The serious incident this afternoon near the QSUT, where a building was engulfed in flames in record time, has once again brought to light one of the biggest construction scandals in Tirana: the relationship between the "luxury" price and the scandalous quality of the materials.
While the flames "devour" the facade within minutes, what remains behind is the ashes of an investment that cost citizens a lifetime.
"Gold" price, "paper" quality
After a simple search in real estate listings for this complex and the surrounding area, it turns out that sales prices reach up to 2,700 euros per square meter.
For an Albanian family, this price represents a lifetime of savings or a 30-year loan. But, as today's photo clearly shows, this price does not guarantee even minimal security.
The facade of the palace, which should have been the first shield against the fire, turned into a "wick".
As can be seen in the image, the fire did not stay inside an apartment, but spread vertically at a frightening speed, burning down the entire exterior.
This happens when the materials used to cover the facades (often imitations of Alucobond) are combined with flammable polystyrene, turning the building into a giant "matchbox".
Why did it catch fire so easily?
Analysis of the photo shows that the fire has not found any resistance. In European Union countries, facade materials pass strict fire filters, while in Tirana, citizens are deceived by "modern" facades that are actually death traps.
Speed of spread: The photo shows how the flames "ran" across the entire height of the building within a few minutes.
Black smoke: The density of the smoke indicates the burning of plastic and chemical materials, which in addition to the fire, cause immediate asphyxiation for the residents.
The big "Class A" scam
Albanians buy at exorbitant prices, believing they are investing in quality, but events like this prove that technical control over construction materials is almost zero.
When a 2,700 euro/m2 building burns like it's made of cardboard, the question that arises is: Who controls these building permits and these materials that are surrounding us?
Today was another warning.
While police and residents risked their lives to pull out screaming children and the elderly, behind the flames lies the failure of a system that allows builders to skimp on safety in order to maximize profits over the skin of citizens./ joq