Construction, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Real Estate

The report, which presents various calculations and the conclusion that 55.5% of structures used to construct the building performed no load-bearing function. "This is absurd in terms of engineering and technical standards, also economically unjustified and wasteful," believes Kaljas.

Kaljas also criticizes the use of "DIN 934" type nuts in connections subjected to tension. Such nuts may only be used in connections that are subjected to shearing, notes the expert. In the collapsed building, either different nuts had to be used, or each such connection should have been reinforced using one more "DIN 934" nut, which would have increased the load-bearing capacity by 30%.

The steel trusses gave way when the load level reached 1,370 kilonewtons, while the rest of the structures were able to withstand load levels of up to 3,083.5 kilonewtons, hence the 55%, notes Kaljas' report. Also, the "DIN 934" nuts simply came off the bolts. If the right nuts had been used, the bolts would have extended – which would have been obvious and the damage could be timely repaired.

The collapse of the Maxima store, and other such similar accidents in the past, is due to politics and business practices entering the engineering profession, believes Kaljas. This could be changed by establishing an authority with top-level experts who have proven themselves in developing time-tested and reliable projects.

"There cannot be such a situation where construction engineers are supervised by their colleagues. Such an authority could also become a know-how center where research could be conducted and new technologies developed," he said. There is a similar practice in Germany, but Kaljas believes that it, too, could be improved.

Kaljas previously said that the collapse could only have been caused by serious design flaws.

As reported, 54 people died and several dozen were injured as a Maxima supermarket in Riga's Zolitude neighborhood collapsed on November 21.

The police have opened a criminal case pursuant to the Criminal Law's Section 239 Part 2 – violation of construction provisions if serious consequences have been caused thereby; investigation is continuing.

Homburg group company Homburg Zolitude was the developer of the supermarket project and an apartment building next to it. The supermarket opened at the end of 2011. The part of the building where Maxima store collapsed belongs to Maxima's associate company Tineo.

Construction of the 12-story apartment building began in May this year, it was halted after the tragedy.

Re&Re was the general contractor in both projects. Also involved in the project were construction supervision company CMConsulting, architect office Kubs and construction design office HND grupa.