Failure about to happen? 14

[JAE]

I think so....

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[JAE]

Ian - Thanks for the comments.
My engineer who took the photos said the bend is clearly visible and the line I drew simply illustrates it.

My email to them is red flag - not meant as a technical proof of anything.

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[Ron]

Good call, JAE....appropriate approach to inform the AHJ

 

[Ron]

PS....how many hinges do you need in a column?

 

[CWB1]

I honestly don't know if I would notice or be concerned by a feature like this anymore as I frequent many buildings that are on their n^th repurpose. Even in the various manufacturing plants I work in, seeing an extra beam or column hanging here or there overhead is a common site as its often cheaper/easier/etc to leave them in place than remove.

 

[BrianPetersen]

^ All well and good until someone "repurposes" without doing the appropriate checks that it's going to be okay afterward, and it isn't ...

 

[CWB1]

We could say the same thing about breathing if the next guy's an idiot, can't live in a bubble forever and if there's no valid reason to spend extra time and money beyond appearance then its the owner's call. I'd wager the majority of homes in the US have old wiring and plumbing in the walls that's long since been disconnected and abandoned in place, same concept could be happening here.

 

[RickyTickyTavi]

Speaking of unusual remodeling. I spotted this at a bar this weekend with some friends. Building was probably built in the 30's and is a 1 story builing. But the remodel was probably done in the last 4-5 years. Beam was not continuous over the top of the... air condition vent. Column didnt appear appear to go through the air condition either. That gusset plate was probably about 1/4'' thick too.

 

[DAVIDSTECKER]

As Jackson Brown put it "Everybody walks right by like they're safe or something
They don't know-"

 

[BridgeSmith]

A couple of 1/4" gusset plates can hold quite a bit...you'd probably find those 4 strips of steel together have nearly the capacity of the post...

...and it's Jackson Browne.

 

[msquared48]

JAE:

The bend you see could have been there from the start as rhere are bearing stiffeners on only one side of the beam element from what I see.

Could have warped the Web during welding.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[IFRs]

When the truss reactions are different from the girder reactions, the unbalanced moment will put a lateral force and/or impose a displacement on the top of the odd spacer with holes and one web stiffener, subjecting it to eccentric loads. I smell a cascade failure, injuries and lawsuit.