Want to see what failed joists look like?

[rocking23nf]

This is from a 200ish unit condo building in Fort Mac alberta, that was condemned this week

Check out the photos on top of the page, its scary, residents were given 15 minutes to grab what they can and get out, its now fences off and condemned.

I have never seen a joist bent like that.

http://penhorwood.ca/

[rocking23nf]

heres a better link

https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/23695503/1/2011-03-14?h=5d021e#gallery:0

[MountainDon]

From what I searched the problem seems to stem from faulty concrete foindation work or design and a faulty permit and inspection process during a big building boom a few years back.

[Squirl]

This goes exactly with don's new tag (which I love by the way).

"Just because something has been done and hasn't failed, doesn't mean it is good design."

I saw a pretty bad example of this a little while back.  A friend of mine inherited a house.  She wanted me to take a look at it, before she moved in.  I went down in the basement and just shook my head.  They poured concrete base under a cast iron tub.  They notched the base of the joist to put plumbing through.  The weight was far more than the joist would have held without being weakened.  When I went down there one joist had completely snapped and the 2 on each side were split halfway through.  I then went to inspect the rest.  The house was designed for a wood floor.  Well someone got the idea( as I came to find out later) to make it into a butcher shop so poured a concrete floor.  Many joists were showing signs of fatigue and had to be reinforced.  I wish I would have taken pictures.

Like this only worse:

[rwanders]

    Looks like no squash blocks at all were used----even properly sized TJIs can and probably will fail if not installed correctly. Seems that the builder thought TJIs were just funny looking versions of dimensional lumber and the framers knew nothing and learned nothing from the installation requirements of the manufacturer. Incredible example of "you don't know what you don't know". Even scarier if they knew but just didn't care.  May be many other problem areas here we don't see----did I say "may"?-----no doubt there were many if they were that ignorant or uncaring.

Engineered joists are wonderful constructions but their installation details are definitely mandatory---just like those for engineered trusses.