Tel Aviv Building That Collapsed Was Previously Declared Dangerous

A building in Tel Aviv that partially collapsed on Wednesday had previously been designated as dangerous but was removed from the list about two years ago after repairs were made. According to Tel Aviv municipality documents, the building at 63 Nachalat Binyamin Street was undergoing TAMA 38/1 renovation work, which involves strengthening and adding floors. The Ministry of Labor announced that the construction site operated without reporting to the Safety Administration and without a required site manager. Inspectors issued a safety order to close the site for an extended period. Three adjacent buildings were evacuated pending safety checks and debris removal.

City records show a dangerous building file was opened in 2023 due to discovered deficiencies. A building engineer's document from January 2024 stated that concrete repair and restoration work had been completed on balconies, stairwells, and walls, and the engineer certified the work was done professionally. A municipal inspection in February 2024 confirmed completion of supplementary work and accepted an engineer's declaration of hazard removal, leading to the closure of the dangerous building file and its removal from the city's list on February 13, 2024.

The municipality stated that the TAMA 38 work involved adding floors and strengthening the structure. The dangerous building file was closed in 2024 after balcony repairs. Municipal engineering representatives are on-site, and a resident information center has been opened. The cause of the collapse is currently unknown, and there is no indication in the documents that the previously repaired deficiencies are linked to the incident. However, the building's prior dangerous status and the renovation work raise questions about its engineering condition, the actual work performed, and its supervision.

Ministry of Labor inspectors found the site was not reported as required by law and lacked a designated site manager. The Chief, Hazi Schwartzman, stated the TAMA project failed for reasons to be investigated, emphasizing the danger posed by unreported sites and urging local authorities to conduct proactive inspections. He also mentioned upcoming safety regulations expanding developer responsibility and introducing new safety roles.

Legal experts note that the building permit included detailed conditions for strengthening and structural work, and it needs to be determined if the work complied. The cause of the collapse could have significant legal and insurance implications, depending on whether it's linked to the renovation work or the building's original condition. Engineers explain that strengthening old buildings presents unique challenges due to incomplete historical documentation and potential undiscovered flaws. While renovations can improve safety, they don't necessarily make an old building new, and demolition and rebuilding might be preferable in some cases.