XN000022-1994-10-21 — Page 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1994

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FINAL REPORT ON CANOPY COLLAPSE OUT

THE BUILDINGS

DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE FINAL REPORT OF ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE COLLAPSE OF A CANOPY IN ABERDEEN ON AUGUST 1 THIS YEAR.

THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS, MRS HELEN YU, POINTED OUT THAT THE REPORT CONTAINED NOT ONLY AN ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES OF THE CANOPY COLLAPSE BUT ALSO RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS THAT HAD BEEN OR WOULD BE TAKEN BY THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT,

SPEAKING ON THE CAUSES, SHE SAID THE INTERIM REPORT RELEASED IN MID-AUGUST HAD IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE TO BE CORROSION OF STEEL REINFORCEMENT IN THE CANOPY. THE FINAL REPORT HAD ESTABLISHED THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO BE:

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MISPLACEMENT OF STEEL BARS CAUSING STRESS BEYOND THEIR DESIGN LIMITS AND THE CANOPY TO CRACK AT ITS JUNCTION WITH THE MAIN BUILDING;

ADDITIONAL SCREEDING OVER 21 YEARS INCREASING THE LOADING ON THE CANOPY AND AGGRAVATING THE CRACKING PROCESS;

THE FISH-TANK CONSTRUCTION ALSO INCREASING THE LOADING LOCALLY ON THE CANOPY SLAB;

RAINWATER, POSSIBLY ALSO SEA-WATER DRAINED FROM THE FISH- TANK, AND DIRT ENTERING THE CRACK BETWEEN THE CANOPY AND THE MAIN BUILDING CAUSING CORROSION OF THE STEEL REINFORCEMENT; AND

THE ADDITIONAL SCREEDING, THE FISH-TANK AND AN UNAUTHORISED DOORWAY ONTO THE CANOPY RESULTING IN THE CANOPY BEING USED FOR PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT WAS NOT DESIGNED.

THE

"HOWEVER, EVEN WITHOUT THE FISH-TANK CONSTRUCTION, THE SAFETY OF THE CANOPY SLAB HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AS A RESULT OF MISPLACEMENT OF THE REINFORCING BARS, THE REDUCED THICKNESS OF CANOPY SLAB AND THE ADDITIONAL LOADING DUE TO THE WEIGHT SCREEDING, MRS YU STRESSED.

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SHE SAID THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FINAL REPORT INCLUDE:

THE

OF

IMPROVEMENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES + INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO RESTAURANT LICENCE APPLICATIONS;

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW OF:

(I)

(II)

REQUIREMENTS FOR SITE SUPERVISION;

REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION OF CONTRACTORS;

/(III)

ADEQUACY OF