Inspection raised concerns about a 'major error' in Champlain Tower design, records show

[superpatriotman]

In a 2018 report about the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, an engineer flagged a “major error” dating back to the building’s origin where lack of proper drainage on the pool deck had caused “major structural damage,” according to records released late Friday night by town officials in the wake of the tower’s disastrous collapse on Thursday.

“[R]emoval of the concrete topping slab to gain access to the waterproofing membrane will take time, be disruptive and create a major disturbance to the occupants of this condominium structure,” the report said.

The parking garage under the pool deck and planter slabs also “revealed signs of distress/fatigue,” according to Morabito’s report. “Several sizable [cracks in the concrete] were noted in both the topside of the entrance drive ramp and underside of the pool/entrance drive/planter slabs, which included instances with exposed, deteriorating rebar,” according to the report.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article252385083.html

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The report found additional spalling or cracking in a small percentage of concrete columns and exterior walls. One column contained a wide crack, defined as more than 2 millimeters.

In another section of the report, it noted that the waterproofing membranes were “beyond their useful life” and needed to be replaced. It further noted that the pool and Jacuzzi were leaking and needed to be removed and all cracking or spalling concrete repaired.

[gab13by13]

1. Lack of proper drainage from the pool

or maybe intrusion of ocean water?

[MineralMan]

2. Almost certainly, the collapse was due to a failure of the foundation

of the building. Once the debris is gone, the foundation can be excavated and thoroughly inspected. I'm guessing that they will find that the steel reinforcement network in the concrete failed through corrosion, probably caused by salt water flooding or intrusion into the water table.

However, like everyone else, I'm just making an educated guess. However, such a catastrophic failure really has to be a foundation issue. They will figure it out, once they can dig and inspect the foundation pillars that support the building.

I also would bet that the rest of the building will be condemned and demolished. I can't imagine that similar conditions exist in the foundation of the entire structure.

1981 was a long time ago. The design probably did not take saltwater intrusion into the structure into consideration. I would bet that design requirements are much different today for new construction in places like that. it would be interesting to see how they're building tall buildings there now. I doubt they're using the same foundation design specifications. I doubt it very much.

What a tragedy for all involved! Both in terms of lives lost and investments lost.

[yardwork]

4. I don't have a lot of confidence in building codes in Florida.

In fact, I have little confidence in building codes throughout the south. The building and realty lobbies have a lot of power here. In NC, the state legislature made it illegal to even mention sea level rise in official reports and plans. Can't have "liberal myths" interfering with making a fast buck.

I have no expertise about what might have happened with this building collapse, but I am certain that Florida politics won't help.

[obamanut2012]

6. We actually have some of the best in the country here

Now, not when this building was built.

[yardwork]

9. Aha! Good to know.

[MineralMan]

7. Looking back to the 1980s, they were even more lax then.

Corner-cutting and fudging on engineering was a commonplace thing at that time. I think that, as sea levels rise, we are going to see more building failures. Perhaps not complete collapses like this one, but buildings that have to be abandoned and demolished.

I would never live in Florida, for very many reasons.

[yardwork]

10. I think you're right, and it's a global problem.

[MineralMan]

11. It is a global problem.

When I was stationed in Turkey in the late 60s in the USAF, I watched out of my barracks as workers built a six story apartment building just off the base where I was stationed. As I watched, I saw them mixing concrete on site, using dirt excavated from the site, rather than clean gravel and sand. So, lots of organic material was being mixed with into bearing concrete. Not a good thing at all.

In that city, Samsun, every earthquake caused multi-story buildings to collapse. Most were apartment buildings. There were building codes there, but they were simply not enforced, or inspectors were bribed not to see poor practices.

There's less of that in the USA, but it still goes on. Besides, building codes and specs in the 80s were not as strict as they are now, especially with engineering requirements.

[WHITT]

3. Just Nearby

there's another building, constructed by the same company, using the same design, the same plans, and utilizing the same construction materials. The local authorities are asking the state how they can evacuate the entire building so they can get a forensic inspection team in there.

[MineralMan]

8. The people who bought condos in buildings like that have now

seen their investment shrink to almost zero. I suspect they will get nothing from the building owners to offset their losses. I'd be looking at my contract and purchase documents very closely, with the help of an attorney. There's a good chance condo owners in such buildings will be wiped out completely, with lengthy lawsuits in their future.

[Quixote1818]

5. The parking garage didn't collapse though. There is video of them under the garage in the past

couple of days. If the columns failed just three years after this then just fixing cracks in the concrete would not have been enough. The rebar must have already been totally trashed by water getting in. It would have needed major restructuring repairs on columns etc.