SANTO DOMINGO. – The emergency generated yesterday, October 31, as a result of a fire that broke out in an apartment of a modern tower in the Evaristo Morales sector, in the National District, highlights a serious problem in the field of construction: the lack of external supervision.
This was stated yesterday by architect Edgar Martínez, CEO of Xtriba Supervision, a company dedicated to the supervision of construction works, after considering that external surveillance is vital in construction projects, since it helps to ensure compliance with safety regulations, such as fire extinguishing systems and evacuation protocols.
“In our country, the Regulation for Safety and Protection against Fires, R-032, of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), establishes the measures that projects must comply with in their construction process,” explained the professional, specialized in Construction Management.
He explained that, however, the lack of external technical supervision of the builder, for the verification of these systems and independent evaluations in the construction processes, can put the occupants of the buildings at risk.
Edgar Martínez. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
He stated that in the incident, firefighters faced great challenges in trying to extinguish a fire in an apartment due to the absence of a fire suppression system in the building.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Luis Díaz of the National District Fire Department, “the building does not have a fire suppression system, and they had to run the hose up the outside .” This causes delays in timely intervention and increases the risks for residents and the firefighters themselves,” he explained.
Martínez detailed the risks of insufficient supervision, which in his opinion include:
Safety hazards : “Without adequate fire protection systems, any incident can result in major damage, both material and in terms of human lives,” he said.
He added the economic loss , as owners may see a decrease in the value of their properties due to the lack of security and high insurance costs.
He also cited the legal risk , noting that developers and owners face potential lawsuits and penalties in the event of damage or loss of life, as well as possible reputational problems.
“Cases like the fire in Evaristo Morales underscore the need for thorough and neutral oversight to ensure strict compliance with building regulations for the safety of occupants, and to strengthen confidence in the real estate sector, protecting both the well-being of residents and the investments made in these projects,” the CEO concluded.
