renovation advised that the structure could not
support the additional floor and was subsequently
dismissed. Another construction company was
later appointed to execute the works. In addition,
a 45-ton air conditioning unit was installed on the
roof.
Cracks began to appear on June 29, 1995
in the ceiling and the management shut down
air conditioning units to reduce the vibration.
Subsequently, the air conditioning units crashed
through the fifth floor and thereafter the supporting
columns gave way, resulting in the overall building
collapse. A total of 502 people were killed and
1,500 shoppers were trapped inside the building.
Collapse of West Gate Bridge, Melbourne
– October 15, 1970
The Royal Commission of Enquiry on the
collapse of West Gate Bridge stated:
Among those engaged upon the design and
construction of the steel spans, there were
mistakes, miscalculations, errors of judgment,
failure of communication and sheer inefficiency.
In greater or less degree, the Authority itself,
the designers, the contractors, even the labour
engaged in the works, must all take some part of
the blame. Error begats error, and the events which
led to the disaster moved with the inevitability of
a Greek tragedy.
In judging the various issues we have not
applied any high standard of perfections, but
have taken our yardstick what we believe to be
a standard of reasonable competence to be
expected from men holding themselves out as
competent professionals…
Under these conditions, it is more than ever
essential to employ really adequate margins of
safety and to ensure that they are not eroded by
imponderables and human fallibility.
Lessons learnt from Aberfan Coal Tip
Disaster, South Wales, UK - October 21
A coal tip slid down Merthyr Mountain into
Pantglas Village claiming 144 lives, including 116
children.
The Inquiry Tribunal on the Aberfan Coal Tip
Disaster noted:-
a. Tips should be treated as civil engineering
structures
b. Action is required to safeguard future
conditions of tips
c. All tips should be regarded as potentially
dangerous
d. Intercommunication within National Coal
Board needs examination and overhaul.
Study of recent Building Failures in the
United States – Kumalasari and Fabian
C Hadipriono
Causes of building failures are classified into six
principle causes, which include enabling causes
(design, detailing, construction, maintenance and
material-related problems) and triggering causes
(external-related events).
Consistent with the phase at which failure
occurred, the study reveals construction
deficiencies and external events as the two
most frequent principal causes, followed by
maintenance deficiency as a distant third. These
causes contributed to the failures of low-rise and
multi-storey buildings.
Under the categor y of construc tion
deficiencies, more specific causes, such as
improper renovation, unplanned demolition, poor
workmanship, and unsafe excavation operations
were identified. External events include rain,
wind, and snow that precipitated building
collapse.
Three Roof Collapses in one year,
2013 - Trengganu, Malaysia
Three roofs in various locations collapsed
in Terengganu in 2013. These were at the
Tereng ganu S t adium We s t g r and s t and
(demolition), the Masjid Kampung Terbauk, Bukit
Tunggal, Kuala Terengganu and Masjid Bintai
Kertas Kuala Berang. One the senior politician
called it “tidak mahu runtuh sudah runtuh. Mahu
runtuh pun runtuh”.
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