The institute urged the government to shorten the transition period for builders to adopt seismic‑resistant steel standards. The proposed April 30, 2027 deadline is too distant and could increase risks if non‑compliant steel is used in the interim.
In a letter dated July 23, the organization called for immediate implementation of updated standards and emphasized that capacity exists to replace non‑seismic grades, which should no longer be produced.
The institute president warned that a lengthy transition period heightens public‑safety risks and fails to address persistent seismic threats.
The new standard, PNS 49:2026, updates steel‑bar specifications for concrete reinforcement and aligns them with international seismic‑design requirements. It also phases out Grade 33 rebar, previously disallowed by ASTM.
The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are frequent. Recent seismic events have caused 121 deaths and 1,316 injuries over the last three months.
The president noted that Grade 33 rebar remains in use in low‑rise residential buildings and urged that mandatory implementation be enforced immediately or within three months.
The letter serves as a comment on a draft memorandum that will set guidelines for the new standard. The institute also requested shortening the deadline for comments on the memorandum to seven days from the current September 21, 2026 date.
Compliance with the new standard remains voluntary until the memorandum is finalized, the institute added.
The ministry plans to release the memorandum by August, according to a trade secretary.
