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Have you installed a loft tank in
your house? In a significant number of cases in Bangalore, the response to
this question would be an overwhelming yes. Since BMC is not in a position
to give assured water supply to most buildings people necessarily have
to store water in loft tanks. The problem is that this tends to weaken
a building.
If this sounds preposterous, just
factor in the following: A typical loft tank used in most flats has a
capacity of 200 litres. If used to its capacity, the weight of this water
is 200 Kgs. (The density of water is 1gm /cm 3 that means roughly speaking,
about one litre of water weighs one kilo). Now assume there are three
flats on a floor, each of them having one loft tank of 200 litres. That
is 600 kg of load per floor -- load that the building is not designed
for. Little wonder than that over prolonged periods of use this tends
to weaken the building.
Perhaps the most infamouseexample
of how thoughtless alterations leading to structural damage to the building
is Poonam Chambers. When B wing of this building, a major commercial landmark,
collapsed in September 1997, inquiries revealed that the basic problems
was that renovations carried out by commercial firms in the building had
led to the weakening of the structure.
Fingers were also pointed at the overhead
tanks on the terrace. apparently, or so the investigators say, the huge
overhead tanks were resting on terrace.Apparently, or so the investigations
say the huge overhead tanks were resting on terrace surface, instead of
being supported on columns.
Obliviously over the years, the load
was more than what the terrace was designed to hold, leading to the crash.
In our own homes too, we often tend
to carry our renovations that could endanger both our lives and those
who live around us - heavy marble flooring, water tanks, beams being knowlked
out along with walls - adding to the load of the building and weakening
the very supports on which it stand. We abused our buildings and then
are traumatized when they collapse.
Here are some suggestions from Dr.
V.V. Nori, senior associate with Shirish Patel and Associates Consultants
Private Limited.,Share a thought for them: they could save your life!
Do not construct new walls where there
wear none before. If you have to subdivide the room, use only timber or
such light partitions (No masonry/siporex walls). This is because the
floor slabs were not designed to carry these extra loads.
The same thing goes for balconies.
These were not designed to support walls. If you have to enclosed your
balcony only use aluminum glazing.
No chases should be made in reinforced
concrete members such as slabs, beams, columnsand reinforced concrete(for
accommodating concealed wiring etc.)... By making a chase you are weakening
the load - carrying capacity of the structure.
Cracks and leakage should be attended
to promptly. This requires cooperation of the people who reside in the
building.
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