Roof Collapse in Madison Wisconsin

• Jun 24, 2025

• #1

DaveAtkins

Structural

Apr 15, 2002

2,906

US

https://www.fox6now.com/news/woodmans-roof-collapse-madison-video

I am guessing a ponding failure. I lived in Madison many years ago, and I believe this is an older building. Roof may not have been designed for ponding.

 

• Jun 24, 2025

• #2

JAE

Structural

Jun 27, 2000

15,714

US

...or the roof drains were clogged.

 

• Jun 24, 2025

• Thread starter
• #3

DaveAtkins

Structural

Apr 15, 2002

2,906

US

Right. And they may not have had overflow drains. That seems to be a more recent thing.

 

• Jun 24, 2025

• #4

JAE

Structural

Jun 27, 2000

15,714

US

This didn't look like a roof beam-to-column failure but rather a roof joist collapse of some sort - looks like a portion of the middle of a bay let go - perhaps a flexural failure at midspan.

 

• Jun 25, 2025

• Thread starter
• #5

DaveAtkins

Structural

Apr 15, 2002

2,906

US

Update - the collapse was caused by blocked drains.

I think the takeaway is if your building does not have overflow drains or scuppers, you need to check the roof drains on a regular basis.

 

• Jun 25, 2025

• #6

Ron247

Structural

Jan 18, 2019

1,373

US

I think you are right, overflow drains have not been required until recent years to my knowledge. My takeaway from watching all 3 events they show on the video I looked at, is that Madison is too dangerous and aggravating to live in.

Can't go to the hardware store for a flush-valve I need to replace, it is flooded so I head back my lake house.
The highway buckled on the way home, so I have to take an alternate route.
Get home, decide to relax on my pontoon boat, it is flipped over.