Large panel systems webinar
Date & Time

3 April 2025
13:00 - 14:00 BST

Location

Online

Price
Members: £45 + VAT
Standard: £70 + VAT
The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
Large panel systems webinar

Large panel systems webinar

Tag
Author
Date published
Price
Webinar
Date & Time

3 April 2025
13:00 - 14:00 BST

Location

Online

Price
Members: £45 + VAT
Standard: £70 + VAT

Assessing and strengthening large panel systems for safer, compliant structures.

An estimated 575 tower blocks were built using pre-cast concrete floor and roof components in the mid to late 1960s.  These Large panel system (LPS) buildings need to be structurally assessed in line with the new building safety regime on a case-by-case basis. While the legal imperative to remediate the risks arising from LPS is not new there is a new standard which requires that all reasonable steps must be taken to mitigate the risks that exist with these types of structures in relation to fire performance, wind loading, effectiveness of connections, robustness and disproportionate collapse.  The quality of work in assessing, maintaining, and remediating LPS has been highly variable which has exacerbated the risk. 

 

This webinar will provide case studies on historical defects in LPS buildings, the assessment process, and practical risk management strategies to ensure compliance and safety.

Learning objectives:

  • Understand what an LPS system is and how to identify it.

  • Recognise known structural and fire safety issues in LPS.

  • Learn best practices for assessing, managing structural risk, and strengthening LPS structure.  
     

Speakers include:​

Andrew Lawrence Director, Arup

Andrew is Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at Cambridge University, represents the UK at European level in the development of regulations for both timber and existing structures, and is a member of the UK Government Building Advisory Committee where he leads the Working Group on New & Emerging Risks and Incidents. He is committed to helping improve the safety and sustainability of construction. He lectures worldwide, is regularly called on to provide expert comment in the media and has acted as technical expert in both litigation and mediation.

Gavin McLachlan Associate, Conisbee

Gavin is an Associate at Conisbee, having joined as a graduate from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in 2014. He is a structural engineer who works largely on existing buildings including Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Victoria Palace Theatre. He became a chartered member of the Institution of Structural Engineers in 2019. Whilst working on the London Borough of Newham’s Higher Risk Buildings, Gavin was an early user of the Institution’s new guidelines on providing safety case reports. He also co-authored the Institution’s ‘Assessment of Higher-Risk Buildings under the Building Safety Act: A Compendium of Structural Typologies’ publication, providing insight into Large Panel System construction.

Webinar Chair: Emily Halliwell

Senior Structural Engineer, The Concrete Centre

Emily is a senior structural engineer at The Concrete Centre, where she promotes efficient concrete design and construction. Her role includes work on the development of Eurocode 2 and providing technical guidance to designers. Prior to joining The Concrete Centre, she worked on a wide range of challenging engineering schemes, including stations, stadia and commercial buildings. She is a Chartered Member of the ICE and IStructE and a Chartered Environmentalist.

Contact

Email - [email protected]

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