2 ms·

So as usual the chain of failures is a lot longer and more complex than the "cheapskates ignoring maintenance to save a few pennies" narrative you get on the in

• redis_mlc 5y ago
  > more complex than the "cheapskates ignoring maintenance to save a few pennies" The unrepaired pool deck cutout (cheap to fix) and general water intrusion problems (not so cheap) were very serious maintenance problems that shouldn't have been bandaided with buckets, etc., and would have weakened slabs over time. The condo board and residents (many educated) themselves should have been more on top of those visible problems. If that caused the garage column strengths to reduce from 100% (as modelled) of required strength to 99%, then that's a factor in the collapse. Of course, there should have been a design safety margin. I would say the condo board and residents themselves should have noticed the 12" columns and started asking questions. Also, any structural engineer today, after looking at the plans, would have noticed the minimal use of shear walls and the discrepancy in concrete beams drawn in the parking area. The building code has changed since 1980, so that review should be done for all older buildings, esp. the other two Champlain projects. In fact, buyers are discounting those older buildings.