During the 20th century, the use of hollow clay pots as void formers became more prevalent as concrete became more common as a building material.
Hollow pot construction can suffer from insufficient lateral stability, a lack of a robustness system, poor fire resistance, and susceptibility to overstressing; assessment is often based on limiting the increase in loading to a specified percentage, rather than carrying out checks.
These potential defects give rise to significant fire and structural risks, which must be appropriately assessed. In the UK, the Building Safety Act’s obligation to assess the 12,500 HRBs across the country demands new assessment responsibilities from structural engineers.
The industry is also putting greater emphasis on prioritising refurbishment of existing buildings for re-use. With many 20th century buildings containing hollow-pot floors being up for alteration, structural engineers need to be fully aware of their features and defects.
Attend this webinar to deepen your understanding of the risks of hollow-pot construction, and the assessment process of these structural elements.
After this webinar, you will be able to:
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Discuss the breadth of risks associated with hollow-pot construction, and weaving the Golden Thread into working with them
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Define the assessment process of these typologies of HRBs
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Gain a better understanding of typology-specific investigation strategies
Associate, BDP
Jessica is a conservation accredited engineer (CARE) with over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Working for BDP she specialises in developing bespoke yet pragmatic solutions for the unique situations encountered in existing buildings, with particular concern for preservation of historic fabric. She is an expert in condition assessments of existing structures as well as surveying strategy and techniques. Her recent experience includes leading the structural design and surveying programme for the Restoration and Renewal of the Grade I listed Palace of Westminster, which seeks to protect and preserve the heritage of the building and ensure it can continue to serve as home to the UK Parliament in the 21st century.
She is on the Southwark Diocesan Advisory Committee and has also completed a Professional Development Diploma in Historic Building Conservation and Repair.
Associate Director, BDP
Steven is a Chartered Structural and Civil engineer who, for the past 20 years, has focused on leading multi-disciplinary teams on the adaptation and refurbishment of existing buildings of various ages. He has a particular interest in structural surveying, repair methods and the interface between old and new, and the practical delivery of design solutions on stie. Steven sits on the IStructE Structural Futures Committee, and was a contributing author to the Institution’s recent publication on assessing various existing higher-risk building typologies where he contributed the chapter on hollow pot floors.
Structural Engineering Lead (Health), Mott MacDonald
Andrew is a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers with over 25 years’ experience, specialising in building assessment, healthcare design, and complex new-builds. He holds Conservation Accreditation (CARES) and has led award-winning hospital projects. Recently, he’s advised NHS Trusts on modern construction methods, carbon reduction, and safety standards. A contributor to industry guidance on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), net-zero strategies, and the Building Safety Act, Andrew also serves on the CROSS UK Structural Safety Expert Panel.
Director, Stand Consulting Engineers
Stuart is the founding Director of Stand Consulting Engineers and a conservation-accredited engineer. He has a particular interest in 20th century buildings and since 1993 has been a member 20th Century Society Casework Committee. He is the UK representative for the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on 20th Century Heritage and lectures on the conservation of historic concrete at West Dean College.