Working Engineers Guide on Robustness and Disproportionate Collapse

Chairman: Allan Mann
Secretary: Berenice Chan

This Task Group is preparing a concise report that will:

• be aimed at the practising engineer
• clarify the definitions, mechanisms and relevance of robustness and disproportionate collapse
• illustrate, material by material, the specific issues and suggested solutions i.e. how to design for robustness
• illustrate solutions to hybrid construction and inter-material problems

The scope of the guide will be primarily limited to buildings although some of the principles involved will be applicable to other structures. As far as possible, the guide will deal in principles and practical solutions and so will be largely code independent.

The guide will not be limited in scope to the requirements of the Building Regulations in England and Wales (or even the UK). However, it will mention some of the issues about the application of the classification of structures to existing buildings e.g. extensions and multiple ownership. Class 3 structures will not be covered.

It is anticipated that the Manual will be published in late 2009.

For further information, contact Berenice Chan, Secretary.