Letter Branded
Our Ref: S15519_216711/BPD Your Ref: CAF_04.11.2013
5 December 2013
Guanghua Ren 77 Hindley Street ADELAIDE, SA 5000 Attention: Guanghua Ren Dear Ren Re:
Report on Building Garage Wall Damage
Site: No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046
Introduction At your request Bassam Deek, Senior Forensic Engineer, inspected the property at the above address on Thursday, 28 November 2013. The purpose of the inspection was to examine and report on the structural condition of the building garage in view of the observed tilting of the walls.
Site Observations The outbuilding garage structure, approximately 6.5 metres x 6.8 metres, is located at the northwestern corner of the allotment along the boundary to the north and adjacent the public footpath to the west (facing Pemberton Street). The building is of solid masonry construction with a tiled roof on exposed conventional type timber framing. The external masonry leaf along the northern boundary is a parapet wall which extends to a total height of approximately 3300 mm. The height of the internal leaf is approximately 2700 mm.
Client: Site: Ref:
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
The writer noted the following distress:
Several noticeable cracks to the internal and external masonry walls.
Outward leaning of the northern parapet wall with large vertical and stepped cracks.
Outward leaning of the western wall, supporting the roof framing, above the garage door.
Timber rafter failure (splitting) within the western quadrant.
Discussion and Conclusion Based upon the above observations it is the writer’s opinion that the cracking damage is as a result of seasonal movement and long-term settlement to the foundation soil. This settlement is mainly due to drying and shrinkage of the reactive clay soils likely present on this site. However, the writer attributes the leaning of the walls in an outward direction, mainly at the top, to the roof spreading. The roof spreading is mainly caused by the failure of some roof timber members as a result of their age (wear & tear) and the disconnection of their mechanical fixings. This spreading has also consequently caused the eaves’ timber framing and fascia, interconnected with the rest of the system, to move laterally and cause the misalignment noted along the northern and southern guttering. It is the writer’s considered opinion that the outbuilding garage structure is unstable in its current state, may continue to deteriorate, and is considered a potential safety hazard due to its close proximity to a public domain (footpath along Pemberton Street). Therefore, the writer is of the opinion that the building structure should be demolished or extensive remediation repairs and strengthening should be implemented immediately in order to maintain the structural adequacy of the building. The urgent remediation repairs should include, in the least, the following:
Removal of the northern parapet wall top section (approximately 600 mm). Replacement of the failed/under-performing roof timber members. Checking and strengthening of mechanical connections, as required.
Client: Site: Ref:
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
A Licensed builder should be engaged and the following may be contacted for that purpose: Ian Hage Adelaide All-Trades Work (08) 8374-3664 Mobile 0418 814 237 Email: [email protected] and, Mark Newport CRA Building Services Work: 08 8297 0422 Mobile: 0404812958 Email: [email protected] and, Nigel Downes Downes Enterprises (SA) Pty Ltd Work: 1300 280 486 Mobile: 0412 603 593 Email: [email protected]
We trust the foregoing addresses your instructions in this matter; however, should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at your convenience. Yours faithfully
Bassam Deek MSc. CEng, MIEAust Senior Forensic Engineer FMG Engineering incorporating Burns Hamilton [email protected]
Encl.
Appendix A - Photographs of site observations
Client: Site: Ref:
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
© Koukourou Pty Ltd trading as FMG Engineering The work carried out in the preparation of this report has been performed in accordance with the requirements of FMG Engineering’s Quality Management System which is certified by NCS International Pty Ltd to comply with the requirements of ISO9001. This document is and shall remain the property of FMG Engineering. The document is specific to the client and site detailed in the report. Use of the document must be in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for the commission and any unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. No part of this report including the whole of same shall be used for any other purpose nor by any third party without prior written consent of FMG Engineering.
Document Status Reviewer
Approved for Issue
Rev No.
Author
Name
Signature
Name
Signature
Date
0
B Deek
G Park
G Park
B Deek
B Deek
06/12/13
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 1
Photo 2
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 3
Photo 4
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 5
Photo 6
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 7
Photo 8
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 9
Photo 10
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 11
Photo 12
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
5 December 2013
Guanghua Ren 77 Hindley Street ADELAIDE, SA 5000 Attention: Guanghua Ren Dear Ren Re:
Report on Building Garage Wall Damage
Site: No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046
Introduction At your request Bassam Deek, Senior Forensic Engineer, inspected the property at the above address on Thursday, 28 November 2013. The purpose of the inspection was to examine and report on the structural condition of the building garage in view of the observed tilting of the walls.
Site Observations The outbuilding garage structure, approximately 6.5 metres x 6.8 metres, is located at the northwestern corner of the allotment along the boundary to the north and adjacent the public footpath to the west (facing Pemberton Street). The building is of solid masonry construction with a tiled roof on exposed conventional type timber framing. The external masonry leaf along the northern boundary is a parapet wall which extends to a total height of approximately 3300 mm. The height of the internal leaf is approximately 2700 mm.
Client: Site: Ref:
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
The writer noted the following distress:
Several noticeable cracks to the internal and external masonry walls.
Outward leaning of the northern parapet wall with large vertical and stepped cracks.
Outward leaning of the western wall, supporting the roof framing, above the garage door.
Timber rafter failure (splitting) within the western quadrant.
Discussion and Conclusion Based upon the above observations it is the writer’s opinion that the cracking damage is as a result of seasonal movement and long-term settlement to the foundation soil. This settlement is mainly due to drying and shrinkage of the reactive clay soils likely present on this site. However, the writer attributes the leaning of the walls in an outward direction, mainly at the top, to the roof spreading. The roof spreading is mainly caused by the failure of some roof timber members as a result of their age (wear & tear) and the disconnection of their mechanical fixings. This spreading has also consequently caused the eaves’ timber framing and fascia, interconnected with the rest of the system, to move laterally and cause the misalignment noted along the northern and southern guttering. It is the writer’s considered opinion that the outbuilding garage structure is unstable in its current state, may continue to deteriorate, and is considered a potential safety hazard due to its close proximity to a public domain (footpath along Pemberton Street). Therefore, the writer is of the opinion that the building structure should be demolished or extensive remediation repairs and strengthening should be implemented immediately in order to maintain the structural adequacy of the building. The urgent remediation repairs should include, in the least, the following:
Removal of the northern parapet wall top section (approximately 600 mm). Replacement of the failed/under-performing roof timber members. Checking and strengthening of mechanical connections, as required.
Client: Site: Ref:
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
A Licensed builder should be engaged and the following may be contacted for that purpose: Ian Hage Adelaide All-Trades Work (08) 8374-3664 Mobile 0418 814 237 Email: [email protected] and, Mark Newport CRA Building Services Work: 08 8297 0422 Mobile: 0404812958 Email: [email protected] and, Nigel Downes Downes Enterprises (SA) Pty Ltd Work: 1300 280 486 Mobile: 0412 603 593 Email: [email protected]
We trust the foregoing addresses your instructions in this matter; however, should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at your convenience. Yours faithfully
Bassam Deek MSc. CEng, MIEAust Senior Forensic Engineer FMG Engineering incorporating Burns Hamilton [email protected]
Encl.
Appendix A - Photographs of site observations
Client: Site: Ref:
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
© Koukourou Pty Ltd trading as FMG Engineering The work carried out in the preparation of this report has been performed in accordance with the requirements of FMG Engineering’s Quality Management System which is certified by NCS International Pty Ltd to comply with the requirements of ISO9001. This document is and shall remain the property of FMG Engineering. The document is specific to the client and site detailed in the report. Use of the document must be in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for the commission and any unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. No part of this report including the whole of same shall be used for any other purpose nor by any third party without prior written consent of FMG Engineering.
Document Status Reviewer
Approved for Issue
Rev No.
Author
Name
Signature
Name
Signature
Date
0
B Deek
G Park
G Park
B Deek
B Deek
06/12/13
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 1
Photo 2
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 3
Photo 4
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 5
Photo 6
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 7
Photo 8
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 9
Photo 10
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
Client: Site: Ref:
Photo 11
Photo 12
Guanghua Ren No. 5 Pemberton Street, OAKLANDS PARK, SA 5046 S15519_216711/BPD
