Rescue team during evacuation at the site of the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School building, Buduran, Sidoarjo

ITS Campus, ITS News – The collapse of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Buduran, Sidoarjo, East Java, on Monday (September 29th), serves as an important reminder of the need for strict supervision in the construction of high-rise buildings. Responding to this, civil engineering expert from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Dr. Ir. Mudji Irmawan MT emphasized the importance of implementing construction safety standards and involving experts from the planning stage of a building.

The lecturer from the ITS Civil Engineering Department explained that any high-rise building construction carries a high risk if it is not supported by planning and supervision in accordance with engineering principles. Based on field studies, the majority of structural failures in Indonesia occur due to weak element connections and suboptimal technical supervision. “Most building collapses originate from human negligence during the construction process,” he said.

ITS Civil Engineering Expert Dr Ir Mudji Irmawan MT while providing an explanation regarding the collapse of the Islamic boarding school building in Buduran, Sidoarjo

Furthermore, Mudji assessed that the case at the Sidoarjo Islamic boarding school serves as a crucial example of the risks of gradual construction, or building growth without recalculating structural strength. This process can cause elements such as columns and beams to bear excessive loads beyond their initial design capacity. “Every additional floor must be accompanied by new structural planning, as the load on the lower level will increase significantly,” he said.

As a preventative measure, the forensic engineering and structural damage investigation expert emphasized the importance of implementing Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 2847 on reinforced concrete design. This standard stipulates that concrete strength limits are calculated at a maximum of 85 percent of the nominal material quality to provide a safety margin against quality variations or errors in the field. “SNI has regulated safety factors in detail, and if implemented diligently, the potential for failure can be minimized,” he explained.

A number of officers continue to try to carry out the evacuation process in the ruins of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School building, Buduran, Sidoarjo.

He highlighted the importance of fulfilling construction legal requirements, including the Building Construction Approval (PBG), which ensures the structure has been verified by the authorities. He noted that negligence in obtaining permits often leads to projects proceeding without proper technical oversight. “Permits are not a formality, but a form of responsibility to protect the safety of building users,” he emphasized.

As a form of academic contribution, ITS is opening up collaboration between the community and universities to improve the security of public facilities. Through consultations and community service, ITS is ready to provide technical assistance to educational institutions or Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) planning construction. “We are ready to assist anyone who wants to ensure the technical safety of their buildings, free of charge,” Mudji emphasized.

He added that coordination between academics, local governments, and the community needs to be strengthened to ensure that every development meets national safety standards. This step is also in line with efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), point 9 on Infrastructure and Innovation, point 11 on Sustainable Cities and Settlements, and point 17 on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals. “Safety must be a top priority in every development process, not just an add-on,” he concluded. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Nadhifa Raghda Syaikha
Translator : Devinka Mutianeira