By Escarlin Pozo
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO.- The structural tragedy that claimed the lives of 232 people at the Jet Set nightclub on April 8th was an event that, according to structural engineer Frinet Muñoz, could have been avoided if the technical evaluation processes required by current regulations had been respected.
This was explained by the specialist during an interview on the program "El Día", where she analyzed the elements that, from her professional experience, should have been considered to prevent the collapse.
Muñoz clarified that, according to Dominican regulations, any change of use in a building —as in the case of the Jet Set, originally conceived as a cinema and later converted into a nightclub— requires a structural vulnerability study to determine if the building can withstand the new load demands and changes.
In that sense, he explained that when modifying the function of a structure, it is necessary to "recalculate the loads it will support" and, if necessary, carry out the corresponding structural reinforcements.
"What one does is recreate the building as it is and subject it to new loads, because it will be a change, in order to be able to carry out and identify if the structure complies," he said.
The expert pointed out that, if the building does not meet the established requirements, "what is done is to propose reinforcements.".
"These reinforcements can range from carbon fiber to a structural element, to wall reinforcement, beam reinforcement, column inclusion, beam inclusion, which are resistant structural elements of the system," he specified.
Muñoz insisted that simply leveling a floor or making "seemingly minor" changes does not exempt one from this technical obligation, since any alteration may imply new loads on the original structure.
“According to the regulations of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Housing, every structure indicates that if you are going to change the use or function of a structure, it must undergo a vulnerability study,” he pointed out.
Leaks, overload, and lack of control
When analyzing the conditions mentioned by the nightclub owner, Antonio Espaillat —among them the constant changes of plaster ceilings and the recurring presence of leaks—, the engineer specified that the ceilings are not part of the structural system, but are considered “dead loads” of an aesthetic nature.
However, he warned that the continuous leaks are an early indication of deterioration that, if not corrected promptly with specialized technical supervision, can compromise the integrity of the structural elements in the medium or long term, a situation—the leaks—that manager Espaillat revealed during an interview with journalist Edith Febles.
“The issue of leaks becomes critical when the leak penetrates the concrete and reaches the steel. The steel then begins an oxidation process which, if not corrected in time, can reduce its ability to withstand bending, compromising structural stability,” he explained.
The engineer, who is a university professor, addressed how corroded steel loses cross-sectional area, which weakens its ability to withstand bending stresses, one of the fundamental properties of reinforced concrete.
He explained that this progressive degradation could become one of the many factors that aggravated the state of the building.
In his analysis, Muñoz also discussed the use of post-tensioned beams in the Jet Set, a technique that uses high-strength cables tensioned after the beam has been poured.
He indicated that if one of these cables fails, the collapse can be immediate and violent, as witnesses of this tragedy recounted, who narrated that they felt an "explosion" before the roof collapsed.
“If those cables come loose, there could have been a huge explosion, because the force that those cables impart to that beam makes it work completely. If one fails, it can unleash a domino effect throughout the entire structure,” he said.
Regarding the additional load of air conditioners and sheds on the roof, he explained that in the country there is no control over modifications made after the initial structural calculations.
He noted that, in general, roofs are designed to support 100 kilograms per square meter, but when heavy equipment is added without recalculating the structure, that capacity is easily exceeded.
“The client must provide the structural designer with the weight specifications of the equipment they wish to install, in order to adjust the structural calculations. But in practice, that is almost never done in our country,” he lamented.
Furthermore, the engineer also analyzed the possible impact of vibrations caused by its use as a nightclub, and although she ruled out phenomena such as resonance—typical of taller and more flexible structures—she acknowledged that the sum of vibrations, additional loads, and accumulated deterioration could have contributed as another factor in the tragedy.
Regarding the fire reported months before the collapse, he warned that, even if it was a localized fire, it is always mandatory to carry out a post-fire structural assessment to detect non-visible damage, such as the loss of capacity of the steel due to high temperatures.
Lack of control and a culture of prevention exacerbate vulnerability
Beyond the specific case, the structural evaluator issued a general warning about the state of construction in the Dominican Republic.
He denounced that many buildings, both public and private, do not adequately comply with maintenance, evaluation and reinforcement protocols, in a context of high seismic vulnerability.
“The future is very bleak if we don’t change. We are all responsible. I don’t want to place the blame solely on the State; citizens also have a duty (…). Many people don’t know that there are certified companies that conduct vulnerability assessments that guarantee your complete safety if you follow the recommendations,” he warned.
Frinet Muñoz concluded by reiterating that the Jet Set tragedy should not be seen as an isolated event, but as a reflection of a culture of improvisation, technical ignorance, and a lack of rigorous application of regulations regarding construction, reinforcement, and structural supervision.
