Structural Defects in Residential Buildings: A Study of Quetta, Pakistan

Housing plays a very important role in the human life and our society. Housing has a great social and economic impact on our lives and the way we live. It has direct and immediate effect on health, education, economy, environment, political and social life of any society. In today’s technologically advanced world, the quality of housing and its maintenance in a livable condition yet remains a challenge in many parts of the globe. This study identifies the various types of structural defects present in the residential buildings of Quetta city. The data was collected from selected areas of the city using questionnaire, physical identification survey, and conducting interviews based on the fundamental knowledge of structural defects and their effects on buildings. It was found that houses in Quetta cantonment area possess the highest number of structural defects followed by Pashtoonabad area. Apart from identifying the most affected area, an overall state of the residential buildings in Quetta city regarding structural integrity was also determined. Since, the city of Quetta is located in earthquake zone, it is very important that these types of structural defects should be avoided in future residential buildings and necessary maintenance should be carried out in existing houses to avoid any serious damages to houses and loss of human lives due to the occurrence of any possible disaster.