CYRUS

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTIES

KM 38 Lagos/Abeokuta Exp. Rd, Owoyemi House, Sango Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Email: gbengaomole@gmail.com Mobile: +234-08034006525;+234-07036438781 Postal: P. O. Box 1814, Ota, Ogun State

Our Ref

CR/008/13

Your Ref

Date 7th September 2011

The Managing Director GT Homes, 28 Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Sir,

REPORT ON SITE VISIT TO THE HIGH RISE PROPERTY SITUATED AT 38/40, STRACHAN STREET, OFF IGBOSERE ROAD, OBALENDE, LAGOS STATE

PREAMBLE The said property is a seven storey building with a penthouse which was affected by an inferno. The ground and first floors were un-affected by the inferno. The effects of the flames on the structural members were noticeable at the second floor and on to the seventh floor as well as the penthouse. The destructive effect of the fire varied from floor to floor.

DETAILED OBSERVATIONS

Table 1: Second Floor s/n Defect Description 1 Spalling effects could be observed on the cover to the concrete walls and the partition sandcrete blockwalls. 2 Recommended Solution The partition sandcrete blockwalls (which has been weakened by the flames) should be completely removed and replaced. The damaged mortar cover on the concrete walls should also be exfoliated completely and replaced with high grade mortar The lintel to the door that It can be re-cast leads to the main hall (close to the internal staircase) has been weakened Some portions of the See general observation No. 1 cover to the top slab had fallen off

Table 2: Third Floor s/n Defect Description 1 The partition wall on this floor (close to the internal staircase) are extremely weakened and may collapse any moment or at the slightest disturbance (Figure 1) 2 Portions of the top slab reinforcement are seriously compromised. Part of the reinforcement is twisted and weakened (Figures 2 and 3). 3 The lintel to the door that leads to the main hall (close to the internal staircase) has been weakened Recommended Solution It should be removed with utmost caution to avoid impact on the floor slab See general observation No. 2 and general recommendation No. 2 It can be re-cast

Fig. 1: Partition wall close to the stairwell about to disintegrate

Fig. 2: Seriously compromised slab reinforcement

Fig. 3: Slab affected by the flames

Table 3: Fourth Floor s/n Defect Description 1 The partition walls on this floor are weakened 2 Spalling effects could be observed on the covers to the concrete members (Figure 4) 3 The lintel to all the doors on this floor are weak Recommended Solution All internal partition walls are to be removed and replaced See general recommendation No. 1 They should be re-cast

Figure 4: An exposed bottom reinforcement in a beam

4

Table 4: Fifth Floor s/n Observation 1 The structural members on this floor were relatively unaffected by the flames with the exception of soot on the walls and top slab. All concrete covers were in place and no exposed reinforcements could be observed. 2 The partition walls are also in order. Table 5: Sixth Floor s/n Defect Description 1 Portions of the top slab and beams have exposed reinforcements 2 The partition walls showed signs of weakening Table 6: Seventh Floor s/n Defect Description 1 The effect of the fire on this floor is not much. However, some minor portions of the top slab and beams have lost their cover to the reinforcements Portions of the flat roof are leaking Recommended Solution See general recommendation No. 1 It could be felted Recommended Solution See general recommendation No. 1 See general recommendation No. 3 Recommendation The soot on the walls and ceiling on this floor may be scrubbed off and redecorated

Table 7: Penthouse s/n Observation 1 The structural members on this floor were relatively unaffected by the flames with the exception of soot on the walls and top slab. All concrete covers were in place and no exposed reinforcements could be observed. 2 Portions of the flat roof are leaking Recommendation The soot on the walls and ceiling on this floor may be scrubbed off and redecorated It could be felted

Table 8: Others minor observations s/n Defect Description 1 The perimeter fence at the back of the building is weak and about to fall on the building behind the property. 2 The septic tank to the property (which was cleverly covered with concrete slab) appears filled up. It could be observed through the vents on the floor just in front of the generator house Recommended Solution The wall should be removed and replaced to avoid the secondary cost of repairing an adjacent building The waste matter here could be suctioned away

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 1. The flames had very serious impact on the partition walls and caused damage to the covers to much of the concrete structural members on the identified floors. 2. The greatest structural concern in this entire property is on the third floor top slab (the base of the fourth floor slab). 3. The effect of the fire appeared to be concentrated around the elevator shaft area. Access could not be made into the elevator because it was locked. 4. The structural integrity of the building in general is still intact.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1. All damaged covers to concrete members should be replaced with high grade mix of mortar. 2. The damage to the third floor top slab (Table 2, No. 2) demands that all extreme loadings on this isolated portion (situated between the two beams that flank the stair well) should be avoided. Definition of extreme loading here include but is not limited to:

i.

Crowds such as church activities where large numbers of excited people jump around.

ii.

Heavy machineries such as printing presses etc.

This problem can be remediated by considering two alternatives.

i.

Cut off the slab in the seriously affected area using concrete saw. However, the attendant vibrations on other weakened sections of the property and the aesthetic appeal would not be welcome. So this leads to the second and more welcome solution.

ii.

Replace the cover to the slab but cordon off the weakened section on the fourth floor using light weight aluminium partition and just leave access ways for people to pass from one section of the floor to another. That way, no dead loads would be imposed on the affected slab.

3. All affected partition walls should be removed and replaced. 4. Further investigation should be conducted on the elevator systems and fire installation systems by specialist mechanical and electrical Engineers.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. David Omole (PhD, MNSE, COREN Reg.)

For: CYRUS