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Session topic

The Relevance of Ronan Point Today

Session objectives

To find out more about the 1968 Ronan Point disaster.

Intended audience

All civil and structural engineers involved in the structural design process.

Summary

Programme

Ronan Point, a tower block in east London which suffered a fatal partial collapse in 1968due to a gas explosion, was a critical event that changed the way UK engineersconsidered robustness.

The tower in Canning Town was part of the wave of affordable prefabricated housing builtin the 1960s in the UK in response to a general housing shortage.

This programme, in the context of modern construction practice, takes a look at therelevance of Ronan Point today.

Programme notes

These notes are kindly provided by Tony J ones and Michael Bussell and are reproducedfrom a paper originally written for The Structural Engineerwith kind permission.

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About the contributors

Tony Jones is leader of the structural development and support team within Arup. His

expertise is in all aspects of structural concrete and Tony sits on both BSI and Europeancode committees on the subject. He has investigated a number of failures and providedexpert advice on their causes. Tony has contributed to numerous Concrete Society,IStructE and CIRIA publications on the use of concrete. He is currently a member of theIStructE Task Group on Robustness.

Stuart Alexanderhas been a practising structural, civil and transport engineer for over40 years. He has recently retired as WSP's Group Technical Coordinator, responsible fora team advancing and disseminating technical knowledge throughout WSP Group. Hehas wide experience in structural design, which he has applied in expert investigation andtrouble-shooting, especially in the area of structural loadings and movements (particularlymanaging the effects of temperature, shrinkage, early-age contractions and creep inconcrete, masonry and steel structures). Stuart is fully involved in supporting theprofession, both through active membership of committees and working parties and byauthoring papers and articles in professional journals.

Discussion Points

Describe the principal factors behind the collapse of Ronan Point.

Explain how the Ronan Point tower was constructed.

Outline the main milestones in the aftermath of the disaster.

Explore how subsequent codes have embodied the principles of robustness and

avoidance of progressive collapse.

Explain the principal influences of the Ronan Point disaster on the designer of today.

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Notes

These notes are kindly provided by Tony J ones and Michael Bussell and are reproduced from apaper originally written for The Structural Engineerwith kind permission.

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