Quenched, tempered steel safe to use

The Department of Trade and Industry has assured the public that quenched and tempered (QT) steel is safe to use for the construction of high-rise buildings.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez issued the assurance in reaction to a statement by former senator Nikki Coseteng questioning QT steel’s safety issue and claimed that developers have been using low-quality steel for high-rise buildings in the country.

Coseteng has asked the government to recall the QT steel that is already in the job sites and warehouses.

“She’s really going around. Her accusations were already debunked, and DTI simply listened and issued a ruling based on research and interpellations. The experts talked and we listened, the metallurgical engineers and the manufacturers, and the users,” Lopez said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) chief said Coseteng’s claims have already been dismissed during consultations with stakeholders and in fora where technical experts and metallurgical engineers were present.

“When she lost in the arguments, she’s continuing to still make a noise. Some say she wants to make an exposé that’s not there. They can go (and) meet the experts again,” he added.

Lopez stressed that QT steel has been in use for more than 30 years and this technology is also accepted worldwide.

“The tests are there. Each developer conducts their tests too upon delivery at the project site, aside from BPS (Bureau of Philippine Standards) certification,” said Lopez.

“And the high-rise (buildings), these are done by leading developers with top-notch engineers, who know the specs of steel to order,” he added. PNA