Mr G T. Harding (F) (DOE Building Regulations Division) I congratulate the speakers on their achievement for, while I personally consider the buildings to be aesthetically unattractive, the structures they incorporate are clearly of innovative significance.
Mr P. F. Winfield (F) (Grove Consultants) What sort of damage would you expect the building to sustain under a Richter 8 earthquake?
‘Quality assurance’ has been with us long enough for a reappraisal to be possible and, as might be expected, the answers are mixed. They are based on impressions rather than on any scientifically valid survey, but patterns are discernible. Some firms claim spectacular improvements, but cynics will ask how well they performed beforehand. Well-run firms have always had defined procedures, regularly updated: only the assessment razzmatazz in the name of BS5750’s holy script was new, Disillusionment is probably greatest among those who, through their early enthusiasm, became too ambitious in their aims. S.B. Tietz
This paper describes and explains the design of the facade structure fronting the Pavilion of the Future, built at Seville for the Universal Exposition 1992. The free-standing facade structure's innovative use of natural stone elements assembled into loadbearing units is detailed, and the various issues that influenced its design are explained. The unique nature of the stonework required a specially devised analysis method, based on non-linear computer software, to make justification of the structure possible. This method is described, together with the other principal features of the justification approach. E.A.R. Lenczner
In August 1993, the Institution - aware of the problems which might be encountered by its Graduate and Corporate members working within the European Community on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications under Community Directive 89/48/EEC - wrote to members working within the EC requesting their views on this issue. At the same time the opportunity was taken to seek views on other Institution matters. The Institution is indebted to John Sykes (a Member working in Germany)for his assistance in framing the questionnaire.