SGS conducts welding inspection for the China Pavilion as part of the World Expo 2010 project in Shanghai
21/04/2010
The World Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai from 1 May to 31 October 2010 with the theme 'Better City – Better Life', signifying Shanghai's new status as a major economic and cultural centre. With 70 million visitors expected from all over the world it will be one of the largest expositions in the history of world fairs.The construction of the China Pavilion 'The Crown of the East' was one of the most significant parts of the World Expo 2010 preparation project as this iconic structure will be at the heart of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. The national pavilion is in the shape of an oriental crown, demonstrating the spirit of traditional Chinese culture. This 69 m tall building consists of a 30 m-high roof which is made of traditional wooden brackets symbolising the nation's 56 minority ethnic groups and a large steel structure requiring 23,000 tons of steel.
Given the high number of expected visitors, the safety checks on the construction of the pavilion's steel structure were of paramount importance as the smallest discontinuities and failures in the welds could cause bad accidents. For this reason, SGS China was awarded the contract to provide independent technical inspection of the welds. The main target of SGS's third party inspection was to verify that the welds conform to all the applicable quality standards.
SGS China set up an inspection team of eight highly experienced, skilled and well-qualified experts responsible for identifying, analysing and eliminating failed welds. Moreover, the SGS engineers ensured that the welds met defined quality standards.
SGS's inspection work took seven months and was completed in January 2009. The China Pavilion was completed in February 2010 and can now be admired by visitors.
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