Condo Collapse

[RickFLM4]

Been on the news all day here all day and expect it is national news. What a tragedy. Around 100 people unaccounted for. Have to hope some were on vacation or somewhere else.

[BMWGUYinCO]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Been on the news all day here all day and expect it is national news. What a tragedy. Around 100 people unaccounted for. Have to hope some were on vacation or somewhere else.

I saw a video and it was insane - 3/4 of the building just fell away. I also read that there was construction going on, but it was on the roof...

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by BMWGUYinCO

I saw a video and it was insane - 3/4 of the building just fell away. I also read that there was construction going on, but it was on the roof...

I think there was work happening on this building’s roof, which is normal, and the construction was nearby. Haven’t heard about any other construction for the building. It has been there since 1981 and due for inspection this year. There are already theories floating around about what caused it but it will be many months before anyone really knows.

Hard to imagine anyone inside who isn’t already out will survive, but hopefully there are some pockets where people are safe. But I think it’s going to be bad.

[M_Six]

Horrifying. This is something you never expect to see in this country absent an earthquake.

[upstatedoc]

It's a catastrophic structural failure which will most likely result in numerous deaths.

[TrevorM3]

ah, good old fashioned miami shit construction....


sad.

[TiMSport]

If it's not shoddy construction it's a sink hole. Florida man.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by TiMSport

If it's not shoddy construction it's a sink hole. Florida man.

Isn't this building on the beach? I lived in FL for a good while and don't recall ever hearing of any sinkholes right on the beach like that.

[ASAP]

This is an absolute tragedy...

I will also add, having lived in Miami for 5 years... exactly 0 surprises me about this... just like the FIU bridge collapse and another building that collapsed on Miami beach a year ago... Someone either got paid off, or something shady happened w inspections or lack of some sort of maintenance is my bet.

There was a building being built next door as well and apparently this building had been sinking already since like the 1990s... apparently everyone said whatever.

Also, apparently there are some legal inspections on condo buildings every 40 years... fucking lol... I haven't been alive that long... I would imagine every 10 years would be more reasonable.

[sspade]

Yep, been on the local news all day. Absolutely shocking that something like this could happen in America, where we supposedly have our shit together. Did a bit of research and these condos go for $600k on the very low end plus a near thousand dollar a month HOA. No reason or excuse something like this should happen. Corners were cut/inspections were missed and pockets were stuffed. Pretty sick. No doubt the death toll will rise.

Highly anticipating the findings of the investigation and hope that those responsible are held accountable! There's been grumblings about some sort of bomb related episode but I highly doubt it.

[Suds]

When I first saw this, the 12 story building elevated over piers just scared me.
Then you think about steel rebar and what kind piers, bottom story construction that may be compromised by salty air and saltwater if under ground and not totally sealed.
My guess is modern high rise construction has a limited life along the coast.

[frchdragon]

Originally Posted by Suds

When I first saw this, the 12 story building elevated over piers just scared me.
Then you think about steel rebar and what kind piers, bottom story construction that may be compromised by salty air and saltwater if under ground and not totally sealed.
My guess is modern high rise construction has a limited life along the coast.

Exactly what I was thinking. I looked at the undamaged part of the building (a mirror copy) and I noticed that it was on piers...
One might have failed and the rest couldn't' support the weight of the structure above.
Very sad and horrible to watch. My heart goes out to the families.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by ASAP

This is an absolute tragedy...

I will also add, having lived in Miami for 5 years... exactly 0 surprises me about this... just like the FIU bridge collapse and another building that collapsed on Miami beach a year ago... Someone either got paid off, or something shady happened w inspections or lack of some sort of maintenance is my bet.

There was a building being built next door as well and apparently this building had been sinking already since like the 1990s... apparently everyone said whatever.

Also, apparently there are some legal inspections on condo buildings every 40 years... fucking lol... I haven't been alive that long... I would imagine every 10 years would be more reasonable.

I think first inspection is at 40 years then every 10 years after that. I saw the same report about the sinking.

[M_Six]

The sinking thing was 2mm/year. And that was in the 90's. Unless the sinking rate picked up, that doesn't seem huge (but I'm no engineer, so...). In 30 yrs since, that'b be 60mm (2.3 inches), which doesn't seem like enough to take down a building. The building being on piers like that is the first thing my brother mentioned (construction guy). Maybe deterioration of those along with uneven sinking caused one or two to fail.

I feel especially bad for the people who were in the area that collapsed a few seconds after the center of the building. Just enough time to wake up and realize something is terribly wrong.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The sinking thing was 2mm/year. And that was in the 90's. Unless the sinking rate picked up, that doesn't seem huge (but I'm no engineer, so...). In 30 yrs since, that'b be 60mm (2.3 inches), which doesn't seem like enough to take down a building. The building being on piers like that is the first thing my brother mentioned (construction guy). Maybe deterioration of those along with uneven sinking caused one or two to fail.

I feel especially bad for the people who were in the area that collapsed a few seconds after the center of the building. Just enough time to wake up and realize something is terribly wrong.

I would agree deterioration is more likely than sinking. I don’t think sinking a little is all that uncommon, but I’m also not an engineer.

[evil-G-nius]

I saw this as everyone else and its just insane. The video brought me back to 9/11 which still triggers me to this day. I hope that more people are found alive as this goes on...not really much else to say. This was just a freak accident (perhaps) and I pray that these families get good news in the next few days

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

ah, good old fashioned miami shit construction....

sad.

This doesn't fall into that category; quite the opposite in fact. Speaking with significant experience in Miami-Dade Construction, deficiencies generally appear during or within 1-2 years post construction; not 40 years.

Originally Posted by TiMSport

If it's not shoddy construction it's a sink hole. Florida man.

Outside of one tiny area at the extreme NE corner just west of I95 near the Broward county line, naturally forming sinkholes don't occur in Miami-Dade County. The geology, aquifer, and geography are significantly different compared to the remainder of the state.

Originally Posted by M_Six

The sinking thing was 2mm/year. And that was in the 90's. Unless the sinking rate picked up, that doesn't seem huge (but I'm no engineer, so...). In 30 yrs since, that'b be 60mm (2.3 inches), which doesn't seem like enough to take down a building. The building being on piers like that is the first thing my brother mentioned (construction guy). Maybe deterioration of those along with uneven sinking caused one or two to fail.

I feel especially bad for the people who were in the area that collapsed a few seconds after the center of the building. Just enough time to wake up and realize something is terribly wrong.

It's almost impossible to find any structures on the Miami Area Barrier Islands that are not on pilings. The subsidence recorded there was unusual in that it is not reclaimed land. The professor who authored the subsidence study had this to say about the risk it posed to the structure almost 10 years ago:

"When it happens, it's low subsidence." Wdowinski said. "It's not a sudden collapse."

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I would agree deterioration is more likely than sinking. I don't think sinking a little is all that uncommon, but I'm also not an engineer.

I began noticing a potential new issue with aging deep bore pilings in Miami-Dade coastal areas back in 2011/2012 due to climate change. I fear this might be one of the main contributing factors if not the source of primary failure. The sequence and location of failure is very troubling. If it proves true, this will change everything in regards to building codes and recertification in Miami-Dade.

[HFW003]

It’s International, was on the news here this morning.

Just fuck, imagine being asleep and that shit happens.

Thinking of all those involved.

[Sara]

Absolutely horrific. My hearts goes out to everyone and all the pets lost from this

[dreamingat30fps]

That's messed up! My mom actually sent me this story. She lives on 29th and Collins in a building from the 60s. They are actually in the process of replacing windows on all units and I guess they found a lot of the balconies had rotting concrete or something so they are also refurbishing balconies... some of them they have basically completely removed and rebuilt.

I've been telling her she needs to sell that place and move!

[Tommy-G]

I was horrified seeing a bunk bed clinging to inches of the untouched floor on the top exposed level....I can't imagine.

[nyalpine90]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I would agree deterioration is more likely than sinking. I don’t think sinking a little is all that uncommon, but I’m also not an engineer.

if the sinking is happening in certain section of the building, the structural elements are under a lot of stress. Eventually those structural points will give away, maybe nearby construction and roof construction...

its very sad, at 2am people are asleep and last thing on your mind is that where you live it will collapse without a warning.