Multi Storey Car park operators call for inspection regime

New Civil Engineer this month includes an article on the state of UK multi storey car parks and the need for them to be regularly inspected and maintained to prevent collapse. A recent collapse in Ontario, as mentioned in the article, caused the death of 2 people and injured many more and lead us to believe that similar incidents could occur in the UK.

The article mentions the car park in Scunthorpe, where C&D were acting as demolition consultants to the council, that was closed and then demolished by GBM Limited following the failure of a routine inspection. We have, in the West Midlands, seen the collapse of a car park in Piper's Row, Wolverhampton on 20 March 1997 (subsequently demolished by Coleman & Company) and the recent explosive demolition of Stourbridge Car Park by DSM (featured on this site).

C&D have also been involved as demolition consultants for the demolition of Barnstaple Car Park, by Lawson Demolition Limited and as consultants following the partial collapse of a car park at Southend on Sea during demolition by Elvanite Limited.

From our own experience of structures of this type we can only agree with the car park operators that regular inspection, testing, and maintenance is needed to ensure that our ageing car parks remain safe, and all suspect car parks are demolished safely and quickly to remove any chance of a premature collapse.

If you would like details of our work as consultants on multi storey car park demolition please do not hesitate to contact john.woodward@demolishdismantle.co.uk

Our thanks go to John Harris of Stewart & Harris Limited for sending us the article.