The Generation of a Class of Structural Forms for Vaults and Sails

Potential for catastrophe in building alterations The above topic, raised by Peter Mawer in our column for 20 March, attracted numerous responses, published in the journal for 15 May. Predictably, further correspondence has been received. Mr M. J. Foxton, from St. Helens, Merseyside, writes: The situation described by Mr Mawer will be very familiar to anyone engaged in local authority building control in the appraisal of submissions made for compliance with the requirements of the current Building Regulations and Part A of Schedule 1, in paticular. The local authority will, normally, require, in support, the production of such calculations and details as are necessary to demonstrate structural adequacy, including overall stability. Verulam

This paper outlines the philosophy and objectives of structural evaluation and describes how the IStructE report Appraisal of existing structures can be used and interpreted to provide a practical basis for decisions concerning the current and future use of buildings for which the original design and construction information is incomplete or unavailable, or where a change of use is envisaged. R.J. Currie

The Building Research Establishment, assisted by Bradshaw, Buckton & Tonge, has studied the report prepared by the Inquiry Commissioner (Dan Closkey) on the failure of the ‘Save on foods’ store in Station Square, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The aim of the work was to determine whether there were any implications from this failure for the recommendations in BS 5950: Part 1. The study has identified some points in the interpretation of the Code which, it is felt, should be highlighted to practising design engineers. D.B. Moore and A.D. Weller