Assignment 2: Summary reader response draft #1
In the article “Hotel New World Collapse”, Lim (2009) reported on the aftermath of the collapse of Hotel New World, including brief details on the causes that led to the structural failure. Following the collapse, initial rescue attempts were hampered by the lack of rescue personnel and tools, specialising in structural collapse. Lim stated that international tunnelling professionals and specialised equipment were brought in to assist with rescue efforts. Nearby establishments were re-purposed as command and support centres by the authorities. According to Lim, these efforts resulted in the rescue of 17 individuals. Lim highlighted that the Commission of Inquiry determined that “inadequate structural design”, unqualified draftsmen and new installation on the roof, caused the collapse. They proposed that the government should be more proactive in the building industry to prevent future failures. Consequently, the Ministry of National Development was assigned to perform structural audits on subsequent constructions.
The article mainly describes the aftermath of the collapse of Hotel New World. However, it lacks an in-depth explanation of what led to the failure when mentioning "inadequate structural design", unqualified draftsman and the new installation on the roof.
Poor calculations and sketches of the building during the design phase was one of the main reasons leading to the structural failure of Hotel New World. According to Thean, Vigiaratnam, Lee, and Broms (1987), it was written that the structure was so poorly designed that it was only ‘a matter of time’ before it collapsed. It was also stated that several columns and beams were designed only to withstand the bare minimum of loads. In the article, ‘Untrained man drew the plans” (1986), it was reported that it indeed was an incompetent draughtsman Leong Shui Lung who drew the design and structural plans. This just shows how vital it is for a project to have competent personnel. For if they had conceived the plans instead, Hotel New World could have been still standing today.
Another factor that led to the collapse was the failure to consider a 21.8-tonne water tank when it was installed on the roof of Hotel New World. Thean, Vigiaratnam, Lee, and Broms (1987) stated that the building plans submitted never included a water tank of that size to be installed on the roof. It was also reported, given the poor state that the building was already in, sizable loads which were added to the building, caused the structure to be ‘further loaded.’ Usually, such added loads do not pose a serious threat. However, since Hotel New World was ‘grossly under-designed’ to begin with, this added load further affected the building structurally. This illustrates that the personnel who called for the installation of the water tank lacked the responsibility to get it endorsed by qualified engineers before proceeding forth.
Finally, failure for adequate and appropriate building maintenance could have been elaborated by Lim. As stated in the report by Thean, Vigiaratnam, Lee, and Broms (1987), if building maintenance had been conducted, the structural integrity of the building could’ve been realised and structural ‘remedial actions’ could have been implemented. Furthermore, it was stated that even though cracks in the building were spotted, building owners called for no professional help. According to the article ‘Untrained man drew the plans” (1986), draughtsman Shum Cheong Heng, referred to building owner Ng Khoon Lim as a ‘very arrogant man and would not follow instructions.’ Since it was reported by Lim (2009) that Ng Khoon Lim ‘was very much in charge of the construction of the building and carried out the supervision himself’, it is of my opinion that the responsibility to report such cracks in the building fell on Ng Khoon Lim himself. Him not doing so, eventually played a role in the loss of 33 lives, including his own.
Given all these factors, Hotel New World was a building waiting to collapse. This goes to show the importance of having competent and qualified personnel when constructing a building that must be structurally safe and adequate. Hotel New World collapse will be a reminder of the consequences one brings upon him/herself by trying to cut corners and being negligent in engineering works.
References:
Lim, Tin Seng. (2011). Hotel New World Collapse. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_783__2009-01-02.html
Thean, L.P., Vijiaratnam, A., Lee, S.L., & Broms, Bengt B. (1987). Report of Inquiry on the collapse of Hotel New World, pp. 58, 62, 63. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/data2/BookSG/publish/2/2b6b1c5c-8918-433a-a41e-8d2be8451577/web/html5/index.html?opf=tablet/BOOKSG.xml&launchlogo=tablet/BOOKSG_BrandingLogo_.png&pn=1
Untrained man drew the plans. (1987, September 18). Straits Times, pp. 1. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19860918-1.2.2
The article mainly describes the aftermath of the collapse of Hotel New World. However, it lacks an in-depth explanation of what led to the failure when mentioning "inadequate structural design", unqualified draftsman and the new installation on the roof.
Poor calculations and sketches of the building during the design phase was one of the main reasons leading to the structural failure of Hotel New World. According to Thean, Vigiaratnam, Lee, and Broms (1987), it was written that the structure was so poorly designed that it was only ‘a matter of time’ before it collapsed. It was also stated that several columns and beams were designed only to withstand the bare minimum of loads. In the article, ‘Untrained man drew the plans” (1986), it was reported that it indeed was an incompetent draughtsman Leong Shui Lung who drew the design and structural plans. This just shows how vital it is for a project to have competent personnel. For if they had conceived the plans instead, Hotel New World could have been still standing today.
Another factor that led to the collapse was the failure to consider a 21.8-tonne water tank when it was installed on the roof of Hotel New World. Thean, Vigiaratnam, Lee, and Broms (1987) stated that the building plans submitted never included a water tank of that size to be installed on the roof. It was also reported, given the poor state that the building was already in, sizable loads which were added to the building, caused the structure to be ‘further loaded.’ Usually, such added loads do not pose a serious threat. However, since Hotel New World was ‘grossly under-designed’ to begin with, this added load further affected the building structurally. This illustrates that the personnel who called for the installation of the water tank lacked the responsibility to get it endorsed by qualified engineers before proceeding forth.
Finally, failure for adequate and appropriate building maintenance could have been elaborated by Lim. As stated in the report by Thean, Vigiaratnam, Lee, and Broms (1987), if building maintenance had been conducted, the structural integrity of the building could’ve been realised and structural ‘remedial actions’ could have been implemented. Furthermore, it was stated that even though cracks in the building were spotted, building owners called for no professional help. According to the article ‘Untrained man drew the plans” (1986), draughtsman Shum Cheong Heng, referred to building owner Ng Khoon Lim as a ‘very arrogant man and would not follow instructions.’ Since it was reported by Lim (2009) that Ng Khoon Lim ‘was very much in charge of the construction of the building and carried out the supervision himself’, it is of my opinion that the responsibility to report such cracks in the building fell on Ng Khoon Lim himself. Him not doing so, eventually played a role in the loss of 33 lives, including his own.
Given all these factors, Hotel New World was a building waiting to collapse. This goes to show the importance of having competent and qualified personnel when constructing a building that must be structurally safe and adequate. Hotel New World collapse will be a reminder of the consequences one brings upon him/herself by trying to cut corners and being negligent in engineering works.
References:
Lim, Tin Seng. (2011). Hotel New World Collapse. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_783__2009-01-02.html
Thean, L.P., Vijiaratnam, A., Lee, S.L., & Broms, Bengt B. (1987). Report of Inquiry on the collapse of Hotel New World, pp. 58, 62, 63. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/data2/BookSG/publish/2/2b6b1c5c-8918-433a-a41e-8d2be8451577/web/html5/index.html?opf=tablet/BOOKSG.xml&launchlogo=tablet/BOOKSG_BrandingLogo_.png&pn=1
Untrained man drew the plans. (1987, September 18). Straits Times, pp. 1. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19860918-1.2.2
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