University of Kentucky Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Gabe Dadi said a tragic building collapse like that seen in Miami is extremely rare. Dadi said there have been cases of the pancaking of floors in a building under construction, but it’s highly unusual in an occupied structure.
The civil engineering faculty member said building requirements are very location dependent. “If you’re building in downtown Louisville where they’ve got a lot more of kind of a sandy soil type versus something that you’re building in Central Kentucky where you’re likely going to hit some limestone with your support structure, some of those considerations might look a little different,” said Dadi.
Likewise, Dadi said licensure for structural engineers can often be location dependent. He noted maintenance is a key issue in structures of all sizes and shapes. Dadi added every homeowner can appreciate the importance of ongoing maintenance. “Regular maintenance to keep the building, your home operational. Certainly that’s not a structural concern, but the idea is the same. It’s not just we build this thing and it’s going to last forever. It would be nice if we had that ability, but that’s just not the case anymore,” explained Dadi.
As far as a cause for the collapse of the condominium in South Florida, Dadi said he wouldn’t be surprised if salt water is deemed a primary contributing factor, due to its corrosive nature.
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