Architects demand construction quality checks after wall collapse

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

Architects are calling for urgent checks on the build quality of all public buildings in the wake of a wall collapse in Scotland which led to the closure of 17 schools in Edinburgh.

Nine tonnes of masonry came down in the collapse
Nine tonnes of masonry came down in the collapse

The Cole report into the failure at Oxgangs Primary School in January 2016 was critical of the standard of bricklaying and main contractors’ quality assurance systems.

Now the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is demanding public bodies “review the build quality of their recently commissioned properties.”

President of the RIAS, Willie Watt, said: “When major inquiry reports are published there is a tendency for everyone to breathe a sign of relief, mutter “well that’s that dealt with” and move on.

“That should not be the case with this, extremely well researched and deeply concerning report.

“The message is simple and the responsibility of all commissioning authorities is clear.

“An early process of inspection by appropriately qualified experts should proceed as urgently as the various public commissioning authorities, local, health and governmental, can muster the skilled individuals who can do this work.

“The Royal Incorporation’s own submission to the Inquiry agreed strongly that without diligent and careful checking at every stage of the building process problems are almost inevitable.

“In this instance it was fortunate that nobody was injured, or killed.”

Latest news

Construction buyers see fastest growth for 14 months

Commercial building work leads the way in April
18 hours ago

Go Modular Technologies files administration notice

Southampton bespoke volumetric specialist employs around 60 staff
21 hours ago

Cladding firm went down owing supply chain £7.7m

Debts revealed at Everton stadium cladding contractor Alucraft Systems Ltd
22 hours ago

Rydon dogged by legacy fire safety remediation costs

£19m spent on fire safety remediation work to date
22 hours ago

Carpenter killed by falling timber frame panels

Court fines specialist contractor £8,000 after site tragedy
5 days ago

Trio of builders win King’s Award for sustainability

Henry Brothers, Willmott Dixon and ZED Pods recognised for sustainability
21 hours ago

Kent police seize huge haul of stolen site tools

Hunt for power drill fitted with tracker busts tool theft ring
21 hours ago

Robertson names new Northern construction chiefs

Ian Phillips promoted and Ricky Brown joins from Morgan Sindall
22 hours ago

Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

Go Plant lodges court notice
5 days ago

Anglian Homes rides in to finish crashed Everest contracts

Rival doubled glazed window specialist commits to complete orders
5 days ago

Final work starts to connect super sewer to London system

End in sight with 1.5m thick concrete wall to be demolished to link-up to Lee Tunnel sewer system
5 days ago

Legal challenge launched against £1.5bn A66 dualling

Balfour Beatty, Kier and Keltbray must now await outcome of court challenge
5 days ago

John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

Specialist to carry-out demolition, enabling works and RC frame construction
6 days ago

William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

Specialist to work on 2 Finsbury Avenue with McAlpine
6 days ago

McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

Owain Thomas will build on private rental and healthcare development successes
6 days ago

BAM Co-op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

Another gig cancelled last night amid last minute safety concerns
6 days ago

National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

New 'enterprise model' to deliver infrastructure schemes quicker and cheaper
7 days ago

Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

Assan Panel to open first UK plant at Freeport East
6 days ago

Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

Stantec UK business expands by a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-based engineer
7 days ago

Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

Bids invited for Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4
6 days ago

Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

David Lowery promoted to Divisional Managing Director – Infrastructure.
6 days ago

Chigwell Group looks at stock market listing

Essex contractor registers as Public Limited Company
7 days ago

A57 Mottram Bypass clears final legal challenge

Balfour Beatty to get go-ahead to start shortly
7 days ago

100 jobs axed as Geoffrey Osborne confirms administration

Chairman Andrew Osborne calls it a 'sad day' as board loses fight for survival
1 week ago

Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

Landmark project edges towards final approval after 10-year planning saga
7 days ago

Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

Civils specialist Stobbarts will support McAlpine on groundworks and concrete
7 days ago

Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

Bouygues will build £400m London School of Economics student scheme next to Tate Modern
7 days ago

£117m-turnover contractor files administration notice

ARJ Construction lodges court notice
1 week ago

£1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

Trio of buildings rising to 45, 40 and 22 storeys approved by Southwark Council
1 week ago

Council decides to end Balfour deal after 13 years

Contractor has been maintaining roads across Herefordshire since 2013
1 week ago

Contractor services