ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion Building Codes for Electricians Building Collapse in NJ

I was reading in the paper earlier today of a Casino that is under construction in New Jersey and some of it collapsed.
Does anyone closer (like in the same town or Country) have any idea what caused the deaths of 3 people and caused a few others to go missing?.
Just wondering?.

At this point the news is talking about improperly cured concrete.

Ron, yes that's what I've been hearing also.

10-10 WINS Radio also was saying something about the construction firm apparently trying to "rush" things.

It looked awful. Like a stack of books on blocks that just toppled over...

The shame here is the almighty dollar (or what ever your currency is) will cause this to happen again.

Many projects push the term "fast track" to the rediculous.

The owners have to have it yesterday, the liquidated damage threat causes all to get careless, the overzealous GC superintendant is out to make a name for him/herself, the GC and GC's superintendant have been promised a substantial incentive for early finish, etc...


Over aggressive and rediculous construction completion durations will cause many more workers to leave family and friends with out them.

There needs to be a realistic completion date, not to fast and just as immportantly not to slow.

The threats of fines and a GC's or an individuals monetary gain should not be a part of someones death.

I know everyone is going to say wake up and smell the coffee Roger, and I have but just wanted to vent.

Roger

Here's a news report with a photo:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/10/30/garage.collapse/

Good Lord!,
Exactly the same type of accident happened in Auckland here, about two weeks ago, although on a slightly smaller scale.
Same type of building construction too.
What annoys me, is this, at the time of the collapse over here, the building crew were using a concrete(cement) pump to fill the floor in, 3 floors up(how this is done I'm not really sure!), half way through the pour, the 3rd and 2nd floors collapsed.
Luckily there was no one else in the building at the time, those that were, got off with a few broken arms, etc.
To add a second layer of concrete(which has wieght) to an already heavy floor is just lunacy.
Roger,
I most certainly agree with your comments about modern building construction.
And the majority of Architects that I've met over the last couple of years, are really worrying, most of them look like they've just left school and they're designing big Concrete buildings!.

what damn job isn't fast track these days

We just recently started a project with a 10 week schedule, we work for this customer all the time and most times this project would be 16 to 18 weeks. That would be for a project starting with a blank slate.

This project has an existing building that is first to be built around while in operation to the general public, then demoed to fill the old space with new.

I can not go into details here but to put it shortly this is nuts.