SANTO DOMINGO– The Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED) ordered the reopening of the STD Mall shopping center, located in Manoguayabo, in the municipality of Santo Domingo Oeste, yesterday, Monday, after the establishment completed a comprehensive process of reinforcement and compliance with current construction regulations.
The building had been closed eight months ago after a visual and technical survey carried out by inspectors from the state entity, who determined that the structure presented high levels of vulnerability and did not have the required building permit.
The Ministry of Housing stated that during the closure period, the property underwent a thorough structural reinforcement program to correct critical flaws that jeopardized the physical safety of the users and private property.
The areas where interventions took place
Among the main corrections carried out, MIVHED cites the elimination of overload after the total demolition of a warehouse on the second level, whose structure was technically deficient as it was built directly on the slab of the first level without the proper support of columns from the foundation.
It also mentions a reinforcement with the installation of standard stiffeners, which are metal profiles that are screwed into beams and columns to strengthen the skeleton of the building.
In addition, it includes the implementation of a braced frame system, designed to ensure that the structure meets the regulatory displacement and torsion parameters in the event of seismic events.
“As of today, this is ready. We can now assure that, in the event of a severe earthquake or strong tremor, this store is suitable to safeguard lives,” the entity stated in a press release.
With these adjustments, the supervisory body ensures that it has verified that the STD Mall now has optimal structural performance to protect the lives of its visitors and employees in the event of possible earthquakes or tremors.
From this date, the statement specifies, the establishment is formally authorized to resume its commercial operations, under the commitment to maintain the safety standards supervised by the competent authority.
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