Construction samples from wrecked schools go under microscope

The mainland's product quality watchdog yesterday said it was collecting samples of construction material from collapsed schools as evidence for investigation.

At a press conference yesterday, Zhi Shuping, vice-minister of the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said the administration would probe the quality of construction materials used in collapsed schools and vowed to track down those responsible for substandard material.

'There are clear instructions that if we suspect there are quality problems with public buildings, particularly with places like schools, we collect samples [of construction material such as steel bars and concrete],' Mr Zhi said.

'Investigations have started in some of the collapsed schools. As for the handling of the investigation results, as I have said repeatedly before, we will take firm and clear measures.'

Speaking after the press conference, Mr Zhi said the administration oversaw quality supervision of construction materials such as concrete and steel reinforcing, while the Ministry of Construction oversaw construction. Both ministries would investigate the collapse of schools, he said.

He would not say how many schools would be inspected, in the light of the administration's limited capacity compared to the large number of collapsed schools, or how officials would decide which collapsed schools to investigate.