Reuse of existing buildings: a safety perspective

• Autores: Allan Mann
• Localización: The Structural Engineer: journal of the Institution of Structural Engineer, ISSN 1466-5123, Vol. 101, Nº. 10, 2023, págs. 14-16
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • A key part of our strategy as a profession for meeting the net- zero target is maximising the reuse of existing buildings. While there is already much experience of this, e.g. gained by conservation groups working on heritage structures, reuse poses health and safety challenges. naturally, we need confidence that repurposed buildings are safe: but how ‘safety’ may be demonstrated is not always clear. That demonstration task needs to ensure both that the future building is structurally sound (perhaps through an extended life), and that its fabric will be free of latent defects.

    Additionally, the works should be safe to execute, and increased risks arising from structural conversion might demand special consideration during site work. Not all risks are obvious (such as those associated with uncertain condition). :ite fires during refurbishment are not uncommon, e.g.the fire that destroyed the .lasgow School of Art in 2018 (Figure 1) during restoration work after an earlier.