Following are some suggestions for reducing collapses due to 'Poor structural designs'.
- Effect of weakening of soil due to rain water must be considered in structural design of foundations.
- Buildings must be structurally designed strong enough to withstand at least as much loads due to earthquakes as specified by building codes.
- Strength of soil assumed in structural design calculations must be verified by conducting standard penetration test for each and every foundation before
concreting takes place.
- Structural designs must be independently audited by Structural auditors proposed to be licensed by Building regulatory authorities. Structural auditors must be held
equally responsible for quality of structural designs.
- Committees formed to investigate building collapses must have some members who have good knowledge of structural engineering (e.g. Professors ) but are not from structural engineering profession. This would perhaps help in ensuring that structural design aspects of investigations do not suffer from any professional bias.
- Each of the following parties must preserve one copy of 'As built' construction drawings and structural design calculations,
a. Structural designer,
b. Structural auditor
c Local building authority
d. Owner of the building.
