Investigation broken down stairs in Maarssen flat: housing association fell short in checks

On November 21 last year, the stairs of the first floor broke in the porch of an apartment building on Schaepmanstraat in Maarssen. No one was injured in this. Many residents were shocked by the damage. Some had to spend the night elsewhere.

Housing association Portaal, which manages the property, announced an investigation. This shows that the staircase has been demolished because the steel profile on which the staircase rests has been affected by rust. In the past, the stairwell has been cleaned with chlorine for a long time. In addition, the entrance mat has not been sufficiently cleaned or replaced. As a result, brine (water with a very high salt content) has run in. This caused the steel profile to start to rust.

The insufficient control of cleaning and the technical condition of the stairs meant that the rust formation was not noticed. At the time the banisters were painted, there was no mention of the rust formation and therefore it was not treated.

Portaal believes that they have a responsibility in this and apologizes. “It is too easy to look away now,” says Reijnder Jan Spits, public housing manager of the housing association. “We failed to adequately check the cleaning work and the technical condition of the stairs. I take that to heart and for that I offer my sincere apologies to the residents.”

The housing association will take a number of measures to prevent new incidents. Although chlorine has not been used for some time now, Portaal is entering into discussions with the cleaning company to examine the working method, the means and the effects on the building. In addition, after the repair work in the flat and two similar flats, there will be a new mat that will be cleaned regularly.

The flats on Kuperstraat and Troelstrastraat are identical to the flats along Schaepmanstraat. The stairwells of these flats are being restored. In the coming weeks, the stairs will be additionally reinforced with steel beams that will be attached to the walls of the stairwell. The stairs are also accommodated by 1.5 cm thick steel strips that rest on this steel beam.

In February there will be another investigation into the entire construction. Research was already done into this in 2018. Although the municipality is of the opinion that this investigation into the load-bearing walls of the complex has been carried out well and extensively, Portaal believes it is important to conduct another investigation into the building.

The municipality will soon decide with the housing association whether the three complexes will be renovated or demolished and new buildings will be built. Both parties hope to clarify this in April.