Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
(OP)
Has anyone heard about a reported partial collapse of the 5th floor of a precast double tee garage in Houston, Texas, in June? If so, does anyone know anything about it, like how old the garage was and whether corrosion was in any way a contributing factor? If not, what was the cause? Any investigation/report on it?






RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
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RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
I think that was complicated by the deicing salts expediting the corrosion process.
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
It is hard to tell:
1. An "L" shaped spandrel failure? - the photo shows a spandrel (on the left) still there.
2. An interior IT beam corbel failure? A possibility but nothing in the photo about it.
3. A flexural member failure? most failures are connection failures.
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RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
KHOU Link
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RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
In the KHOU pictures I don't see a streak of rust anywhere. Kudos to the guys who put in the next level down. Top level guys - was it a Friday before a three day weekend?
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Collapse of part of 5th floor of Huston Garage
Lesson: Just because something has performed well over the years does not prove that it is safe and will continue to perform well, or does not need an inspection. If calculations to current Codes indicate a significant structural deficiency with respect to gravity or wind loads, it should most probably be brought up to current codes. Impossible to convince any architect of that though. I know the Houston collapse is a different issue, but it does bring this lesson to mind.