Anything whose strength has lives depending on it, should be handled carefully. A building isn’t a garment, it should not be supervised by people who learnt it as a trade. You need a well trained professional, no matter how small the structure is.
Let’s picture a building like a wooden table. The top of the table that carries your books and electronics can be seen as a slab (decking), the horizontal wood directly beneath the top of the table is the beam in buildings. This carries the load you put on the table and transfers it to the legs of the table. Just as the beam transfers the load on the slab to the columns (pillars) and then to ground foundation. If the foundation isn’t strong , it wont carry the columns. If the columns aren’t strong, they wont carry the beams. If the beam isn’t strong, it wont carry the slab. And if the slab isn’t strong, it wont carry the people and furniture on it.
Building collapse is not new to us, we are well aware the lives it have claimed. The blame doesn’t entirely rest on the engineers, everyone involved has a share. Up to does around who watched as the building continued without asking questions. We all have a role to play.
I have outlined why buildings aren’t built to standard anymore;


The Client
1. When a client has little money but big dreams. You need to have an idea of what the building will cost you before you begin. Its advisable you contact a quantity surveyor. After the architectural and structural design has been done, send a copy to him. You shouldn’t have a budget until you have met a QS.
2. Baba Builders is cheaper mentality. Oh yeah, i agree they are very cheap. Atleast most of their buildings are still standing till today and possibly your friends have used one before. They are still living happily in the house (for now). But do you know what they do? Ranging from no foundation pads to beam- less building, all hidden in plaster and sand. Because most Clients are either abroad or too busy and might not understand their importance.
3. Adding an extra floor to make more money from commercial buildings without consulting a structural engineer.

The more money and materials you save, the less lives you aren’t. Its better you build gradually with the money you have. No matter how long it takes to complete it, you will be safe. But if you want a mansion for the cost a bungalow, it will only last a while.


The Structural Engineer
1. Inexperience in both structural design and site work
2. Insufficient information and inability to interpret architectural drawings
3. Avoiding to do soil test or not assuming wisely
4. Not doing manual design calculations first before proceeding to use the softwares to analyse and design
5. Copy paste from previous design.
6. Poor detail drawings


Builder or site supervisor
1. Not following structural drawings
Reducing pad base or refusing to put one.
2. Not carrying out material test to ensure their strength
3. The use of poor concrete mix
4. Not curing concrete to achieve maximum strength
5. Loading the slab (decking) too early.
6. Saving materials or buying inferior materials to make gain
7. Absence from site, when attention is required
8. When contracted to add an extra floor to an existing structure, they don’t consult a structural engineer.

Let me break it down for you. Adding a floor to an existing building is like having an adult with the foot of a baby. He definitely wont be able to stand.

Most continued columns (pillars) are added without considering column continuity. There needs to be a proper lap. Columns should have all longitudinal reinforcements linked to the very top and there should be no breakage. When u add more floors, its like a leg without knee cap.

9. Passing drainage pipe inside beams. When a drainage pipe passes through a beam it weakens it. And I have noticed some site engineers cut the beams to fit the pipes.



Please if I have skipped any, kindly share below.

Apele Designs
www.apeledesigns.com
TEL: +2347030367178
EMAIL: apeledesigns@gmail.com

Hmmm