize damage by preventing collapse risks occurring during the change of use and major repair works of aging buildings, as well as safety accidents during demolition work.

Currently, when confirming the safety status of buildings, it is difficult for structural experts to verify structural safety because major structural parts such as load-bearing walls, columns, floors, and roof frames are covered with finishing materials.

Accordingly, the district has made it mandatory to install structural safety inspection openings as a condition for building permits and project plan approvals when obtaining permission for new buildings (including apartments), changes of use, or major repairs of existing buildings, after expert review.

By installing structural safety inspection openings, building owners (managers) can visually inspect the interior at any time to check for any deformation and prevent safety accidents in advance.

Prior to this, the district mandated the installation of CCTV at demolition sites and also installed video recording devices such as camcorders as security measures, strengthening safety management through on-site monitoring systems and responsible demolition processes.

Additionally, last year, the district hired experts such as architects and structural engineers in the construction field, established a Building Safety Team within the Architecture Department, and began full-scale operations, conducting frequent safety inspections of hazardous facilities.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, stated, “Safety can never be emphasized enough,” and added, “We will do our best to protect residents from safety accidents, prevent them, and ensure that Gwangjin-gu is a safe district with no blind spots in safety management.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.