I've seen bogus "Certifications" on ductile iron pipe, pre-cast concrete manhole sections, cast iron valve boxes, manhole frames, rings, covers, etc, made in China. I once had a supplier try to pawn off a shipment of Chinese-made cast iron manhole frames and covers which "met" all applicable ASTM standards, but which were so porous that air could readily pass though the "cast iron" and from which sand ran out of the pores when you handled them.
I have long suspected that certifications on many Chinese-made products are 100% counterfeit.
I do not know if it is a factor in this accident, but I will not be surprised if it turns out to be.
Responding to Post #18.
Spot on with Chinese Quality certs and validation stuff. I had heard grumblings about the sort of things you speak of for years. There is actually a LOT of truth to it. For the past year I have had access to reports for my company’s construction efforts in China. We have a firm dedicated to quality control independent of all contractors and government. The defects (fraud) that they discover would be laughable if some of them were not so serious. I don’t think there is an honest tape measure or scale in China. It worries the hell out of our facilities folks. What are we not catching?