Updated 1.35pm - Health Minister Konrad Mizzi has requested a meeting with Skanska after an investigation found weak concrete across Mater Dei Hospital, except the new oncology section.
Times of Malta reported earlier today that repair work will cost some €30 million.
Skanska had handled most of the project as lead contractor.
Dr Mizzi tol a press conference that he was seeking an urgent meeting with the Skanska CEO.
It was clear, he said, that specifications in the building of the hospital were not met. The government, he said was seeking remedial action and considering legal action.
The multinational engineering firm, Arup, entrusted with taking an X-ray of the state hospital, concluded that “the structure’s durability is at risk due to the quality of concrete”.
The authorities have taken short-term measures to prop up dangerous structures – and there is no imminent danger of collapse – but Arup recommended permanent remedial action.
The government will be exploring options to recoup the costs once the inquiry indicates who was responsible for the colossal contractual and quality control shortcomings.
A board of inquiry, chaired by Judge Philip Sciberras, tasked with analysing the legal liability of parties involved in the hospital’s construction, is expected to submit its findings to Dr Mizzi in the coming days.
Arup reported that although concrete in Malta should only contain hard rock aggregate (tal-qawwi), the mix used to build the hospital contained soft globigerina limestone aggregate (tal-franka), which architects explained was simply “inviting trouble”. This meant that although the original cube strength of the hospital’s entire structures should have hit the grade of C30, various tests conducted on each column confirmed the concrete was not homogenous and the characteristic cube strength of the A&E structures was a measly C18.
Further tests showed that the shoddy workmanship at A&E led to a situation where concrete was generally porous, accelerating the process of corrosion (carbonation). In some cases, the concrete used in the columns at A&E – the worst-affected area – had eroded “in excess of 40mm” compared to 20mm in columns of a similar age, while a total of 21 columns and 25 beams do not comply with the criteria.
The situation across the entire hospital was slightly better than A&E, but it was still not in good physical shape. Arup established that all the hospital blocks have a concrete quality below C30.
The concrete structures in Block D – where the colour-coded hospital wards are – have a characteristic cube strength of C23, which is still substantially lower than the established strength of C30.
As for A&E Arup director Andrew Harrison told the press conference that the concrete was half as strong as it should have been. He said he had never encountered such a situation as the strength of concrete was a major issue of importance..
On seismic safety, Mr Harrison said the hospital would suffer damage should there be an earthquake but the situation would be resolved if remedial action was taken now.