Multistorey Carparks - Design and Maintenance Issues

It is difficult, when asked to write something about our work, to see how our modest residential projects could be of much interest to the structural engineer. One thinks of architects who work with tensile structures and retractable roofs for stadiums as having something of greater relevance to impart. However, I am informed that our work causes structural engineers considerable headaches. M. Guard

The collapse caused fatalities and injuries, and was the subject of a criminal prosecution. The collapse was caused by similar conceptual misunderstandings on the part of the designers and the independent checkers. The primary causes are explained and non-causative actions, omissions and events, which were put to the jury, are discussed. The principal issue before the jury was whether and under what circumstances a port operator is responsible for the mistakes of his engineering advisers and suppliers. Also, there was prolonged legal argument on the meaning of ‘reasonably practicable’ and ‘on whether ,design was part of the owner’s ‘undertaking’. J.C. Chapman

Tanya de Hoog, 2024 IStructE President, addresses the membership with a focus on technical expertise, collaboration and aligned action.