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[prof.arc]

Dear Mr. Hari,

It is unfortunate that such accidents occur - only good thing is that the
number of such accidents are small compared to the abuse in construction
practices. I hope you have visited some construction site informally [and
not as a part of official delegation] and chatted with the workmen [maistry]
in-charge and then you will realise that what we read/teach has not
perculated down the line. The people who actually execute the job, are NOT
members of this forum and may not know English. Those who know, do not need
to be told about good construction practice as it is the lack of
implementation that is the curse.

I liked the quote today in a newspaper -

*There are thing we know that we know. *

*有已知的未知* *……我们现在的事情know **we don't know. *

*But there are also **unknown unknowns. *

*There are **things we don't know we don't know*

Sincerely

ARC
On Fri Nov 10 05:41:09 2006, sabharim[AT]gma... wrote:

[skjain.iitk]

Dear Hari and Prof ARC:

There is a systematic approach adopted in many other countries to avoid
and minimise such episodes, by regulating
the construction activity in a systematic manner at several levels.
Unfortunately, we in India have preferred to push papers
(creating reports, carrying out microzonation in the name of safety,
etc) rather than to implement such measures.

Lack of such systems is one single most important failure of civil
engineering leadership in our country:
failure to emphasize to the country the need for such measures. We all
know these measures; competence
based licensing of engineers and other building industry professionals,
regulation by municipal authorities, robust legal framework, etc.
While India is in a hurry to go into a developed country mode, a very
basic issue of safety of our constructions is being totally forgotten.

For every building that collapses, there are numerous other buildings
that are standing but which do not meet the minimum safety expected
from such buildings.

Best regards,

Sudhir

prof.arc[AT]gma... wrote:

[ajitkbhattacharyya]

Dear Sudhir,

I had mentioned earlier about Cross reportings on
behalf of Insitution of Structural Engineers U.k.
Such reportings will develop a spirit of safety
consciousness amongst the consulting practitioners.
All failures of such nature must be investigated
impartially and brought out for the information of
construction agencies involved.
It is a pity in this country even on a devastating
fire causing destruction of Vigyan Bhavan none at the
responsible level was punished and real neglect
brought out.The code makers must take a note of all
failures and bring it to the notice of all
concerned.None should be left free for their inaction
, neglect.

A.K.Bhattacharyya
--- skjain[AT]iit... wrote:


With kind regards

A.K.BHATTACHARYYA

F.I.StructE (UK), FIE (India), FIBE, FIRT
H-2A, Hauzkhas, New Delhi -16, Ph:011-26854127

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Posted via Email

[prof.arc]

There is no doubt that quality of construction in most multi-story building
construction is not upto the mark. Rarely, the design engineer visits the
site. The site engineer mostly pushes papers. Less said about the approving
municipal agencies.
Do we have actual test results [not fudged] of the concrete mix whenever a
floor is cast ? I consider it more important that test results must be
available for columns [the columns are raised between two successive
pourings of slabs]
Do we inspect that the reinforcements are placed as originally intended by
the designer. Quite often, if one asks the Maistry, he says the
reinforcement drawings is not implementable. The most important aspect of
construction is to ensure integrity of joint.
FORTUNATELY, in spite of abuse, the system has so much factor of safety that
the structure does not fail after removal of shuttering and static loads
comes into play.
How to implement the concept of quality in construction is a matter all of
us should be concerened.
ARC
PS:
We talk about Structures only in this forum. We must address the shame of
Road Construction which is very much civil engineering. Why should we
continue to suffer the rutted roads during monsoon ?

On Fri Nov 10 23:03:50 2006, skjain[AT]iit... wrote:

[sdec]

Dear ARC
这是非常不错,网站dcutile人发现r/f of columns quite
unimplementable,u've said,right? I came across one such case during my site
visit to a Rpprkee Pharma project, and explained to the mistry as well as
the Site Engineer how we should do the stirrups and why it is important to
do it right.However during my last visit, i was pained to note that he had
not been following what I had asked him to do; i.e. in all probability, all
the stirrups for all the columns in such a large project have been bent only
at 90 degrees. despite my numerous visits and my attempts to explain
practically, I have not been able to get the right bending of stirrup
ends....in such a case what should the designer do?
Regards
Sangeeta

Posted via Email

[mkalgal]

Dear Sangeeta Madam,
One possibility is to put the observation in writing with a copy to
the concerned(?) owners that you would not be held responsible for any
consequential damages during earthquake since seismic detailing as
given in drawing is not possible. Even if it does not "shake up" the
people, it would save your skin!
Regards
Kalgal

On Sat Nov 11 11:04:54 2006, sdec.in[AT]gma... wrote:
[quote]Dear ARC
这是非常不错,网站dcutile人发现r/f of columns quite
unimplementable,u've said,right? I came across one such case during my site
visit to a Rpprkee Pharma project, and explained to the mistry as well as
the Site Engineer how we should do the stirrups and why it is important to
do it right.However during my last visit, i was pained to note that he had
not been following what I had asked him to do; i.e. in all probability, all
the stirrups for all the columns in such a large project have been bent only
at 90 degrees. despite my numerous visits and my attempts to explain
practically, I have not been able to get the right bending of stirrup
ends....in such a case what should the designer do?
Regards
Sangeeta

Posted via Email

[mkalgal]

�Dear Sangeeta Madam,
Please replace thw word "possible" with "provided" in my previous mail
Regards
Kalgal

Posted via Email