The collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida, was a tragedy. Let’s not allow it to happen here.

We are an island state, understood to be one of the most remote places on earth, surrounded by 2,500 miles of open ocean on all sides. We have a tropical, hot and humid climate — one that we all appreciate, but one that provides exposure to ocean air and the chlorides present in salt water.

These chlorides are everywhere and have even been found 30 stories up in high-rise towers. They can cause corrosion of virtually all metals.

Our soil is often referred to as coralline soil, a mixture of sand and broken-up coral from the coral reefs fringing our islands. These soils are highly corrosive.

Many builders have been oblivious to such and have even made matters worse by crushing or breaking up giant coral blocks to become the base around the foundation of homes. It is no wonder that thousands of houses in Ewa Beach have experienced corrosion and deterioration of the hurricane straps designed to hold the houses down in a storm.

It is well understood in the scientific community — and hopefully soon in the construction community — that while concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, its properties must be considered.

A denser, more durable concrete mix can be designed, and rebar and structural steel can be protected by more cover or by a thicker layer of concrete — and thus the steel protected and the integrity of the building preserved.

We need to pay attention to design. We need to pay attention to see that proper materials are selected and that they are properly installed. We need to add the critical measure of inspection.

Our buildings can be protected from the devastating effects of corrosion by competent and regular inspections, followed by timely and proper repairs monitored by our building department.

On Oahu, we call that department the Department of Planning and Permitting. Many other states call it the Department of Building and Safety. Let’s put “safety” in the job description, if not in its name.

The department can perform inspections, and it can require any unsafe building to be repaired and corrected or red-tagged if deemed unsafe for occupancy.

Building managers cannot just assume that because we are on an island, corrosion is inevitable. Corrosion can be controlled. Periodic inspections can and should be performed by licensed and experienced engineers.

Knowledgeable inspectors know what to look for and how to test. They can often spot early signs of damage, and once damage is identified can perform testing and then implement a preventive repair.

Building associations should implement a plan of periodic inspections and never accept delay.

Surfside identified a problem in 2018, and by 2021 had done nothing but started a roof repair. While association boards are made up of lay volunteers, buildings are almost always managed by professional property managers. There are many firms here in the islands that have experienced managers who can guide a board.

Let’s head this off at the pass and require builders to construct buildings properly with an objective of quality, durable construction. Let’s inspect those buildings which are still in the 10-year statute of limitations and hold builders accountable to pay for repair of the defects before there is catastrophic loss of life. Collapse is not inevitable if everyone involved acts responsibly.