Attawit supports the Industry Standards Committee's decision to remove the IF method from deformed steel bar production, locking in production methods to meet standards. He suggests government relief for manufacturers upgrading machinery and tax reductions.
On 17 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Attawit Suwanpakdee, Member of Parliament for the United Thai Nation Party, spoke about the direction of deformed steel bar standards at the forum. "Public Hearing on Reinforcing Steel Bar Standards" Following the Industry Product Standards Committee (IPSC), the main industry standards board, passing a resolution to limit deformed steel bar production methods used in columns and beams to only two: BO (Basic Oxygen Furnace) and EF (Electric Arc Furnace). This means the IF (Induction Furnace) method is excluded from producing deformed steel bars. Currently, public comments are being gathered before issuing a ministerial regulation from the Ministry of Industry.
Attawit stated that previously, the Thai Industrial Standard (TIS) 2559 did not strictly specify production methods but allowed IF as long as the molten steel was properly purified. This shifted control to inspecting the final steel product, which faces manpower limitations. The steel standards inspection division has only five staff. For major inspections, as a former advisor to the Industry Minister, he had to coordinate multiple agencies.
For manufacturers who invested in the IF method and are affected by the standard change, the government should provide relief measures, especially supporting machinery replacement through tax exemptions or reductions, and import incentives via investment promotion measures to help operators adapt to the new standards.
Attawit proposed that the IF method does not need to be completely removed from the steel industry. Round steel bars not used for load-bearing in columns and beams can still use IF, but production processes should be upgraded, requiring a refining furnace to control quality and meet standards.
Regarding steel samples taken from the State Audit Office (SAO) building, Attawit emphasized separating the issue of "steel standards" from the "cause of the building collapse." He noted the Ministry of Industry’s inspection found some IF steel failing standards on bending, cross-section, and notches, which may relate to steel properties and bonding with concrete. However, concluding steel as the collapse cause is an engineering matter that must be considered separately. He called on the Industrial Standards Office (ISO) to publicly disclose steel inspection results from this case to inform society and guide safer standard setting.