He further goes on to say that this sequence must also be adhered to if all goals cannot be achieved simultaneously, or only partially. In the field of measuring technology, this implies that, where questions of safety arise, the greatest degree of reliability must be demanded. Everyone carrying out measurements to evaluate the safety must be sure of the reliability of the applied method. Numerous correct measurements are of little use when only one, which appears correct, causes trouble and brings the whole project into discredit. Safety is the prime goal in building construction.
Compromises have to be ruled out.
The collapse of a building not only has economic consequences. Dead and injured people are unfortunately all too frequent. The collapse of a department store in Korea with hundreds killed was a terrible disaster. In Germany too, we are not immune to the collapse of buildings, as shown by the collapse of the canopy of the Berlin Congress Hall some years ago, or, just recently, the crash of Jena's Red Tower. Safety must not be neglected, even then when it appears worthy to retain an historically or architecturally interesting building.