Why Buildings Collapse?
Builders who are not experienced, investors, and buyers of flats in apartment buildings, and office units/shops in commercial complexes may understand why buildings collapse.
Buildings collapse when the soil in the building site is not capable of holding the load of the proposed building. It is necessary to get the soil test done to know the load it can take. If it is a bigger site, soil in different portions may be different i.e. loose soil in some portions. There are several methods of improving the capacity of the soil.
One method is to stabilize the soil in portions where it is loose by sand piles. For this purpose, holes at 2-3 feet gap may be formed and sand filled up and consolidated. The other method is to drive concrete piles which is sharper at the lower portion with metal, if possible. One more method is to provide a raft foundation covering the entire portion where building will come up. For this purpose mass concrete of about with minimum reinforcement is to be provided to avoid cracks.
The building is to be designed by a qualified architect who is registered in the BBMP. In addition to elevation, the building should be stable.
The structural design using RCC should be by qualified structural engineer who has registered in BBMP. If the structure collpases, the structural engineer should be made responsible. In preparing the structural design, the load on all the columns of the buildings should be calculated and designed with required dimensions.
Building design prepared by an architect and structural design by structural engineer should be sanctioned by the BBMP after obtaining all the NOCs of various agencies like; Pollution Control Board, BESCOM, BWSSB, Airport Authority (if it is near to the Airport), etc.
Setbacks are required for ventilation, privacy, and for growing plants, and safety from collapse of adjoining building. Setbacks are prescribed in the Zoning Regulations of the Master Plan. For high-rise buildings setbacks are prescribed according to the height of the building. This is to ensure that the fire fighting vehicles should be able to move around the buildings. When it is group housing project with more than two apartment blocks, the space in between should be not less than half the height of the taller block. The apartment should be broad enough for proper stability against heavy winds, earth tremor, etc. as against tall buildings which are narrow.
Basement floors should be avoided as far as possible to avoid flooding during rainy season. In Delhi, parking is provided in the ground floor and usable space in the upper floors. Such buildings should be designed by the architects.
Proper enforcement of Zoning Regulations and Building Bye-laws is to be ensured by BBMP Authorities. There are several cases of unauthorized additional floors. In such cases, the neighbors should report to BBMP and if necessary, legal action should be taken. The BBMP officials in charge who allow violations in no of floors and setbacks are to be transferred to other local authorities by making a provision in the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. Such a provision was there earlier.
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-Dr. A. S. Kodanda Pani,
Urban Planner & Civic Analyst more
Buildings collapse when the soil in the building site is not capable of holding the load of the proposed building. It is necessary to get the soil test done to know the load it can take. If it is a bigger site, soil in different portions may be different i.e. loose soil in some portions. There are several methods of improving the capacity of the soil.
One method is to stabilize the soil in portions where it is loose by sand piles. For this purpose, holes at 2-3 feet gap may be formed and sand filled up and consolidated. The other method is to drive concrete piles which is sharper at the lower portion with metal, if possible. One more method is to provide a raft foundation covering the entire portion where building will come up. For this purpose mass concrete of about with minimum reinforcement is to be provided to avoid cracks.
The building is to be designed by a qualified architect who is registered in the BBMP. In addition to elevation, the building should be stable.
The structural design using RCC should be by qualified structural engineer who has registered in BBMP. If the structure collpases, the structural engineer should be made responsible. In preparing the structural design, the load on all the columns of the buildings should be calculated and designed with required dimensions.
Building design prepared by an architect and structural design by structural engineer should be sanctioned by the BBMP after obtaining all the NOCs of various agencies like; Pollution Control Board, BESCOM, BWSSB, Airport Authority (if it is near to the Airport), etc.
Setbacks are required for ventilation, privacy, and for growing plants, and safety from collapse of adjoining building. Setbacks are prescribed in the Zoning Regulations of the Master Plan. For high-rise buildings setbacks are prescribed according to the height of the building. This is to ensure that the fire fighting vehicles should be able to move around the buildings. When it is group housing project with more than two apartment blocks, the space in between should be not less than half the height of the taller block. The apartment should be broad enough for proper stability against heavy winds, earth tremor, etc. as against tall buildings which are narrow.
Basement floors should be avoided as far as possible to avoid flooding during rainy season. In Delhi, parking is provided in the ground floor and usable space in the upper floors. Such buildings should be designed by the architects.
Proper enforcement of Zoning Regulations and Building Bye-laws is to be ensured by BBMP Authorities. There are several cases of unauthorized additional floors. In such cases, the neighbors should report to BBMP and if necessary, legal action should be taken. The BBMP officials in charge who allow violations in no of floors and setbacks are to be transferred to other local authorities by making a provision in the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. Such a provision was there earlier.
_______________
-Dr. A. S. Kodanda Pani,
Urban Planner & Civic Analyst more
Viewed by 702
Excellent article. Thanks for enlightenment on buildings stability. I wish all builders take note of this more
Oct 20
Is there any harm when constructing a sump for a depth of about 7 feet - if there is some loose soil also present ? more
Sep 12
The question raised by MC Rad is answered: 7 feet depth sump for storing water is risky if it is nearer to the wall of the building that too when it is observed by them that there is some loose soil. The load of the building at that portion is distributed at an angle about 450 from the centre of the wall at the ground level. This has to be examined by them. In a smaller site, definitely it may not be possible to satisfy this condition. If they are particular about that location, retaining walls are to be built around the sump tank. In addition to this the bed of the sump is to be consolidated with some reinforcement. The other alternative is to limit the height of the sump and extend the length of the sump to store the required quantity.
-Dr. A. S. Kodanda Pani,
Urban Planner & Civic Analyst more
-Dr. A. S. Kodanda Pani,
Urban Planner & Civic Analyst more
Sep 14
