Talk:Hotel New World disaster

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The National Geographic Channel program on this "Seconds from Disaster" http://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/watch/program_details.aspx?id_program=7798 says the cause was a miscalculation by the architects who failed to build the building to support the "Dead load" -- the building itself, and only built it to support the "Live Load" -- its contents and additions to the building.

The first two columns to fail were near the nightclub on a low floor of the building. Personally, I wonder if the bass vibrations from the music amplification system could have been a factor.

The official sites from Singapore state that "shoddy workmanship and corner cutting by the contractors were responsible for the sudden collapse of the building." This seems to run contrary to the National Geographic program's conclusion which concludes that the materials and construction were sound.

What is the truth?? 71.131.47.66 23:49, 10 October 2005

According to Seconds From Disaster tv series, a range of potential causes were tested-for by investigators after the collapse. Generally shoddy workmanship was tested-for early on as rescuers has reported that the concrete was very weak and crumbly as they tunnelled through the ruins and drilled though concrete slabs. Tests showed the concrete was to proper world standards and contruction was also fine. The concrete crumbled as it had been so heavily fractured during the collapse itself. Your comments re "live load" are correct. The architect accounted for the "live load" (weight of people, furniture, fixtures and fittings), while forgetting to factor in the "dead load" (weight of the building itself). For its entire 15 year life the building could not support itself. Nothing to do with nightclub basslines though. Collapse was only a matter of time. OK, edits to now go in the main page! Asa01 20:58, 1 April 2006 (UTC)