Quenched, tempered steel safe for high-rise buildings: DTI chief

FILE: Lopez made the statement for trade reporters in a text message on Friday (ALBERT ALCAIN/PPD)

MANILA — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has reiterated that there should no longer be any safety issue on the use of quenched and tempered (QT) steel for the construction of high-rise buildings.

Lopez made the statement to trade reporters in a text message on Friday, as former senator Nikki Coseteng brought up anew QT steel’s safety issue and exposed that developers have been using low-quality steel for high-rise buildings in the country.

Coseteng has asked the government to recall the QT steel that are already in the jobsites and warehouses.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) chief said Coseteng’s claims have already been debunked during consultations with stakeholders and in fora where technical experts and metallurgical engineers were present.

“She’s really going around.

Her accusations were already debunked, and DTI simply listened and issued a ruling based on research and interpellations. The experts talked and we listened, the metallurgical engineers and the manufacturers, and the users,” Lopez said.

“When she lost in the arguments, she’s continuing to still make a noise. Some say she wants to expose an exposé that’s not there.

They can go (and) meet the experts again,” he added.

Lopez stressed that QT steel has been in use for more than 30 years and this technology is also accepted worldwide.

“The tests are there. Each developer conducts their tests too upon delivery at the project site, aside from BPS (Bureau of Philippine Standards) certification,” said Lopez.

“And the high-rise (buildings), these are done by leading developers with top-notch engineers, who know specs of steel to order,” he added.