A month after fireworks ignited Beijing’s uncompleted, unoccupied Television Cultural Center (TVCC) high-rise, leaving it a charred shell, there are a number of theories about how the fire started and spread. Few are willing to speak on the record, but one developer unconnected to the project has proposed prohibiting the launching of fireworks in densely populated Beijing. Photo: AP/Wideworld TVCC shell framed by adjacent CCTV tower. Adjacent to Rem Koolhaus’s iconic China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters, the new structure burned the night of Feb. 9, the last night of the Chinese New Year’s fete. A firefighter died from smoke inhalation.
Seven lives would have been spared if William Rapetti, the master rigger in charge of the Midtown Manhattan tower crane that collapsed on March 15, 2008, had followed the manufacturer’s instructions, investigators say. A 250-page report, prepared by Arup on behalf of the city’s Dept. of Buildings and released on March 11, tells the story of how decisions made during the routine jump of a Favelle Favco M440E crane led to disaster. Rapetti, who faces civil and criminal charges, says he is not guilty. Source: New York City Dept. Of Buildings/Arup Bad rigging (below) led to death. The crew used
Nearly a month after Beijing’s uncompleted and not-yet-occupied Television Cultural Center (TVCC) highrise was ignited by fireworks, leaving it a charred shell, project members suggested new ideas about how the fire started and spread. Few are willing to speak on the record, but one developer unconnected to the project even proposed prohibiting fireworks in dense Beijing. Photo: AP/Wide world How the fireworks penetrated the building’s cladding remains unknown. Related Links: Beijing Official Says Frame Of Hotel Is Intact After Blaze Adjacent to the iconic headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV), the new structure burned the night of Monday, Feb. 9,
After six months and nearly $4 million, New York City’s Dept. of Buildings on Feb. 3 recommended 41 measures to increase regulations for crane, concrete and excavation work. But industry experts say the standards, if implemented, may create more headaches and unnecessary costs. The city assembled a team of more than 30 engineers, including experts from Skokie, Ill.-based forensic consultant CTL Group. The measures chiefly focus on crane and hoisting operations. At the top is a need “to track critical components of tower cranes,” an idea that area experts casually call “CraneFax,” referring to a similar service for cars. Photo:
The Office of Metropolitan Architecture, Rotterdam, and multidisciplinary engineer Arup, designers of the $733-million Television Cultural Center in Beijing, are declining to comment on the damage to the primarily concrete-framed building as a result of a dramatic Feb. 9 blaze that engulfed all 31 stories and killed one firefighter. But a city official says the basic structure is intact and most of the damage from the five-and-a-half-hour fire is affected only the exterior surface of the walls. Slide Show Photo: AP/Wideworld Observers speculate titanium-zinc alloy may have fueled fire on outside of tower. The fire at the 159-meter-tall TVCC tower,
A New Jersey transport and rigging firm orchestrated the Jan. 31 move of the fuselage of the Airbus 320 airplane that was US Airways Flight 1549, which made a successful emergency landing in the Hudson River on Jan. 15. It was moved from a temporary berth along the river to a new resting place several miles inland at the 23-acre Kearny, N.J., yard of J. Supor & Son Trucking & Rigging Inc. The plane, minus its wings, had to be rerouted through Jersey City streets when it could not clear a low overpass, says Tony Polizzi, J. Supor operations manager.
Six subcontractors have been sued by the developer of a six-story parking garage in Jacksonville, Fla., that collapsed in December 2007 , killing one worker and injuring 23 others. Atlanta-based developer Berkman Plaza 2 LLC filed the suit Jan. 12 in circuit court in Duval County, Fla., seeking damages "well in excess of" $36 million and demanding a jury trial. Photo: John T. Bell Two-thirds of Berkman Plaza 2 garage collapsed as the sixth floor slab was being poured. Named as defendants in the suit are Southern Pan Services, Co., Davie, Fla.; Universal Engineering Sciences Inc., Orlando, Fla.; Infinity Reinforcing
Foul-smelling and discoloring Chinese-made drywall, apparently imported after Hurricane Katrina, has been the subject of more than 50 complaints in Florida, say state officials. “We don’t know whether this is strictly a material issue or if climate also is involved,” says Vincent M. Daliessio, industrial hygiene project manager for EMSL Analytical, Inc., Westmont, N.J., a materials consultant that is examining the problem after getting calls from building inspectors and builders. “We don’t know why it is appearing just in Florida. It could be just the tip of the iceberg or the distribution model for the vendor.” Drywall woes have plagued
Six subcontractors have been sued by the developer of a six-story parking garage in Jacksonville, Fla., that collapsed in December 2007, killing one worker and injuring 23 others. Atlanta-based developer Berkman Plaza 2 LLC named Southern Pan Services, Co., Davie, Fla.; Universal Engineering Sciences Inc., Orlando, Fla.; Infinity Reinforcing Inc., Palm Coast, Fla.; P.T.E. Strand Co. Inc., Hialeah, Fla.; A.A. Pittman & Son Concrete Co., Mandarin, Fla., and Harsco Corp. d/b/a Patent Construction Systems, Paramus, N.J., as defendants in a lawsuit seeking damages “well in excess of” $36 million. Choate Construction Co., Atlanta, is general contractor and is named in
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued eight citations to Baton Rouge-based Deep South Crane & Rigging Co. for the July 18 tipover of a 2,500-ton-capacity crane that killed four workers at a Houston refinery. Investigators say the machine’s boom was elevated to an unsafe angle, breaking the boom stops and causing it to collapse backward. Six violations are “serious,” and one is a repeat offense for allegedly not training the operator. A spokeswoman for Deep South says the company plans to contest the fines, which total $71,500. Photo: AP/Wideworld
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