Rapid structural assessment of garment factories in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is the world’s second biggest exporter of garments, producing a range of clothes for all the major designer labels. The collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Savar in April 2013 highlights the lack of building control that had accompanied the very rapid growth of this industry since the early 1990s and initiated a widespread assessment of the structural integrity of hundreds of similar buildings. Medway Consultancy Services (UK) Ltd undertook assessments of some 200 factories between May 2013 and December 2015 for two major buying groups. Each factory building was inspected visually to confirm that it had been built according to available plans and that the resulting structure was fit for purpose. Additional investigations, including ground investigations and exposure of footings, were undertaken in a small number of cases. This paper describes the process for prioritising assessments and the systematic approach adopted for rapid categorisation of structures. It discusses the outcomes and challenges faced when working in developing countries, particularly within a politically sensitive environment generated by global media attention.