How Competent Are UK Designers?

A recent report in CROSS-UK* Newsletter 76 raises some worrying questions relating to the competence of those who design and construct multi-storey buildings in the UK.

"This report is about a residential medium rise building constructed using a load bearing metal stud system. Residents initially raised concerns about noticeable movement in the building, specifically swaying during high winds and localised deflection or bouncing of the floors.

A review of the original design drawings and calculations raised multiple concerns. The original calculations, as far as could be seen, implied that the structure had been classified as a Class 2A structure for disproportionate collapse requirements, whereas parts of the superstructure (plus basement) should have been categorised as a Class 2B structure due to the number of storeys. Class 2B classification requires more stringent checks, such as ensuring adequate provision of vertical ties and/or checks for the notional removal of load bearing elements.

Furthermore, the stability calculations were based on a building height of well under the actual height of around 20 metres and hence were, in the view of the reporter, incorrect. The reviewer identified numerous other discrepancies of concern, particularly relating to stability and robustness."

The Expert Panel, who reviewed the report, made the following comments:-

"It is alarming that the reporter informs us that 'concerns were first raised by the residents'. This should never be the case, and it is worrying that the designer, the contractor, and the building control organisation all failed to notice such blatant errors. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report contains criticism about the failure of authorities to pay sufficient attention to the concerns expressed by residents.

The catalogue of problems in both design, construction, and supervision is so serious that CROSS is concerned that this may not be an isolated case. There may be other buildings, as yet unidentified, with similar poor design and/or construction occupied by residents who are unaware of the issues. What we perceive to be a rogue incident may in fact be nothing of the sort."

We at CDM Differently have previously suggested that the UK Construction sector is collectively complacent about the possibility of the structural collapse of occupied buildings, as is seen in other parts of the world. Following the Grenfell disaster, it is to be hoped that he impact of the regime instigated by the Building Safety Act 2022 will have reach far beyond the higher-risk buildings (HRBs) which are the primary focus of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

*Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) is a confidential reporting system which allows professionals in the built environment to report on fire and structural safety issues.