AN AVOIDABLE MISFORTUNE, THE IKOYI BUILDING COLLAPSE.
PREAMBLE: The Structural foundation design sets the tone for the strength of high-rise buildings. Ensure your foundation follows the designed specifications, and the rest will follow.
The engineer’s first problem in any design situation is to discover what the problem is.
My take: the above is an inadequate foundation or a case of overloading.
The failure occurred, if all things said are done, over 40meters below the ground. That collapse is a complete failure arising from either incompetency or profiteering(occasioned by the use of substandard or uncertified materials.
INTRODUCTION: I'm an engineer myself who deals with deep foundations.
PREMISE: A whole bucket of questions needs to be answered.
1) The geotechnical detailed results used in drawing the plan should be investigated
2) The structural analysis that advised the depth of the foundation should be investigated
3) The records kept of adhering to the design depth should be investigated
4) The certification (at that level, all materials used must be accompanied by certificates) of the materials used should be investigated
5)etc.
As alluded to by the Association of Nigerian Chartered Architects.
IMMINENT FAILURE: The concern of structural engineers in charge of the building before abandoning the project will shed much light on the immediate causes of the building collapse.
LOCAL AUTHORITY: Our local authority on building matters doesn't have enough expertise to delve into high-rise building certification. Learned that the authority approved six more floors for the collapsed structure
For this level of approval. A structural engineer is required. Someone with good knowledge of structural analysis. Not just any graduate civil engineer.
EMERGENCY RESPOND: The next thing, people will criticize the government. The government will set up a panel to look into the causes of the crisis. Some people will embezzle some funds. Nothing achieved. Case closed until another disaster for another opportunity to make money.
At this age? We should have well-established first responders on the ground doing their best. Dismantle the rubble first and fast. Time is of the essence to save as many lives as possible.
A direct result of the failure of the state. The first and fastest response to damage (crisis) is equal to zero.
It's unfortunate for Nigeria that it's taking days to evacuate just one building, not thousands, fallen by severe weather.
They might be trapped within an enclosure. With only oxygen as the major challenge does not weigh on their bodies.
SUSPENSION ON THE PROGRESS OF BUILDING
Our supervising authority, however, placed little or zero premium on the on-site supervision of a going project on the ground.
If at all they appear on the work site, it is to intimidate the workforce so that the owner of the building can part with some cash for them to look the other way.
PANEL OF ENQUIRY: DEAD ON ARRIVAL
In the 6-member panel, 5 of them should at least have been competent professionals in building and construction. Not 1 Structural engineer and 5 lawyers to ascertain the causes of a building's structural collapse.
In a functional sense, this should be a structural engineer's investigation. The lawyer is just to provide legal premises for litigation.
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