Safety information search results

A check-list for all those engaged in structural or fire engineering design.

A reporter raises concerns about the underestimation of bending moments in perimeter columns when assessing punching shear in adjacent concrete slabs. Punching shear failures can be brittle and catastrophic. Designers need to include the appropriate ultimate moment in the design actions.

Defects in lightweight canopy roofs, using underslung roofing sheets in many cases.

The reporter is concerned about who should be responsible for producing accurate “as-constructed” drawings.  The reporter’s experience is that the as-constructed drawings are typically likely to be incomplete and contain errors.

A reporter has notified CROSS-AUS regarding the potentially inappropriate use of regulatory/compliance fire test methods on certain products. This has led, they say, to the circulation of inaccurate test certificates in the market and possibly the use of these products on buildings where they may not be suitable.

The reporter is concerned that some structural engineers assume without adequate verification that their computer modelling is correct and accurate; that they do not understand the limitations or basis for their modelling; or that the model chosen may not be appropriate for that structure.

This report highlights the difficulty of inspecting continuously threaded reinforcing bars to ensure that they have been adequately inserted into the cast-in ferrules.

This report describes a situation where site testing of post-installed fasteners in concrete was undertaken by a contractor as an alternative to adopting the design data from the manufacturer in an attempt to justify an increased design capacity for the fasteners.