Building defects: anatomy of a major failure

Abstract

Abstract Because the collapse of a school roof in London last June took place at night, a constructional failure avoided becoming also a human tragedy. But the technical shock waves persist. A special investigation by the UK's Building Research Establishment at the request of the Department of Education and Science highlighted the detailing of the prestressed concrete roof beams, the bearing of the nibs on the edge beams, the subsequent behaviour of the concrete and the continuity reinforcement, and the structural cross-tying of the building.