THE BLAME GAME IN COLLAPSE OF BUILDINGS.

WHO SHOULD BE QUESTIONED FOR THE COLLAPSE OF BUILDINGS VS WHO IS ACTUALLY CONFRONTED.

THE BLAME GAME.

Thread.

A?building as you know is an artificial structure which cannot exist on its own. Being manmade, its liabilities that come forth from its existence are borne by the builder. The recent trends in collapse of buildings is quite an unending argument on whom to direct the burden falls to and from my research and own experience, I have chosen to answer these 2 questions for you.

Who is to blame? I would say the clients(developers) and authorities. As for the client it points to ignorance and arrogance. Leonardo de Vinci warned us that “To know that you do not know is the best, to think you know when you don’t is a disease”. Ignorance is extremely dangerous in this industry. As a client you are thinking of developing high rise apartments yet you don’t consult widely through professionals or outgoing developers to understand about due procedure to be followed for example approvals, consultants to approach or the buildability aspect of your project.Automically you will approach the wrong people, making rush and reckless decisions along the way.

The?same happens for arrogance?where you have prior adequate knowledge with a clear checklist of due procedures but choose to be rogue. This comes as a result of consulting from the wrong people. That foreman will convince you that its better to utilize that fee x that was to be used for approval to purchase several bags of cement. Approvals also serve for your own protection. By your own, you will not know if the Architect has followed zoning requirements that protects you from future demolitions, among other factors.

Authorities though indirect are also the ones who should be blamed. This comes from frustrations and lack of coordination in the various bodies. As per the law, approvals take 3 to 6 months each being unilateral. So, considering County approvals,NEMA and NCA each taking 3 months you will have to wait for almost a year. Furthermore, it has come to my attention that no reviews are done only just designating the stamp. It should be at this stage where all the work done by consultants is rechecked to ensure compliance of building codes and that the structural integrity of the building is?not compromised. This is evident when the client submits the drawings, asked for a `facilitation fee` for the drawings to be `out` in a week. That is so little time for the actual committee involved to review the work.

Who is actually blamed? I would say the contractor and engineers. This happens where such parties are not true?to their professional oaths and bend to pressure. This can be one outcome of several scenarios. The first the Engineer does not come for supervision especially for concrete works and reinforcement works. This gives leeway for the contractor to supply and fix substandard materials and in a manner that compromises the original design of the building, all in efforts to save on material cost and maximize his profits. The second case is where the contractor orchestrates for the engineer`s exit and takes the chance to mislead the client. The common mistake done afterwards is changing the original design. This may include adding additional floors and increasing room spaces and the same time making the wrong assumptions in matters relating to structural requirements.

Interestingly at such moments the client is happy as rentable capacity appears to have increased but cannot notice the incoming hazard. If authorities are to visit the site, they will arrest the contractor for deviating from the approved drawings. Incase another Engineer comes only to find such recklessness, he will withdraw. Nobody will want to carry such a mess. When the situation assumes a faulty curve, you begin blaming the devil because everybody has deserted you. But why? He is innocent! You together with the contractor created the mess.

Dearest client, the law is the law and it must be followed. Regardless of who is to blame and who is actually blamed, remember at such transition the damage has already occurred. My advice; consult widely with the right people, accept the advice as painful as it may be and finally believe in doing what is right despite the circumstances.

Best Regards.

Download it here

#constructionindusrtry #builtenvironment