The Importance of a Structure Stability Certificate

 The Importance of a Structure Stability Certificate

Did you know that as a homeowner you must obtain the Structure Stability Certificate – a vital document that certifies that your residential building is stable and safe?  Here’s all you need to know about a Structure Stability Certificate and why it is mandatory to procure one

You are all excited about buying your dream home and are eagerly waiting to move into it.  You have the legal documentation in place.  But, how do you know if the building itself is safe and if the builder has used high-quality construction materials?  This is where a Structure Stability Certificate plays a key role.

Strength of a building

A building’s lifespan depends on several factors such as the construction quality, materials, soil conditions as well as the climate at the location.  Construction experts peg the average lifespan of a residential building in India as 50 – 80 years depending on the usage and, the timely repairs and renovations made to strengthen it.

    The functional features of a building are broadly categorised under plumbing and sewage lines  (internal and external); civil works ( waterproofing, plastering, painting, and rustproofing ); woodwork, and carpentry.  The structure itself has to adhere to the National Building Code (NBC) of India, 2016 which includes safety features for all-natural calamities like earthquakes, cyclones, floods, etc.  All these factors in the right degree determine the strength of the constructed structure and can go a long way in making it safe.

What is a Structure Stability Certificate?

A Structure Stability Certificate is documented proof that the building complies with all the safety regulations specified in the NBC.  Part VI ( Structural Design ) of the code embodies the safety features for all-natural calamities.  This document certifies that the building has been constructed in accordance with the building norms, and the government agencies have done the necessary checks required to ensure that the building structure is safe for people to use.

Who is authorised to certify the Structure Stability Certificate?

A chartered structural engineer, who is on the panel of personal practising engineers under the class 1 A category within the district collector’s office of the area, is authorised to inspect and certify if a building is fit to be used for various provisions of public use.  It’s the developer’s responsibility to hire a qualified and certified structural engineer to conduct a detailed soil test and verify the engineering aspects of the building, including its location, design, potential weaknesses, as well as seismic compliances.  The engineer is also required to check if the fire and health safety features are in place and if the structure is safe for the surrounding buildings and the public.  They submit the report to various civic bodies like the public works department, fire department, etc.  The municipal corporation then ascertains that all the safety compliances are in order and only when it’s convinced that the built structure is safe for occupation, the authority issues the Structure Stability Certificate.  The certificate also states that the developer has executed a detailed soil test and that the structure is fit for occupancy.  It is another important and mandatory document that a buyer has to procure from the developer prior to moving into the flat.

RERA’S zero defect policy

RERA has a provision of zero-defect liability under which the builders are liable to cover all the architectural and construction concerns and costs arising in a project for up to five years from the date of possession.  This provision covers all the structural, non-structural, finishing, and servicing issues in residential projects.

            In fact, according to the mandate,  the developer is liable to repair all the defects within 30 days from the date of filing of the complaint by the residents, without charging any fee.