Colliers Property Management team has been working with Civil Defence in Christchurch over the weekend and examining the structures of many buildings in the Christchurch CBD.

The message from Colliers is:

Businesses in multi-storey buildings in Christchurch should take care before sending their people into work on Monday, according to Colliers International, which manages over 50 multi level buildings in the CBD.

Evan Harris, Director of Colliers International Property Management, says that although several office buildings have been approved as structurally operational, they could still contain numerous Health & Safety issues for staff, including:

- Stairwell safety
- Electrical issues
- Water and wastewater problems.

Harris says: "Working with Civil Defence and structural engineers, we are inspecting all the properties we manage and talking with every affected owner and tenant."

"We are saying to occupiers of CBD buildings with lifts: Don't come in to work tomorrow, because there could be undiscovered problems in buildings that have been assessed as structurally sound," says Harris. "Only companies providing essential services - and then only their essential people - should be at their CBD desks tomorrow, and only then if their building has passed inspection."

Harris says that he is focussed particularly on buildings with lifts because although the structures may be sound and assessed by engineers as 'green' - ie: structurally safe - many buildings have yet to be fully assessed from a mechanical, electrical, water and wastewater perspective. "Not all building lift systems have been fully checked yet. And some of the taller buildings have debris in the fire escape stairwells. This means that in the event of an evacuation there could be a safety risk for occupants trying to use the stairs."

Hamish Doig, Managing Director of Colliers International agency services in Christchurch, says that many Christchurch businesses are being forced into temporary alternative accommodation until the full extent of damage to their premises is known.

"They need to be up and running as quickly as possible but can't get back into their own buildings until any required structural work is done to ensure safety. We are now making arrangements to find companies alternative premises where necessary and we are in touch with several of our other clients and partners to see if they can provide space for affected companies."

Doig said he was fielding calls from businesses from as far away as Rolleston right through to the CBD.

Colliers has set up a helpdesk number - 03 3796 280 - to assist tenants and occupiers in the 150 local buildings the company manages and other companies in the region.

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