INDIANAPOLIS - A near-eastside church collapse is raising concerns about the structural integrity of all buildings.
13 investigates discovered buildings you walk into every day could have hidden hazards.
New signs say "unsafe" on the Greater New Jerusalem Temple, one day after the church collapsed on East New York Street.
It came down suddenly Tuesday, but not without warning. Months ago an engineering firm said a collapse was imminent and worshipers heard problems well before it buckled.
"Like 'crack, crack, crack' and then the next thing we knew we could see it falling," said church member Marilyn Brown.
Last summer, the roof of a family fun center suddenly caved in, in New Castle. Building inspectors weren't sure why. Sometimes potential hazards are hidden - structural issues you just can't see.
"It looks like a perfectly good building from the outside and you don't understand the structural integrity inside the building because those are all covered up with walls, so it's very deceptive and you don't know what you're getting into," explained Indianapolis Fire Captain Fred Purvine.
That can be precarious for the public. Indianapolis has thousands of buildings that people enter every day, and as time goes by, they age. Eyewitness News asked if anyone's regularly inspecting to see if structures are safe.
"There are not annual inspections from the department of code enforcement," said Code Enforcement spokesperson Kate Johnson. "Not only are there more than 24,000 buildings in the city, but we can only check the structural integrity of a building in the areas that are exposed."
Only new construction and buildings that apply for permits for a remodel get code inspections.
Older buildings are left alone.
Buildings do receive regular fire inspections, which sometimes reveal problems. Purvine says the department shut down a car repair shop on Massachusetts Ave. two months ago, after noticing the roof wasn't safe.
"It was held up by some blocks and a 2x4 and the wind could blow it into collapse," Purvine said.
But in general, structure safety in the long-term falls on the building owner.
"Ultimately it's the owner's responsibility to make sure their building is functioning and safe for the public to enter. I think it's wise to have termite inspections, make sure the building is safe. I think if you have a leak in the building, there's a problem that would deteriorate the wood," Purvine said. "What we need the public to do is when you see those things, report those things and don't leave it to someone else to figure out."
Maintenance and vigilance, he says, are important to avoid a dangerous collapse. If you have a complaint or concern about the structural safety of a building, you can contact Indianapolis Code Enforcement or the Indianapolis Fire Department and one of the agencies will look into the problem
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DCE/Pages/home.aspx CODE ENFORCEMENT LINK
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/dps/ifd/Pages/home.aspx INDIANAPOLIS FIRE DEPT. LINK
