Profiteering Driving Poor Quality Construction

The average lifespan of a building is around 100 years, and they may even last longer and make it to 200 or 300 years in some countries.

In Iran, whoever, the story is different.

At present the average lifespan of buildings in the country is between 25 and 35 years, far below the global average. To make matters worse, the figure is expected to drop even further as more unqualified individuals get involved in the construction business, even though the meddling of incompetent people in the sector is illegal.

Eqbal Shakeri, a member of the Construction Commission at Tehran City Council, blames the problem on the profit-driven mentality of those in the construction business.

“It’s just not profitable for a building to last 50 years,” he told Mehr News Agency. “Tearing a building down because it’s worn out after even 20 years is very profitable.”

Use of poor quality materials, outdated construction methods, and lack of knowledgeable, ethical supervisors help reduce lifespan.

The constant presence of a competent supervisor at a construction can improve the situation to a great extent.

Wherever money is involved and profit can be made at the expense of quality, it would be naïve to think there will be progress, according to Mohammad Salari, the head of the Urban Planning and Architecture Commission at the Tehran City Council.

“The situation is unlikely to get better anytime soon,” he added.

To alleviate the problem, Mohammad Salari, the head of the Urban Planning and Architecture Commission at the Tehran City Council, suggests institutionalizing the practice of having savvy supervisors present on site.

“Supervision is integral and needs to be taken seriously; disregard for construction codes must be legally punished,” he added.