Report condemns ‘deficient’ design of NZ quake collapse building

In news that only further confirms the importance of the right construction phase plan and other risk-minimising measures from a reputable specialist like QS Associates (http://www.qsassociates.co.uk), a report has been released into the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand that describes as “deficient” the design of a building that collapsed, resulting in the loss of 115 lives.

The Royal Commission’s report, which was described as “grim and sobering reading” by Prime Minister John Key, said that the engineer responsible for the design of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building had worked “beyond his competence”. It found a failure on the part of his overseer to review the project’s structural details, which highlights the vital role played by CDM coordinators London and other professionals.

The third and final part of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission was released after hearings with a focus on the CTV building lasting more than two months. It described the six-storey structure’s engineering design as “deficient in a number of respects”, leading to its collapse on 22^nd February 2011, within 10-20 seconds of the onset of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake. The deaths of those inside the building represented almost two thirds of all of those in the natural disaster.

According to the report, “the design process led to a building that was under-engineered in a number of important respects” and it should have been realised by the engineer’s overseer that the design pushed him “beyond his limits given his past experience”. It said that “while there were elements of the applicable codes that were confusing, a building permit should not have been issued for the building as designed”.

Another failure pinpointed in the report was the construction manager not spending “sufficient time on the site to perform his role adequately”, with various construction defects having also been identified. Six specific reasons for the collapse were stated in the report, with one being the quake’s intensity and the remaining five relating to the structure’s design or construction.

The report also called for the improvement of post-quake assessment procedures, pointing out the approval of the CTV building’s use after the September 2010 earthquake despite no structural level examination having been carried out.

Prime Minister John Key released a statement in which he admitted that “we recognise this news will be of little comfort to the friends and families of the 115 people who lost their lives in the CTV building on that fateful day”. He said that the government would take the necessary time to consider the “incredibly complex” seven-volume report’s recommendations, before its expected release of a “full and comprehensive response by early to mid-2013”.

Such developments across the world only further highlight the potential consequences of a failure to hire the right CDM designer. QS Associates (http://www.qsassociates.co.uk) draws on its considerable experience and competence in its promotion of the highest levels of construction safety in London, with services encompassing basic site inspections, full site audits and design risk workshops.

Editor’s Note: QS Associates (http://www.qsassociates.co.uk) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.