BCC 29-01
January 2008
Structural Collapse & Falling Elements
Vulnerable age
No particular age group
Related hazards
None
HHSRS Operating
Guidance: Feb 2006
Multiple locations
Yes
No
Secondary hazards
Yes
No
WC/Bathroom Window
Crack in wall under Landing Beam
Landing Ceiling
Lounge/Kitchen Ceiling
DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS
Dwelling: First Floor Flat in a 2 storey, mid-terrace, property built circa 1910
Background: This is the first floor flat within a two storey property of which of the ground floor is a restaurant. It is
accessed via it's own entrance door at ground level within the front elevation, leading to stairs. The flat has no access to
the rear yard which is used solely by the restaurant as a bin store area. The flat itself comprises a landing,
lounge/kitchen at the front, a main bedroom, and, in the first floor rear annex a WC/bathroom and a second bedroom.
On the landing, there is historic structural cracking around and under a beam which is in line with the join between the
main part of the property and the annexe. Adjacent to this, the lathe and plaster ceiling is holed with the remaining
plaster around the edges being loose. There is also cracked and bulged ceiling plaster above the kitchen sink in the
lounge/kitchen. The lintel/arch over the bathroom window has dropped following installation of a new window and is
currently held up by a length of timber positioned externally. No structural engineer's survey has yet been obtained.
LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS
LIKELIHOOD
Structural movement
-
l
Loose pots
-
Structural cracks etc
1
m
Insecure rainwater goods
-
Open joints
-
n
Staircase failure
-
Cladding defects
-
o
Insecure guarding to stairs etc
-
Loose copings
-
p
Defective ceilings etc
2
Loose guarding to balconies etc
-
q
Defective internal walls
-
Structural damage to balconies etc
-
r
Insecure internal frames
-
Disrepair to lintels/sills
3
s
Loose fittings or fixtures
-
Insecure frames or hinges
-
OUTCOMES
Roof movement
-
a
Height above ground
1
Loose roof covering
-
b
Size/weight of element
1
1
3 = seriously defective, 2 = defective, 1 = not satisfactory, - = satisfactory/N/A
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
I
j
k
Key:
RATING
Score: 138
H
I
J
A
B
C
D
E
F
Average likelihood and health outcomes for persons of all ages, 1997-99.
NEW RATING
Av: Nos
Score: 2
H
I
J
G
BCC 29-01
January 2008
HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES
Low
High
1 in 100
LIKELIHOOD
G
Av: Pre 1920 Flat: 24,098
< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130
75
42
24
13
7.5
4
2.5
1.5 >
Justification
Although there are multiple deficiencies present, the historic cracking between the main and rear annex structures is
fairly typical of properties of this age. However the unsound and holed lath and plaster ceiling (worsened by possible
water ingress) and the dropped external arch present an increased likelihood of collapse which might cause harm,
although in relation to the lintel this may be less so as the area below is likely to be less frequently trafficked. Taking
these factors into account, the likelihood of an occurrence is judged to be significantly above the average.
OUTCOMES
Class I
Class II
%
Av: Pre 1920 Flat: 0.7
1
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 0.0
RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT
IMPROVE
Likelihood to
1 in 5,600
Outcomes to
1
0.0
10.0 89.0
%
Justification
Repairing (or replacing) the damaged ceiling and repairing or replacing the dropped linte/arch, together with any other
works required by a structural engineeer, would reduce the likelihood of harm and the spread of harm outcomes to near
the average for a property of this age and type.
Av: 0
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 8.6
Class III
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Class IV
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
0
10
Av: 90.7
89.0
Justification
The most likely occurrence would be falling ceiling plaster and, despite the displaced lintel/arch, there is nothing to
justify changing the spread of harms from the national average.
Av: Pre 1920 Flat: 0
A
B
C
D
E
F