Community infrastructure defect reporting App

Community defect logging is a good way for the public to be the eyes on the ground looking at problems that may be developing in their local council area.

Fully formed defects like pot holes are easy enough for the untrained eye to pick-out, however a regular scheme of preventative asset management inspections by trained professionals should help protect expensive retaining walls and other structures before a failure event occurs.

Early tell-tail signs are what we want to know about before it's too late.

Will this culvert side wall stand?

Check out our local council defect logging interface linked below.
https://eservices.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ePathway

Near fatal deck collapse

This time last week we saw another potentially fatal deck collapse in Lane Cove NSW.

Locally in Queensland we have had two recent failures at Morayfield in October 2009 and one at Ascot in November 2008.

Based on inspection sampling results from Victoria 2% of the decks constructed for residential use have serious design flaws which could precipitate a collapse.  8000 decks was estimated Australia wide as a total number of defective or unsafe structures.   That is an enormous level of potential loss, injury or death.

Deck collapses can be fatal but could be prevented with some care and attention.

Should you be concerned?  Queensland with its warm climate is well suited to enjoying outdoor entertaining using an elevated timber deck for parties and family gatherings.

Structural failure of shop awning on Gold Coast indicates poor design

A large awning on James Street, Burleigh Heads, collapsed leaving one man dead and several injured. Police question witnesses. Picture: Kit De Guymer - Courier Mail online picture source

This tragic awning failure claimed the life of a local developer Chis Walton and injured 5 others just near Christmas on the 23rd of December 2012.

Shop awnings are typically supported with cantilevering beams projected out from the adjacent shop building.  Other common awning support systems will rely on steel tie rods connected higher up on the shop's external wall to support a projected awning structure above the footpath.

In this case it would appear that two primary cantilevered concrete block masonry beams have been provided for awing support. Awing roof and ceiling cladding has been simply connected to minor spanning beams between a main large steel beam located at the street side external edge.

Photos indicate some surface portions of the concrete blocks have become dislodged from the ends of the cantilevered block masonry beams.  Some corrosion of the steel beam supports is also visible with only two or three minor bolt fixing present.  It is clear this connection has failed.

This failure is likely to be the result of a combination of factors.  Fixture corrosion may have reduced the available bolt shank section capacity. Rusting bolts may have also added expansive forces at the sites of these fixings into the face of the brittle concrete block units.  Once this expansive rust force can cause the surrounding concrete masonry face to crack failure may be expected.

Super-storm Sandy proves fatal for some on the US East coast

A large tree in Methuen, Mass. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 lays atop power lines due to Monday's hybrid superstorm Sandy. Sandy caused multiple fatalities, halted mass transit and cut power to more than 6 million homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Written by

Allen G. Breed and Tom Hays

Associated Press

"NEW YORK — Millions of people from Maine to the Carolinas awoke Tuesday without electricity, and an eerily quiet New York City was all but closed off by car, train and air as superstorm Sandy steamed inland, still delivering punishing wind and rain. The U.S. death toll climbed to 39, many of the victims killed by falling trees.
The most devastating storm in decades to hit the country’s most densely populated region upended man and nature as it rolled back the clock on 21st-century lives, cutting off modern communication and leaving millions without power Tuesday as thousands who fled their water-menaced homes wondered when — if — life would return to normal."

http://www.pnj.com/viewart/20121031/HURRICANE/310310034/Superstorm-Sandy-makes-landfall?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|FRONTPAGE

In earlier days rural development would see the house paddocks cleared of trees to make way for the family farm home to be built.  Today in urban areas, trees offer a beautiful asset and increase the value and attractiveness of your street-cape and neighborhood.

Storm season kick-off

The Gap 2008 Storm damage: ABC News image

Now that Australian AFL/NRL football codes have been settled with Grand final matches, the spring summer seasonal storm period is upon us.

Most structural inspections will focus on defective items or damage that may be present within the house structure.  This is fine however its worth considering items left of field (or backyard) that can cause harm and result in lost of property or even death.