HOW CAN THIS BE? Yet Again !
A reader has contacted us with concerns and photos of the new Bungan Lane carpark at Mona Vale and work that is being done with cutting of structural concrete beams.
Apparently the industry requirement for head height from the floor to any overhead obstruction of 2.2 metres was not achieved during the construction phase.
A photo has been provided that shows only 2.1 metres exists.
A reader has contacted us with concerns and photos of the new Bungan Lane carpark at Mona Vale and work that is being done with cutting of structural concrete beams.
Apparently the industry requirement for head height from the floor to any overhead obstruction of 2.2 metres was not achieved during the construction phase.
A photo has been provided that shows only 2.1 metres exists.
Evidence has been provided that many vehicles have already scraped the overhead beams as indicated in the next photo.
The following photos the reader shows where the 100mm has to be removed on apparently each and every beam crossing a car ramp.
The concern is that this has removed the required minimum of 50mm concrete that must cover reinforcing steel, has exposed the steel and that the steel itself has also had to be removed to attain the extra 100mm head height.
Concerns are that this will result in structural problems long term and also leading to “Concrete Cancer” where steel that is not covered with the industry required minimum 50mm concrete will corrode especially given the site is less than 1 kilometre from the ocean.
It is unclear how this obvious error has occurred during the design or under the supervision during the construction phase and who will be liable for the extensive costs of rectification.
Pittwater Council’s Manager Urban Infrastructure in an email reply did not confirm how many structural beams in the new car park were affected, however in a further email it was confirmed that with the cutting of the overhead exit beam, the bottom steel has been cut and bogged over.
Concerns are that this will result in structural problems long term and also leading to “Concrete Cancer” where steel that is not covered with the industry required minimum 50mm concrete will corrode especially given the site is less than 1 kilometre from the ocean.
It is unclear how this obvious error has occurred during the design or under the supervision during the construction phase and who will be liable for the extensive costs of rectification.
Pittwater Council’s Manager Urban Infrastructure in an email reply did not confirm how many structural beams in the new car park were affected, however in a further email it was confirmed that with the cutting of the overhead exit beam, the bottom steel has been cut and bogged over.
Questions are also coming in on an engineering level relating to how these works have affected the "Structural Integrity" and the "Fire Rating" of the beams. Valid Points.