March 2021

Volume 99 | Issue 3

Profile: Jo da Silva

Ceilings Performing a

centre stage
desk study

A two-part introduction to historic plaster Steel’s circular

ceilings begins by examining causes of economy potential
deterioration and failure.

Cover_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 1 18/02/2021 08:51

 Digital Design
& Computation
e-conference

Keynote: Professor Caitlin Mueller,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Conference theme: Digital futures

We’ve invited leading experts and companies from across the globe to Date:
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• Machine learning for structural health
• Automating concrete construction
• A new model of digital collaboration and workflows
• New structural paradigms Prices:
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TSE.Mar21.002.indd 2 15/02/2021 17:13

 30
Upfront
5 Editorial
6 News
8 News

Climate emergency
10 Understanding existing buildings – five studies
to complete before design work starts
14 Enabling steel’s circular economy potential
16 Own your agency: what part will you play in the
climate revolution?

Professional guidance
18 VAT reverse charge for building and construction
services: what is it and will it a ect me?

Technical
20 Historic plaster ceilings. Part 1: Development
and causes of failure
36
Industry CPD
26 Structural steel and the circular economy

Project focus
30 1 Triton Square, London – low-carbon
development through reuse of an existing
building

Opinion
36 Profile: Jo da Silva
40 Viewpoint: Is there still a place for hand
sketching in the digital design age?
44 Verulam

At the back
March 2021

47 Diary dates

10
48 Spotlight on Structures
COVER: APOLLO THEATRE, LONDON | ALAMY

49 Products & Services

50 Services Directory
Issue 3
Volume 99

40
3
thestructuralengineer.org | March 2021

Contents_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 3 17/02/2021 17:18

 thestructuralengineer.org/jobs
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for The Institution of Structural Engineers.
The perfect place to find the latest

350
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TSE.Mar21.004.indd 4 15/02/2021 17:14

 Editorial Upfront

PRESIDENT
Don McQuillan
BSc(Eng), CEng, FIStructE, FICE, FIAE, FIEI,
FCIHT, FConsE, MAPM, MAE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Martin Powell

EDITORIAL
HEAD OF PUBLISHING
Lee Baldwin

MANAGING EDITOR

Robin Jones Managing Editor

Robin Jones
t: +44 (0) 20 7201 9822
e: [email protected]

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DESIGN
SENIOR DESIGNER
Nicholas Daley MANY OF YOU WILL BE AWARE that we’ve desk research required before beginning work on
recently launched a reader survey to gauge your an existing building (page 10) and Michal Drewniok
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
views of The Structural Engineer. Much has exploring the circular economy potential of steel
Jane Easterman happened in the two years or so since we last (page 14) – a topic which is also the subject of this
EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP sought your feedback – not least the launch of the month’s Industry CPD module from Steel for Life
Will Arnold MIStructE ‘Climate emergency’ section last year – so we’re (page 26).
Premma Makanji MIStructE
Allan Mann FIStructE keen to hear your thoughts: what you find useful and Our ‘Project focus’ article also o ers an account of
Chris O’Regan FIStructE
Angus Palmer MIStructE
what you don’t, what you’d like to see more or less sustainably redeveloping an existing building – the 1
Simon Pitchers FIStructE of, etc. Triton Square development in London. The authors
Eleana Savvidi MIStructE
Your views will help shape the magazine’s editorial explain how structural reuse and strengthening
Price (2021 subscription)
Institutional: £465.00
priorities, so do tell us what you think. It should take strategies allowed the project to achieve a BREEAM
Personal (print only): £130 no more than five minutes to complete the survey Outstanding rating, a carbon footprint of 136kgCO2/
Personal (online only): £130
Personal (Student Member): £40 and, as a small token of our appreciation, we’re m2 and a SCORS A rating (page 30). We’d like to
Single copies: £25 (incl. p&p)
o ering three £100 Amazon vouchers in a prize draw. encourage anyone looking to submit a project case
Take the survey by 21 March at study to the magazine to include a carbon calculation
Printed by
Warners Midlands plc
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TSE21PRINT or by in line with the Institution’s recent guidance.
The Maltings, Manor Lane Bourne, scanning the QR code. Other articles this month include the first of a
Lincolnshire PE10 9PH
United Kingdom two-part guide to understanding historic plaster
© The Institution of Structural Engineers. ceilings, their inspection and maintenance (page 20),
The Structural Engineer (ISSN 1466-5123) is
published by IStructE Ltd, a wholly owned
following several ceiling collapses in historic theatres
subsidiary of The Institution of Structural in recent years; an explanation of VAT changes
Engineers. It is available both in print and online.
that come into force in the UK on 1 March (page
Contributions published in The Structural
Engineer are published on the understanding
18); and an impassioned defence of the value of
that the author/s is/are solely responsible for the hand sketching in a digital age (page 40). If you’re
statements made, for the opinions expressed
and/or for the accuracy of the contents. We’re delighted this month to feature a profile impressed by Andy Veall’s sketching examples,
Publication does not imply that any statement or
opinion expressed by the author/s refl ects the
of Jo da Silva (page 36), who was appointed a don’t forget to submit yours to the next round of our
views of the Institution of Structural Engineers’ Dame in the recent New Year Honours, joining a Drawing Board competition by 12 March (entries to
Board; Council; committees; members
or employees. No liability is accepted by such select group of structural engineering knights of [email protected]).
persons or by the Institution for any loss or
damage, whether caused through reliance on
recent decades. Jo’s citation notes her commitment As ever, I hope you enjoy the issue.
any statement, opinion or omission (textual to prioritising social outcomes for vulnerable
or otherwise) in The Structural Engineer, or
otherwise. communities in developing countries, and in this
The Institution of Structural Engineers
article she discusses her path into the humanitarian
International HQ sphere, the need for developing countries to also
47–58 Bastwick Street
London EC1V 3PS refocus on social disparities in the post-Covid world,
United Kingdom
t: +44 (0)20 7235 4535
and the climate challenges that lie ahead as the
e: [email protected] COP26 summit approaches.
The Institution of Structural Engineers Jo highlights the need for engineers to direct
Incorporated by Royal Charter
Charity Registered in England and Wales number
their energies towards utilising existing buildings
233392 and in Scotland number SC038263 and retrofitting at scale in order to keep materials in
use and embodied carbon locked up – questions
which our ‘Climate emergency’ section has explored
in recent months. These themes run through this
issue again, with Fiona Cobb discussing the key

5
thestructuralengineer.org | March 2021

Editorial_24-Feb-2021_The Structural Engineer 5 17/02/2021 17:19

 Upfront News

Institution to launch new Structural

Carbon Tool
The Structural Carbon Tool design, enabling a focused Wood to align the tool with Engineering Council
is an Excel-based carbon approach to reducing carbon. its existing guidance as part updates guidance to
estimator developed by Elliott Wood has donated of its ongoing commitment to support profession
Elliott Wood in partnership the Structural Carbon sustainability. in achieving more
with the Institution of Tool to the industry free Join speakers Will Arnold,
Structural Engineers. The of charge, in response to Penny Gowler and John
sustainable future
new tool accompanies the the Construction Declares Orr for a free online launch The Engineering Council has issued
Institution’s guide How to movement. The Institution lecture on 18 March to see updated Guidance on Sustainability
calculate embodied carbon has worked alongside Elliott the Structural Carbon Tool for engineering professionals at all
ble
and will be made available in action
actio and discover career stages.
to all members as part of how it can be used by The revised guidance includes
g
the Institution’s ongoing practising
pract engineers the UN’s Sustainable Development
te
focus on tackling climate to aid climate-positive Goals, clarifies its definition of
breakdown. decision
decis making. sustainable development, and
The tool enables usersrs emphasises the importance of
to quickly estimate the engineers taking a proactive
embodied carbon in theireir Find out more and role. This latest edition highlights
structure, and allows register for the the importance of designing
comparison of up to sixx lecture
lectu at www.istructe. in sustainability from the start,
options at once. It can be org/events/hq/launch-
org emphasises the inter-connectedness
used to locate embodied ed of-the-structural-
o of environmental challenges and
carbon hotspots in a carbon-tool/.
c solutions, the role of regeneration
and restoration, and consideration
of the whole lifecycle – including safe
Construction industry LGBTQ+ disposal.
network launches new resource to The guidance sets out six
support allyship in workplace New reports claims principles to guide engineering
industry lacks skills to professionals in integrating
A new campaign meet 2050 climate targets understanding of the environment
that aims to and sustainability into all aspects of
Only 7% of engineering companies in the their work:
support allyship
UK with a sustainability strategy say they 1) Contribute to building a sustainable
of the LGBTQ+ have the skills needed to fulfil it, a survey
community within society, present and future.
by the Institution of Engineering and
the construction, Technology (IET) reveals. 2) Apply professional and responsible
engineering and built The survey, which looks at the skills judgement and take a leadership
environment sector engineering employers need to meet role on sustainability.
has been launched by 2050 net-zero targets, uncovers that 3) Do more than just comply with
Building Equality. only half (53%) of UK engineering firms legislation and codes: be prepared
The Toolbox Talk is think net zero by 2050 is achievable for to challenge the status quo.
them. When considering who should 4) Use resources efficiently and
aimed at educating the
be accountable for tackling climate e ectively.
construction workforce, to empower colleagues across change, businesses think the majority
J.DARCEY IMAGES

the industry to become active allies. The free resource 5) Seek multiple views to solve
of responsibility lies with national
explores the importance of allyship and how individuals government (25%), followed by business sustainability challenges.
and businesses can make a positive di erence through and industry (20%). Over half (56%) are 6) Manage risk to minimise adverse
small changes; alongside introducing LGBTQ+ doubtful that achieving net zero in the UK impact and maximise benefit to
terminology to widen understanding of the community. by 2050 is possible. people and the environment.
A free resource pack is also available allowing the When addressing skills, one in two
Toolbox Talk to be delivered throughout businesses. engineering firms state they are currently
experiencing skills gaps (46%), with The full Guidance on
Building Equality is an alliance of over 50
most choosing to upskill/retrain existing Sustainability leafl et, along
organisations including consultants, engineers, employees (47%) or hire new employees
developers, contractors and institutions. They are with a convenient wallet card of
with those skills (44%). It’s less commonmon
passionate about working together and harnessing for them to recruit apprentices/graduates ates the six principles, can be
their collective power to drive LGBTQ+ inclusion in the and provide training, although this is still downloaded free from www.
built environment – creating welcoming and supportive an action taken by roughly a third (32%). %). engc.org.uk/sustainability.y
workplaces for everyone. The report details 10
Building Equality recognises the importance of recommendations for education,
LGBTQ+ allies within the industry, and society at government, and policy and skills, which hich
include greater collaboration to improve ove
large, and developed this resource to provide a
work-readiness of recruits, improve the he
comprehensive overview and understanding of the understanding of the net-zero challenge ngee
LGBTQ+ community and the vital role of allies can play and building a more fl exible and dynamicamicc
in facilitating greater tolerance, acceptance and equality. workforce.

Find out more at: Find out more at

www.buildingequalityuk.com. www.theiet.org/skills.

6
March 2021 | thestructuralengineer.org

News_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer.indd 6 17/02/2021 17:19

 www.steel-sci.com

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to the Steel industry.

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TSE.Mar21.007.indd 7 15/02/2021 17:15

 Upfront News

Recognising the contribution of Iain McLeod Mohamed Elchalakan

our editors and reviewers Toby Mottram Richard Henry
The Institution would like to express its John Muir Merih Kucukler
thanks to all those who contribute to the Andrew Mulhollen Dennis Lam
peer-review process of The Structural Rosella Nicolin Janet Lees
Engineer and Structures. The success of John Orr Guo-Qiang Li
both publications is heavily dependent on Philip Peacock Mahendrakumar Madhavan
the time and commitment volunteered by Ralph Pelly Toby Mottram
our editors and reviewers. The following Hugh Pidduck John Orr
contributed to the review process in 2020: Ian Poole Jeom Kee Paik
Mark Porter Francesco Pomponi
THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Julia Ratcli e Esther Real
Editorial Advisory Group Bill Reid Manuel Romero
Will Arnold Will Rogers-Tizard Benjamin Schafer
Premma Makanji Jonathan Roynon Gang Shi
Allan Mann Mike Sefton Jin-Guang Teng
Chris O’Regan Andrew Smith Marios Theofanous
Angus Palmer Alastair Soane Brian Uy
Simon Pitchers Tim Stratford Pedro Vellasco
Eleana Savvidi Alex Tait Marco Vona
Dimitris Theodossopoulos Ahmer Wadee
Climate Emergency Task Group David Thomas Chien Ming Wang
Mike Cook, Will Arnold and all contributors Victoria Tinney Yong Wang
to the group Giancarlo Torpiano Rou Wen
Alain Waha Donald White
Reviewers Natasha Watson Hua Yang
Javad Akhtar Andy Yates Ron Ziemian
Sahil Amrania Alphose Zingoni
Jane Anderson STRUCTURES
Clara Bagnell-George Editor-in-Chief Reviewers
Paul Batty Leroy Gardner Reviewers for Structures are too numerous to list,
Bedir Bekar but we are grateful for the support of everyone who
Scott Boote Associate Editors carried out a review for the journal.
Steve Branch Mark Bradford
Oliver Broadbent Mario D’Aniello
Jan Brütting Diane Gardner
Georgina Chamberlain Lin-Hai Han CLC launches industry poll to
Chris Clark Tim Ibell track impact of PI insurance
Tara Clinton Jason Ingham crisis
Fiona Cobb Ali Kaveh
Companies from across the UK construction
Mike Cook Pedro Silva industry are being asked to take part in the
Angus Cormie biggest ever review of construction’s growing
Simon Dunne Guest Editors professional indemnity (PI) insurance crisis.
Rana Embaby Stéphane Bordas In recent years, firms from across the
Gareth Evans Charles Clifton industry have reported sharp increases in
Steve Faulkner José Correia premiums for PI insurance, while also seeing
Corentin Fivet Bernardino D’Amico stricter curbs on the levels of cover. Some
firms have reported four-fold increases in
Dan Fordham Hossein Derakhshan
policy costs, while others have said that they
Jess Foster Marc Eberhard
can no longer secure cover.
Ben Gholem Michael Griffith This has been driven by multiple factors
Orlando Gibbons Tong Guo including a response to higher historic claims
Jannik GIesekam Matthew Hebdon from the sector, as well as a cyclical hardening
John Golding Jason Ingham of the insurance market, the Construction
Mike Gryniuk Mehdi Kashani Leadership Council (CLC) claims.
Will Hawkins James Lim In response to the crisis, the CLC is
Richard Henderson Jeom Kee Paik planning to develop a robust evidence
base, identifying in detail the areas where
Tim Hetherington Francesco Pomponi
the industry is facing the most significant
Peter Ho Krishanu Roy
difficulties.
Tim Ibell M. Saiid Saiidi The CLC survey asks companies to provide
Colin Jolly confidential feedback on the costs and policy
James Kitchin Editorial Board exclusions that they have experienced when
Panos Kotsovinos Mike Banfi renewing their cover.
Eddie Lam Brian Broderick
Kate Leighton Ian Burgess
Adrian Long Dinar Camotim You can take the survey at
Ali Mahdi Tak-Ming Chan www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CLCPII
Stuart Marsh Kwok Fai Chung until 12 March 2021.
Bruce Martin Matthew De Jong
Edward Maunder James Ding

8
March 2021 | thestructuralengineer.org

News_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 8 17/02/2021 17:28

 ®

TSE.Mar21.009.indd 9 15/02/2021 17:17

 Opinion Planning application
Climate emergency Performing
procedures
a desk study

4.Zero waste

Understanding existing
buildings – five studies to
complete before design work starts
Fiona Cobb presents a brief guide to the key desk research required to understand the
types of construction, likely structural capacities and latent defects of an existing building.
Introduction When starting work on an existing Maps prior to 1871 are very useful, but
In 2020, the IStructE Climate building, an essential first task is to it can be more difficult to relate their
Emergency Task Group surveyed the carry out research into its history, features to modern site boundaries. A
organisation’s members1 to establish which in turn provides insight into the reasonably comprehensive desk study
what guidance would be most useful building’s form, materials, strength and can be compiled, at minimal expense,
when aiming to reduce embodied likely latent defects. It is rare to find a in a couple of hours.
energy in projects. Most requested set of drawings which provides a full
was advice on the reuse of existing and up-to-date record of the existing 2) Statutory bodies
buildings, and this article is one of a structure, so the engineer must build Governments have long sought to
series addressing this topic (see the up their own picture by researching legislate on all aspects of buildings and
IStructE Climate emergency webpage2 historic documentation. Armed with property, including development control
for further articles). this research, the engineer can share (planning) and safety/standards (building
To reduce embodied energy in strategic advice with the design team control). Searches of these statutory
new building projects, there will be an and advise the client on cost-e ective records can yield historic plans and/or
REPRODUCED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

increasing focus on the reuse of 20th intrusive investigations. details of development on the site.
century building structures whose The five broad themes of a research In the UK, the Planning Portal
development is not a ected by historic study are described below. (www.planningportal.co.uk/) can be
significance. This article is intended to searched for a full planning history of a
assist engineers who may be working íFIGURE 1: Cross- 1) Map regression site since 1947. Planning records are
on this sort of project for the first time. referencing Ordnance Historic maps are particularly useful public information and records can be
There is a focus on UK-centric sources Survey (top) and WWII for charting when a site might have inspected at council offices or online,
bomb maps (bottom)
of information, but the search principles can explain changing been first developed, and how this depending on their age, though these
(CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) / https://maps.nls.uk/view/102908263

apply regardless of location. site features development has changed over time can vary in quality and consistency.
– a process called ‘map regression’ Building control records are private, so
(Figure 1). The aim is to generate a list records can only be inspected if a letter
of dates tied to development phases; from the building owner is provided to
and clues as to the building’s use might grant permission.
also emerge along the way. Knowing Since 1996, the UK’s CDM
the approximate date of a building gives Regulations have required by law that
clues as to the type of construction and clients are provided with a full set of
therefore its likely structural capacity records for their building – although
and latent defects. these records aren’t always easy
Di erent types of map can be used to trace. For records prior to 1996,
to build up a picture of a site and its it’s worth checking on site for dusty
immediate surroundings. Engineers filing cabinets and boxes, even (and
frequently use geotechnical and fl ood sometimes especially) when the building
maps, but specific local conditions users are adamant that no such records
require additional research (e.g. exist!
caves, mines, railways, tunnels, bomb Although research on heritage
LAYERS OF LONDON (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) /

damage). buildings is not covered in detail here, it

While there are many subscription is usually worth doing a basic search in
services for map data, paid searches case specialist advice is required. The
can be prohibitively expensive on aim is to establish whether:
smaller projects. In the UK, much of the Ò| a building protected for its historic
information is freely available online and character (listed) is on or near the
www.layersofl ondon.org/

a list of selected sources is included site

at the end of the article. For example, Ò| the building is within an area
UK open-source Ordnance Survey protected for its historic character
maps are generally accurate and cover (conservation area)
the period from 1871 to 1952, while Ò| the building is within an
more recent maps must be paid for. archaeological protection zone.

10
March 2021 | thestructuralengineer.org

Climate Desk_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer.indd 10 18/02/2021 09:48

 Performing a desk study Climate emergency

In the UK, these details can be

searched via the websites of the
three devolved governments and their
respective heritage organisations.

3) Primary research
Primary research is the process of
uncovering original documents relevant
to the building, which are held in public
or private archives. Tracing archives can
be time consuming, but increasingly
catalogues are available online, especially
for public archive centres, e.g. RIBA
Library, National Archives.
If a building has been in single
ownership for many years, there is likely
to be a facilities manager, and possibly
also an archivist, to assist. Alternatively,
initial searches may have established
the name of the original engineers (or
their new parent company) who might
be approached for copies of original
construction documents.
The IStructE Library keeps an informal
UK Consultants Tracker (www.istructe.
org/resources/guidance/consultant-
tracker/) which can be incredibly useful
in locating records for companies which
have stopped trading. There are ample
opportunities for dead ends due to
fire, fl ood, retirement, reorganisation
or a clear-out. However, on many past
projects, I have traced the original
consultants and been given a full set of
drawings, details and loading allowances.
In addition to drawings and
documents, there are picture archives
which can yield photos and paintings,
some during construction, such as
those from London’s Royal Horticultural
Halls in Figure 2. Images of temporary
works and construction methods can be

CITY OF WESTMINSTER ARCHIVES

very useful when considering proposed
alterations.
Other types of primary evidence
may include committee minutes, legal
documents, financial accounts and/or site
notes. They tend to o er little definitive
evidence about the fabric of a building,
but may help answer questions about
when/why/whom and/or early plans.
A final, but often overlooked part of
research is to chat to people. Building
ëFIGURE 2:
users are often keen to know about extremely difficult. Catalogues might would normally produce a full set of Construction photos
proposals. Taking the time to explain not exist at all or be online. Collections drawings. Searches on the name of showing reinforcement
your work, and what you are looking for, might be spread across multiple the organisation it had housed yielded (top) and temporary
works (bottom) at Royal
will often elicit help and information. Oral locations, due to geographical, fiscal or some meagre results, but did give a Horticultural Halls
accounts often yield valuable information organisational boundaries. hint that the organisation was often
about building uses/loading, significant 2) Keep a fl exible mindset on names referred to by an acronym. Only when
events and/or building defects, which and addresses. Sites which span I searched on the acronym did the full
might not otherwise be revealed from di erent streets/blocks have the habit collection of records appear.
archives or inspections. of switching between postal addresses 3) Get an engineer to look at the archive
There are a few points to note here over time, so check catalogues for catalogue list. At an Oxford University
about persistence: all possible addresses if the current college, the Clerk of Works had asked
1) Seek advice from the archivists to address yields little. Names can be the Muniments Keeper to search for
obtain a comprehensive search list. similarly problematic. I was recently structural drawings and nothing was
Local archives often contain a wealth drawing a blank when searching for found. I visited the archive to check
of information but finding it can be a building from 1850 whose pedigree on a di erent part of the site and had

11
thestructuralengineer.org | March 2021

Climate Desk_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer.indd 11 17/02/2021 11:14

 Opinion Planning application
Climate emergency Performing
procedures
a desk study

the chance to review the drawing list – The thickness of walls, for example,
where I found a full set of reinforcement can indicate where old structure still
details. Non-technical sta are
generally unfamiliar with structural
MAP REGRESSION exists and where modern fabric has
been added. Odd nibs or beams
terminology and so don’t understand COMBINED WITH A WIDER can suggest where old walls were
the relevance of catalogue entries. ARCHIVE SEARCH IS removed, and the presence of chimney

INVALUABLE AND CAN

breasts in a room can indicate how the
4) Secondary research historic plan-form worked and where
Secondary research is information which USUALLY BE COMPILED AT the original doors were located.
has already been uncovered, sorted and
published by others. For historic buildings
MINIMAL EXPENSE However, do take care to check
the accuracy of drawings against
that might be series such as Pevsner’s inspections on site (as plans are often
Buildings of England, or pamphlets by Ò| Building A, built in 1895, had filler-joist changed during construction or not
local history or civic societies. Some fl oors on loadbearing masonry. realised at all) and don’t assume
buildings have details published in the Ò| Building G was a 1985 braced steel that there will be one set of historic
press and trade literature. frame with rainscreen cladding and drawings which provides everything
The history of buildings is also a precast hollowcore slab fl oors. that you want.
history of innovation in materials and Ò| Building H, from 1963, had hollow-pot The process of recording and testing
construction techniques. In the UK, slabs on a concrete-encased steel the accuracy of archive information
there is a fairly predictable pattern of frame, but its stability system was against visual inspections and site
structural typology by date up to the perplexing. Historic finance committee investigation is inevitably iterative. A
early-to-mid 20th century. These buildings minutes revealed that the building had well-compiled set of existing drawings
were often empirically designed and been built over the remains of a 19th is an invaluable record which will
will often have residual capacity which century lecture theatre – an invaluable be useful for the whole design and
can be harnessed. Conversely, from the discovery when assessing overall construction team, for the duration of
mid-20th century onwards, there can be stability and the feasibility of adding an the project.
considerable variety in the structural form extra storey. Lastly, it is also generally worth
and detailing, and the leaner the design, considering a set of opening-up
the less amenable the structures are to Once a measured survey is available, drawings, prepared in parallel with the
alteration. a conventional set of 1:50 or 1:100 existing drawings. This is not strictly
The scope of secondary research will plans and sections can be used to build ‘research’, but I tend to think of this set
vary depending on what has emerged up a record of the findings as existing of drawings as a place to store all the
from map regression, statutory body drawings. This can include findings questions left over from my research
searches and primary research. There are on loading allowances and materials which will need to be answered by site
too many possible sources of information alongside drawn information. inspection and investigations. A set
to list here, but the IStructE Library is an It is sometimes tempting to ‘straighten’ of opening-up drawings often forms
excellent place to start. survey drawings so that columns and the basis for an investigation contract
The BCSA guide to historical beams line up as if drawing a new build, and also informs the design team on
steelwork3, for example, is particularly but this should be resisted to avoid commissioning of appropriate safety
useful for information on strength and introducing error. It is important that surveys prior to intrusive investigation
properties of steel, but also the typical drawings are an accurate representation (e.g. for asbestos, lead paint).
loading allowances for di erent periods of the existing structure, including original
up to recent times. Or the manufacturers’ construction tolerance and subsequent Summary
brochures and historical patents which deformations. There are no hard-and-fast rules
describe new structural developments, êFIGURE 3: Historic Modern fl oor plans can give a to carrying out a desk study of the
development
e.g. types of fireproof fl oor structures schematic, Queen’s surprising amount of information existing structure, but map regression
developed around 1900. Schools at Eton College about the history of an old building. combined with a wider archive search
is invaluable and can usually be
5) Pulling it all together compiled at minimal expense. The aim
A successful research study should is to establish phases of development
gather a considerable amount and corresponding dates, to give clues
of information on the site and its to the di erent types of construction,
development. In its raw form, this is likely structural capacities and possible
typically quite fragmented, so ideally latent defects.
the information should be distilled into Recording this information on a
working drawings. I usually opt for three set of existing drawings is useful
separate drawing types: schematic, for planning further inspections and
existing drawings and opening-up investigations, as well as for sharing
drawings. information with the design team and
A schematic illustrates the site ‘at a contractors.
glance’. This is particularly useful if a For next steps (covering advice on
building has been constructed in multiple intrusive investigation, site surveys,
phases, both helping to inform further estimating age of construction and
investigations, and providing a key plan typical latent defects), see the first
for design reports and/or drawings. three ‘Useful resources’.
Figure 3 shows an example schematic Understanding the history of a
where three main phases of development building or site will help to unlock its
were identified among many: future potential.

12
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 Performing a desk study Climate emergency

Fiona Cobb
MEng, MSt, CEng, FIStructE
HAVE
Fiona has over 20 years’ experience as a structural engineer and has been a YOUR
Conservation Accredited Engineer since 2009. She is author of the Structural SAY
Engineer’s Pocket Book and established Cobb & Company Consulting Engineers
in 2020.

USEFUL RESOURCES @IStructE

[email protected] #TheStructuralEngineer

Understanding buildings Bomb Sight (2013) Mapping the WW2 bomb

Institution of Structural Engineers (2010)

census [Online] Available at: http://bombsight. REFERENCES
org/#15/51.5050/-0.0900 (Accessed: February
Appraisal of existing structures (3rd ed.),
2021)
London: IStructE Ltd
British Geological Survey (s.d.) Geology of 1) Institution of Structural Engineers
Richardson C. (2000) ‘The dating game’,
Britain viewer (classic) [Online] Available at: (2020) Climate Emergency Task Group:
Architect’s Journal [Online] Available at: www.
http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/ End of year report 2020 [Online] Available
architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/the-dating-
home.html? (Accessed: February 2021) [Also at: www.istructe.org/IStructE/media/
game (Accessed: February 2021)
available as phone app] Public/climate-emergency-task-group-
Various authors (2015–16) ‘Conservation report-2020.pdf (Accessed: February 2021)
National Library of Scotland (s.d.) Map
compendium. Parts 1–18’, The Structural
images, Great Britain, Ordnance Survey, 2) Institution of Structural Engineers
Engineer, 93 (1) to 94 (6) [Online] Available
OS Six-Inch, 1840s–1960s [Online] (2021) Climate emergency [Online]
at: www.istructe.org/thestructuralengineer/
Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/ Available at: www.istructe.org/resources/
article-series/conservation-compendium/
find/#zoom=5&lat=56.00000&lon=-4.00000&la climate-emergency/ (Accessed: February
(Accessed: February 2021)
yers=102&b=1&z=1&point=0,0 (Accessed: 2021)
February 2021)
Map data 3) Gent D. (2019) Historical Structural Iron
Ward L. (2015) The London County Council and Steel Sections: Properties of historical
Barton N.J. (1992) The Lost Rivers of London, Bomb Damage Maps, 1939–1945, London: cast iron, wrought iron and steel sections,
London: Historical Publications Ltd Thames & Hudson London: BCSA

A wide range of authoritative

guidance for structural engineers
Every title authored and peer
reviewed by world-leading
experts

Members enjoy a 35% discount

Available in PDF and print

formats

Browse at
istructe.org/shop

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 Opinion Planning application
Climate emergency A circular
procedures
economy for steel

4.Zero waste

Enabling steel’s circular

economy potential
Michal Drewniok discusses the principles of reusing steel elements and encourages
structural engineers to consider this option over designing with new material.

Introduction repository of steel from new projects that which includes recommendations on data
Half of all steel is used in construction and could facilitate future steel availability7,12 (e.g. by collection, inspection and testing to ensure that
infrastructure, responsible for almost 4% of global uploading an IFC model from Tekla Structures reclaimed structural steelwork can be reused with
greenhouse gas emissions1. Over the past two or STRUMIS to an online database). A similar confidence.
decades, global steel production has doubled, solution might be considered for further It should also be highlighted that the
but with growing pressure on the construction development under the EU-funded Circular mechanical properties of structural steel do not
industry to be more resource efficient and reduce Construction in Regenerative Cities (CIRCuIT) degrade over time, and sections are robust
waste, dramatic changes need to be made to the project13. and dimensionally stable15. Electrochemical
way we use this important material. Even with no specific standards, UK steel corrosion (rust) leads only to a reduction in
Steel has high recycling potential. When regulations simply require proof that a reused the cross-section16. Where steel has not been
produced in an electric arc furnace (EAF) using element ‘is suitable for its intended purpose exposed to fire or fatigue, it can be successfully
recycled scrap (secondary steel production), it and use’14. And in 2019, the Steel Construction used again in new structures15.
o ers approx. 50% energy savings and 75% Institute published Structural steel reuse: The long-term price di erential (2000–16)
carbon savings over primary production from Assessment, testing and design principles15, between the cost of UK structural steel and scrap
iron ore in a basic oxygen furnace (BOF)2. sections is over £300 per tonne, representing a
Nevertheless, to get even greater carbon substantial profit opportunity. And although there
reduction, reprocessing should be limited only to are costs involved with deconstruction, testing,
the products that cannot be reused directly (e.g.
reinforcing steel recovered after demolition).
UK REGULATIONS storage and re-fabrication, structural steel reuse
can provide an economical alternative to using
This article outlines ways in which practising SIMPLY REQUIRE new steel sections8,9,15.
structural engineers can make better use of the PROOF THAT A Structures made from reused elements
circular economy potential of structural steel
in the UK. The principles discussed also apply REUSED ELEMENT IS will typically result in a higher mass and lower
utilisation. Nevertheless, studies have shown
internationally. SUITABLE FOR ITS carbon savings of 35% compared with new

Structural steel reuse today

INTENDED PURPOSE structures17 and 56% compared with minimum-
weight solutions for steel trusses made of new
In the past few years, several research projects AND USE steel elements18.
have identified barriers to the reuse of structural
steel3–8. Studies have clearly shown that low
demand makes steel reuse uncommon. Unlike TABLE 1: Case studies of steel reuse in UK
the reuse of entire structures, only approx. 7%
of heavy structural sections and tubes, 15% Year Case study Notes
of steel piles and 10% of profile steel cladding 2020 Wood Wharf, London Use of 2220m surplus steel tubes
are reused9,10. It is more convenient to design, 2016 UTC Leeds Reuse (repurpose) of industrial building from 1900s into college
manufacture and build from new materials,
Relocation of 3320m2 building 1 mile away, 260tCO2e savings
mainly due to their availability.
2015 9 Cambridge Avenue (SEGRO) (56% less embodied carbon compared with comparative new
The vast majority of steel scrap in the UK is build), 25% saving in costs compared with equivalent new build
sent for recycling1 with few or no visible stocks of
Reuse (repurpose) of 5000m2 steel-framed paint shop from
second-hand structural steel – although several 2015 Skanska office, Doncaster
1960s
companies in the UK (see ‘Case studies’) do
Kings Science Academy, Reuse of existing industrial steel infrastructure (portal frames),
o er surplus steel from previous projects or 2013
Bradford project savings
deconstruction.
2012 London Olympic Stadia Use of 2500t of surplus unused oil and gas pipeline tubes
The perception of a lack of available steel is
also due to a lack of communication between Reuse (repurpose) of Victorian foundry building to office and
2012 Baldwin Terrace, London
studio space, 45tCO2e steel savings
the demolition contractor and the team involved
in the new design11. The demolition contractor Reuse of 82t of structural steel from old warehouse, 82tCO2e
2008 Carrwood Park, Leeds
is appointed just before works begin, even if the steel savings
building lies empty for several months before 2005 Honda plant, Swindon
Relocation of 927m2 steel warehouse, built in 2001, dismantled
demolition. This makes it impossible to conduct in 2004, storage, erected in di erent location in 2005
a pre-demolition audit to identify elements for 2005 Blue Steel building, Leeds
Refurbishment/vertical extension of 14 500m2 Poundstretcher
reuse, and as a result the default is to send the facility to Carlsberg facility
steel for recycling. Reuse of steel from Brighton railway station for workshop area
2002 BedZED, London
There have been attempts to develop a of building, 98tCO2e steel savings

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 A circular economy for steel Climate emergency

Case studies to communicate the environmental, cost and Key reading

Benefits of steel reuse have been noticed by some programme benefits of reused steel to the client or
fabricators and stockists11, such as Cleveland architect. This requires a broader knowledge and The following suggested reading
Steel & Tubes and James Dunkerley Steels (steel skillset than pure structural engineering – which can will help readers to develop their
elements) and Portal Power (pre-used steel-framed be easily learned through guidance documents, understanding of the subject further:
buildings). Table 1 presents selected case studies trainings and workshops. The structural engineer Ò| Optimum design of frame structures
where steel reuse occurred in various forms (reuse, should also make clear that if a structure is made from a stock of reclaimed elements17
relocation, repurpose). from a material that ‘is suitable for its intended Ò| Options to make steel reuse
Unsuccessful projects are not listed but are purpose and use’, there is typically no obstacle profitable: An analysis of cost and
identified in Sansom et al.12 Typical reasons to steelwork contractors or general contractors risk distribution across the UK
preventing success included: client’s restrictive providing a warranty or insurance companies construction value chain9
procurement process; architect’s vision to design providing insurance. Ò| Real and perceived barriers to steel
with new elements or in concrete; cost consultant’s The reuse of structural steel is often perceived reuse across the UK construction
reluctance for steel reuse (‘unknown’ cost of as complicated and unviable. However, there are value chain11
dismantling, cleaning and storing); and fabricator’s currently no technical barriers to structural steel Ò| Can Material Passports lower
refusal to accept second-hand steel (for already reuse and the case studies presented show that financial barriers for structural steel
available structure). this solution can be cost-e ective. Awareness of re-use8
the feasibility of steel structural steel reuse is the first Ò| P427: Structural steel reuse:
Structural engineers can make a step towards making it happen. Assessment, testing and design
di erence principles15
There is little di erence between designing Acknowledgments Ò| Allwood J., Cleaver C., Cabrera
structures using new or reused steel sections. I would like to thank Jan Brütting (EPFL), Georgina Serrenho A et al. (2020) Unlocking
There are currently no technical barriers to structural Chamberlain (Buro Happold Engineering) Absolute Zero: Overcoming
steel reuse. and William Arnold (IStructE) for their valuable implementation barriers on the
Today, however, it can be difficult for the steel comments. path to delivering zero emissions by
fabricator to source designed elements, as the 2050; doi: https://doi.org/10.17863/
market for reclaimed steel elements is still in its CAM.57650
infancy. Nevertheless, if the steel contractor is Michal P. Drewniok
informed about the main design assumptions PhD
in advance, structural steel reuse is feasible. If
Michal is a Research Associate in Efficient
an inventory of steel elements is available before
Concrete Structures at the University of Bath. He
HAVE
starting design, the new structure can even respond YOUR
is working on projects aimed at minimising SAY
to the available steel constraints (spans, bays). To
embodied carbon in construction by structural
support the design of structures from reused steel
elements, computational methods17,18 have been steel reuse, increasing material utilisation,
developed that also assess environmental benefits avoiding overspecification and overdesign, and
compared with best-practice new designs. proposing structural solutions necessary to
achieve global carbon reduction targets. @IStructE
Structural engineers have an opportunity [email protected] #TheStructuralEngineer

REFERENCES

1) World Steel Association (2019) World Steel in Figures 8) Smeets A., Wang K. and Drewniok M.P. (2019) ‘Can 14) HM Government (2013) The Building Regulations
2019 [Online] Available at: www.worldsteel.org/en/ Material Passports lower financial barriers for structural 2010. Approved Document 7: Materials and workmanship
dam/jcr:96d7a585-e6b2-4d63-b943-4cd9ab621a91/ steel re-use?’, IOP Conference Series: Earth and [Online] Available at: www.gov.uk/government/
World%2520Steel%2520in%2520Figures%25202019.pdf Environmental Science, 225 (1), [012006]; doi: https://doi. publications/material-and-workmanship-approved-
(Accessed: January 2021) org/10.1088/1755-1315/225/1/012006 document-7 (Accessed: January 2021)

2) Carpenter A. (2012) CO2 abatement in the iron and steel 9) Dunant C.F., Drewniok M.P., Sansom M. et al. (2018) 15) Brown D.G., Pimentel R.J. and Sansom M.R. (2019)
industry [Online] Available at: www.iea-coal.org/report/ ‘Options to make steel reuse profitable: An analysis of Structural steel reuse: Assessment, testing and design
co2-abatement-in-the-iron-and-steel-industry-ccc-193/ cost and risk distribution across the UK construction value principles, Ascot: Steel Construction Institute
(Accessed: January 2021) chain’, J. Clean. Product., 183, pp. 102–111; doi: https://
16) Secer M. and Uzun E.T. (2017) ‘Corrosion damage
doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.141
3) Densley-Tingley D., Cooper S., and Cullen J. (2017) analysis of steel frames considering lateral torsional
‘Understanding and overcoming the barriers to structural 10) Sansom M. and Avery N. (2014) ‘Briefing: Reuse and buckling’, Procedia Engineer., 171, pp. 1234–1241; doi:
steel reuse, a UK perspective’, J. Clean. Product., 148, pp. recycling rates of UK steel demolition arisings’, Proc. ICE https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.415
642–652; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.006 – Engineer. Sustain., 167 (3), pp. 89–94; doi: https://doi.
17) Brütting J., Senatore G., Schevenels M. and Fivet C.
org/10.1680/ensu.13.00026
4) Hradil P., Talja A., Wahlström M. et al. (2014) Re-use of (2020) ‘Optimum design of frame structures from a stock
structural elements: Environmentally efficient recovery of 11) Dunant C.F., Drewniok M.P., Sansom M. et al. of reclaimed elements’, Front. Built Environ., 6, p. 57; doi:
building components, Espoo: VTT (2017) ‘Real and perceived barriers to steel reuse across https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2020.00057
the UK construction value chain’, Resour. Conserv.
5) Widenoja E., Myhre K. and Kilvær L. (2018) DP118: 18) Brütting, J., Vandervaeren C., Senatore G., De
Recycl. 126, pp. 118–131; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
Ombruk av stål og tilknyttede byggematerialer, Norsk Temmerman N. and Fivet C. (2020) ‘Environmental impact
resconrec.2017.07.036
Stålforbund minimization of reticular structures made of reused and
12) Sansom M. et al. (2016) Supply chain integration for new elements through Life Cycle Assessment and Mixed-
6) Innovate UK (2015) Supply chain integration for
structural steel reuse: Final report of Innovate UK project Integer Linear Programming’, Energy Build., 215, 109827;
structural steel reuse [Online] Available at: https://gtr.ukri.
no.132106, Ascot: Steel Construction Institute doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.109827
org/projects?ref=132106 (Accessed: January 2021)
13) CIRCuIT (Circular Construction in Regenerative
7) BAMB (Buildings As Material Banks) website (2021)
Cities) (2020) About CIRCuIT [Online] Available at: www.
[Online] Available at: www.bamb2020.eu (Accessed:
circuit-project.eu/about-circuit (Accessed: December 2020)
January 2021)

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 Opinion Planning application
Climate emergency Professional
procedures
activism

6.Get involved

Own your agency: what part will

you play in the climate revolution?
Architect Sam Turner and structural engineer James Norman
encourage professional activism to tackle the climate emergency.

2020 was a year of change, radically enough; there must be demonstrable is compromised by our proven over-
altering our working rhythms, and change. We believe that engineers and consumption today.
bringing a new perspective on the architects have lost sight of their agency, If you are not acting with those trying
social fabric that supports us. It was not as individuals, but as a group. to clean up the built environment, you are
also the year that the push for ‘net zero’ Just think, if we all stopped working e ectively working against them.
really gathered momentum. One year tomorrow the fallout would be massive, It is our duty to work with responsibility
on, we need to work together to keep construction would halt and infrastructure and integrity. By putting this at the heart
the progress going. would fall into disrepair. of our work, we can forget trying to
As has been discussed extensively Now, we don’t need to stop working, sell ‘sustainability’ as an enhancement
over the past year1,2, architects and but we must recognise the power we to clients too often concerned more
engineers hold the potential in their hold. We must take action in the jobs about finances than fairness. We must
work to produce carbon emissions in we accept, the designs we present, the stop competing with each other and
orders of magnitude greater than most demands we put on suppliers, the way collaborate. In a state of emergency,
people in society. We will not achieve we operate our businesses and how we we have to come together, share our
net carbon neutrality without radical advocate for the built environment. knowledge and work collectively to
changes to our built environment and It is no longer responsible to wait for address the problems we face. This
you, dear reader, are one of the people êE ective climate regulation to require better performance, will take honesty and vulnerability,
with the power to make a di erence. activism is as much for a client to request the ‘eco’ option acceptance that we don’t hold all the
about behind-the-
You have a superpower in the fight or to o er ‘sustainability’ as an addition answers ourselves, that we and the
scenes change as
against climate change, will you use it demonstrating in or specialism. The ability of future systems we create require constant
for good or evil?! the street generations to meet their basic needs improvement.
Recently, both authors attended the
launch of the Climate Framework3, a UK
cross-industry action group supported
by a number of organisations including
the RIBA and the IStructE. There were
presentations from great speakers and
the framework itself is very interesting,
clearly embedding the UN Sustainable
Development Goals into construction.
However, the main point to take away
from the evening was a simple fact:
we will only be able to do this if we do
it together. Tackling the global climate
emergency is not an individual pursuit,
it is something we must achieve as a
community.
Industry groups like Construction
Declares (www.constructiondeclares.
com/), LETI (www.leti.london/) and
the Architects Climate Action Network
(ACAN; www.architectscan.org/) have
been taking leading roles in defining the
future of the construction industry and
pushing those in power to work harder.
These are all voluntary initiatives with
SHUTTERSTOCK

inclusive, progressive behaviour baked

into their structure, and their impact
comes from the volume of combined
voices.
Speaking out, however, is not

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 Professional activism Climate emergency

In Where do we go from here?4 Martin will be left behind. Clients, graduates

Luther King talks about the essential and the public are becoming increasingly
task of organising people in the civil climate aware and will be scrutinising your
rights movement: ‘This task is tedious, WE WILL ONLY environmental responsibility. This isn’t
and lacks the drama of demonstrations, OVERCOME THE something you can ignore, so dive in!
but it is necessary for meaningful
results.’ The same could be said for
CRISIS IF WE Play your part
long-term and sustained e orts required BUILD NET ZERO From experience, getting involved in
to bring the construction industry
in line with planetary limits. Joining
AS AN INDUSTRY, voluntary groups, finding better ways to

NOT A USP
work and leaning into a more regenerative
committees, building data, testing and culture is fantastically rewarding. It may
lobbying – none of these tasks are all seem overwhelming and sometimes
particularly sexy and they don’t give the Present the lowest-carbon option as tedious, but really you can and must play
same adrenaline rush as shouting on the default. If you can, show projections a part. As Uncle Ben would remind Peter
street with a placard, but they are more for operation, maintenance, and costs Parker in the Spider-Man comics, ‘With
e ective at bringing about the changes at the end of life. Think holistically with great power comes great responsibility’.
required. other disciplines and we can shift the
The great regeneration* will not come focus of the industry.
about overnight, recalibration will take Sam Turner
time and we will falter along the way, 3) Build a carbon-literate community BA(Hons), DipArch, ARB
but time is seriously running out. The If you’ve read this far, you must be
Sam Turner is an architect and climate
scientific models tell us we now have somewhat interested in taking action;
activist, his company Resilient Works
less than a decade to halve our carbon but what about your colleagues, clients
(www.resilient-works.co.uk/) o ers
emissions and only three to get them to or collaborators? Take time to talk with
Climate Literacy training and
net zero, so we’d better get a move on! them, understand the challenges they
As we step out of our comfort zones face and discuss how you can improve consultancy on low-carbon, ethical
and unite, here are five suggestions for your work together. Learn and show design. He is the Movement Support
actions that we can all take now: your comprehension of the situation by Coordinator in ACAN; contact
becoming certified as carbon literate. @onlysamturner on Twitter.
1) Sign up, set goals and review Join e orts like LETI or ACAN where
We assume you have already signed you’ll discover a welcoming community James Norman
the Structural Engineers’ Declaration of people already working on solutions MEng, PhD, CEng, MICE, FHEA
(www.structuralengineersdeclare.com/), and pleased to have your input.
James Norman has designed a number
but the task only begins when you sign.
of unusual, award-winning and
Now is the time to take stock of the 4) Share openly and freely
sustainable buildings and is now
carbon footprint of your work, commit Share articles, resources and get
Associate Professor of Sustainable
to company-wide goals and have involved in conversations; don’t just
open and honest discussions every six ‘like’, retweet, or agree, but invest Design at the University of Bristol.
months to review how you are delivering time in adding your perspective to the
on the promises you have made. People dialogue. Share your work on social
from all levels of the company must be media, in meetings and talks – we REFERENCES
involved to get a true picture of your cannot a ord for low/zero-carbon design
performance. If you work alone, find or to be a specialism and we all know
build a group to support each other, every project could be better. Share the
1) Arnold W. (2020) ‘The structural
keep motivated and accountable. lessons you’ve learned, the innovations, engineer’s responsibility in this climate
tools, research, etc. and help others to emergency’, The Structural Engineer, 98
2) Declare together develop them. We will only overcome the (6), pp. 10–11
Every design should be labelled with crisis if we build net zero as an industry, HAVE
2) Arup (2021) Reducing carbon
the embodied carbon (CO2e) cost as not a USP. emissions... every working day [Online] YOUR
clearly as it is labelled with a financial Available at: www.arup.com/perspectives/ SAY
cost. If we start doing this across the 5) Position yourself for the long haul reducing-carbon-emissions-every-
board rather than as individuals, then – make it the work of your career working-day (Accessed: January 2021)
practices, sectors and our clients will The climate crisis will define the next few 3) Construction Industry Council (2020)
become familiar with the real climate decades, at least. Consider how your Climate Framework launched by Cross-
impact of our work. Stop talking about work will be viewed in 100 years’ time Industry Action Group [Online] Available at:
savings and talk about costs, a 10% and how you helped avert disaster, or http://cic.org.uk/news/article.php?s=2020- [email protected]
improvement still leaves you with 90% not. The green revolution has already 12-10-climate-framework-launched-by-
of the carbon emissions you had before. begun and if you’re not part of it, you cross-industry-action-group (Accessed:
January 2021)

*A phrase being promoted to describe the building cultural revolution and well described in this presentation: 4) King M.L. (1967) Where do we go from @IStructE
https://imaginethefuture.global/resources/images/Prelude-to-a-Great-Regeneration.pdf here?, Boston, MA: Beacon Press #TheStructuralEngineer

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 Professional guidance VAT reverse charge

VAT reverse charge for building

and construction services:
what is it and will it a ect me?
Stephen Patey summarises the UK’s new VAT domestic reverse charge mechanism
and explains the implications for structural engineers.

From 1 March 2021, under new rules,

the VAT domestic reverse charge
mechanism will apply to building and
construction services in the UK. The new
rules are designed (among other things)
to help tackle a perceived problem of
VAT fraud by subcontractors.
If you are a consultant designer,
then the VAT domestic reverse charge
probably won’t a ect you. However,
it’s still worth knowing about it in case,
for example, you receive a related letter
from a contractor client asking you to
invoice in a di erent way. If you are not a
designer and work in contracting, then
the new rules may a ect you.
HMRC previously published the final
legislation, which was initially expected to
come into e ect from 1 October 2019,
further to the government confirming its
intention to introduce a domestic reverse
charge for the construction sector back
in the Autumn Budget of 2017.
ALAMY

Since then, however, the changes

have been delayed in light of industry
concerns over businesses’ lack of
preparedness and the Covid-19 you, but you are nonetheless asked by all qualify as end users.
pandemic. At the time of writing, the a client to use the VAT domestic reverse
intention is for these new rules to come charge mechanism, then you may wish How does it work?
into force from 1 March 2021. to draw the attention of the client to The mechanism, an accounting
government guidance on the subject1. procedure, removes the obligation for
Will it apply to IStructE the seller to charge VAT on its supply to
members? When else does it apply? the customer, collect it and then pay it to
The charge applies to standard and Importantly, unlike the CIS scheme, HMRC. Instead, the customer is required
reduced-rate VAT services: which excludes costs incurred on to self-account for the VAT due on the
Ò| for individuals or businesses who are materials from the calculation, the supply they receive, and recover that
registered for VAT in the UK reverse charge will apply to the entire amount as input tax on the same VAT
Ò| reported within the Construction service if the provision of materials is part return, subject to the usual VAT recovery
Industry Scheme (CIS). of it. rules.
The system will therefore apply to
The latter criterion will not apply most supplies between CIS-registered Practical example
to many members of the IStructE. In subcontractors and contractors. Consider a practical example of a
addition, the charge should not be used Supplies made to ‘end users’ and to subcontractor providing services covered
for the professional work of architects intermediaries connected with end under the CIS to a contractor converting
or surveyors, or of building, engineering, users are excluded from the new rules. a commercial building into residential fl ats
interior or exterior decoration and End users are final customers who for a developer landlord. All the parties
landscape consultants, when supplied won’t be making onward supplies of are registered for VAT. The services being
on their own. Hence, the VAT domestic the building and construction services supplied by the subcontractor to the
reverse charge mechanism will not apply they are receiving. For instance, clients contractor come to the value of £5000.
to the work of many members of the who have commissioned a building Under the current rules, the
IStructE. for their own use, landlords letting out subcontractor will raise an invoice to the
So, if the charge does not apply to property, and tenants renting property contractor for £5000 plus VAT of £1000.

18
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Prof G VAT Rever_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 18 17/02/2021 11:17

 VAT reverse charge Professional guidance

The contractor will be able to recover amendment has been made to the likely to be impacted by these changes
this £1000 in Box 4 of their VAT return original legislation which puts the onus to consult HMRC’s helpful guidance1
(subject to their usual input VAT recovery firmly on the end users and intermediary on the new rules to ensure that they
position). suppliers. The new rules require that are up to speed with this guidance and
From 1 March 2021 when the new they inform suppliers of their end-user to consider the implications of their
rules come into play, the subcontractor or intermediary status in writing. Failure introduction.
will no longer need to charge the VAT to do so will mean that the reverse
on the supply to the contractor. The charge (as the new default position of Stephen Patey
contractor will therefore receive an accounting for domestic supplies of CIS Stephen Patey is a Senior Manager at
invoice for £5000. The contractor would, services) will need to be applied. Haysmacintyre LLP, an award-winning
however, then need to account for firm of chartered accountants and tax
£1000 in Box 1 of their VAT return as Complexity advisors (www.haysmacintyre.com).
an output VAT charge and reclaim the The new rules are likely to lead to
same £1000 in Box 4 of their VAT return difficulties for suppliers because they will
(subject to their usual input VAT recovery need to identify whether the supplies REFERENCES
position). fall within the meaning of construction HAVE
On the basis that the developer services for CIS. They can do this by YOUR
landlord notifies the contractor of its consulting HMRC’s guidance on the CIS SAY 1) HMRC (2020) Check when you
must use the VAT reverse charge
end-user status, the contractor will not for contractors and subcontractors2. for building and construction
be required to use the reverse charge Moreover, within the building and services [Online] Available at: www.
gov.uk/guidance/vat-domestic-
accounting method for its onward supply construction industry, there can be a reverse-charge-for-building-and-
of services to the developer landlord and combination of zero-rated, reduced- construction-services (Accessed:
February 2021)
will just charge VAT as it does at present. rated and standard-rated supplies being
made. It could, therefore, be common 2) HMRC (2018) Construction
[email protected] Industry Scheme: a guide for
End-user status practice for invoices to be raised with contractors and subcontractors
Recognising the potential difficulties some supplies being subject to the (CIS 340) [Online] Available at: www.
gov.uk/government/publications/
suppliers would face having to determine domestic reverse charge and some not. construction-industry-scheme-
whether or not their supplies are being cis-340/construction-industry-
scheme-a-guide-for-contractors-
made to end users, and are therefore Next steps @IStructE and-subcontractors-cis-340#appa
excluded from the reverse charge, an We would advise businesses who are #TheStructuralEngineer (Accessed: February 2021)

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Prof G VAT Rever_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 19 17/02/2021 11:18

 Technical Historic plaster ceilings (part 1)

Historic plaster ceilings.

Part 1: Development and
causes of failure
SCOTT BROOKES SYNOPSIS
BEng, MSc, CEng, MIStructE Recent collapses of sections of auditorium ceiling at London’s Apollo Theatre and
Conservation Accredited Engineer; Piccadilly Theatre, and the potentially significant consequences of ceiling failure,
Associate, Ramboll, London, UK highlight a need for structural engineers to develop a close understanding of historic
plasterwork and options for its maintenance and remediation.
This two-part article provides an introduction to the subject, as well indicating
where more detailed guidance can be sought. Part 1 outlines the historical
development of the most common forms of traditional ceiling construction and
Introduction
The well-publicised collapse of a section summarises typical causes of deterioration and failure. Part 2 will discuss surveys,
of auditorium ceiling at London’s Apollo assessment and methods of conservation.
Theatre in 2013 (Figure 1), and more
recently at the Piccadilly Theatre in 2019
(Figure 2), has kept a spotlight firmly on While initially directed at fibrous plaster finishes, both internal and external. For
the performance and certification of ceilings in theatres, over the last five years thousands of years, haired-earth plasters,
historic plasterwork. this revised framework has greatly predominantly of clay, were applied to
Investigations following the Apollo informed the management of all forms of interwoven branches for ‘wattle and
collapse1, directed by the City of suspended ceiling, in both listed and daub’. Broadly from the 17th century
Westminster, culminated in the unlisted publicly accessible buildings. The onwards, a non-hydraulic lime-based mix
publication of formal guidance in 2015 by integral role structural engineers play in containing sharp sand, to reduce
the Association of British Theatre this new standard, along with the shrinkage, and animal (typically cattle) hair
Technicians. significant consequences of ceiling failure, predominated. Its success lay in its
This Guidance Note 202 established demands we have a close understanding economy and versatility, allowing highly
tighter controls on how certifying of plasterwork; its behaviour, issues and ornamental decoration, which would have
inspections of theatre ceilings are to be options for maintenance and remediation. been prohibitively expensive in other
carried out and by whom. ‘Regular This article outlines the historical materials such as wood or stone. This
inspections’ by ‘competent people’, the development of the two most common was of particular importance in the 17th
only stipulations in the Technical forms of traditional ceiling construction – and 18th centuries when increasingly
Standards for Places of Entertainment3, ‘fibrous plaster’ and ‘lath and plaster’ – ornate interiors were in vogue.
were greatly elaborated on. Certification and summarises many of the typical
now requires a visual and tactile causes of deterioration and failure. êFIGURE 2: Piccadilly
Lath and plaster
inspection of the ceiling’s full surface area, Theatre, London, Sand/lime plaster employed laths as
at both the underside and topside, so far History of plaster November 2019. structural support – thin, regularly sized
Dripping was heard
as reasonably practicable, by both a The term ‘plaster’ has been used to before collapse of this
and spaced battens of split or riven
structural engineer and a plaster reference a number of di erent materials section of ceiling at hardwood (oak, sweet chestnut), or later
specialist. used for the creation of ceiling and wall upper circle sawn softwood, affixed directly to

íFIGURE 1: Apollo Theatre,

London, 19 December 2013.
Debris within ceiling void fell
onto audience below
DEMOTIX / SPLASHNEWS

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Technical Plaster_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 20 17/02/2021 14:15

 Historic plaster
Cracking
ceilings
of concrete
(part 1) Technical
Technical

structure, often wall studs or the fl oor

above, with nails. The plasterer, by
applying pressure diagonally across the
lath direction with a trowel, forced the
pliable plaster mix through the gaps
between the slats, in turn adhering to the
lath shoulder and lapping up and over the
back in waves or ‘nibs’ (Figure 3).
With good sound insulation and fire
resistance properties, laths and lime
plaster were still employed up to the
1930s. Expanded metal laths were used
as backing structures in lieu of timber as
early as the late 19th century, most often
as fire proofing, and should not be
assumed to only be from the modern era.
After WWII, however, there was a move
towards precast gypsum panels –
‘plasterboard’ – which were cheaper and
required less artisanal skill to install.

RICHARD IRELAND
Plaster of Paris (a heated, powdered
form of gypsum) was increasingly added
to the plaster mix from the mid-18th
century to provide a more rapid set. Over
the following century, traditional lime
plastering was gradually phased out,
superseded by quicker and more
ìFIGURE 3: Cornice
cost-e ective techniques, predominantly level cutaway showing
fibrous plaster – brought over from France three layers of plaster
and patented in 1856. – scratch coat, fl oating
coat and finishing
coat, with surface
Fibrous plaster enrichments
Fibrous plaster ceilings comprise large,
lightweight, plain-faced or decorative
panels, some as thin as ¼in. (6.4mm),
reinforced with an embedded timber
frame and an open-weave hessian scrim,
commonly jute. Each panel is suspended
by discrete rigid hangers, termed
‘wadding ties’. To create a wad, the

VINCE GRIFFIN / HISTORIC ENGLAND

plasterer would dip a bandage of hessian
in liquid gypsum, which would be
wrapped over supporting structure above
(typically an intermediary network of iron
rods/tees or timber joists) and stuck to
the top of the panel. In quick time, the
gypsum would set hard around the èFIGURE 4: Section
hessian, creating a sti composite hanger though unwired fibrous
(Figures 4 and 5). The original patent plaster wad showing
adhesion between
allowed for the wad to include a wire to panel and wad as sole
carry the tensile load, although depending means of support
on the contractor, this was often omitted.
The comparative lightness and rigidity
of fibrous plaster allowed for the o -site
mass production of large, complex
decorative forms, and as such it became
common to auditoria of the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, such as the Apollo
Theatre (1901) (Figure 6). This ease of
construction and a ordability meant it
G. JACKSON & SONS LTD

was also widely employed across cultural,

institutional, commercial and high-status
residential buildings, and it continues to
be used for ornamental plasterwork to
this day.
‘Nearly the whole of the numerous èFIGURE 5: Typical
theatres and music-halls which have been fibrous plaster ceiling
built in London and the provinces during back with wad hangers4

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 Technical Historic plaster ceilings (part 1)

the last generation have been decorated Fire can be very damaging to both There is little empirical data on historic
with fibrous plaster.’ – Millar, 18975. plaster and support frame, as can water nail pull-out performance, although
saturation and sudden change of anecdotal evidence suggests square-
Causes of ceiling failure temperature during firefighting. cut iron nails significantly outperform
There are causes of deterioration A change in building use can lead to modern wire nails. Given the importance
common to both types of plaster, as well a significant increase in both live and of these fixings to ceiling performance,
as those that are unique to each form of dead loads and therefore defl ections on a close monitoring and ultimately joint
ceiling construction. These may be fl oor to which the ceiling under is rigidly strengthening is sometimes
defects in the structure to which it is fixed; secured. The introduction of bathrooms unavoidable.
degraded materials; inadequate fixings; can introduce water damage risks. The above list is for general guidance
structural loading; harmful environmental Partition walls against which furniture is only and is not exhaustive. If there is
conditions and physical damage. pushed may sit mid-span of a fl oor/ceiling uncertainty or the ceiling is at high risk,
By understanding the potential issues beam. guidance should be sought from a
ahead of the inspection phase, the Imposed loads from uncontrolled void suitably experienced engineer and/or
engineer can develop theories on likely access, later service installations or plaster specialist.
causation mechanisms and steer disposal of site waste directly on the
investigations at the underside and ceiling can cause impact damage, Specific considerations for
topside accordingly, in real time (Part 2 of support frame defl ection (particularly in fibrous plaster
this article will provide further inspection- slender members supporting lightweight In recent years, there has been a
phase guidance). fibrous plaster panels) and timber creep. proliferation of guidance literature on
Vibration from footfall or construction This is often the cause of topside lath and historic construction materials,
activity at the fl oor above or within the plaster key loss. Heavily trafficked theatre seemingly with the exception of fibrous
ceiling void space is able to snap brittle voids are particularly vulnerable during plaster. Up until the last few years,
nibs/wads or loosen nail fixings. Despite setup of new shows. industry knowledge was almost wholly
being a common concern for clients, Structural movement, such as artisanal, limited to a small number of
auditorium sound systems are very subsidence of perimeter support walls or specialist plastering firms and
unlikely to be a factor. defl ection of framing members, can then consultants. It was this vacuum of
Water ingress via defective roof lead to tension and breakage of the understanding that left many owners or
finishes, fl ashing, rainwater goods or plaster. managers of historic buildings to
failed water service runs through void Poor fixings are a common problem. mismanage their ceilings, oblivious to
space can lead to: It was typical for plasterers, not the risks they pose.
Ò| rot in the timber support frame, carpenters, to be wholly responsible for As evidenced by the Apollo collapse,
particularly at embedded ends if they securing of secondary framing for lath/ the age of a ceiling is often a primary
are seated in outer walls. Low-quality wad fixings, e.g. skew nailed butt joints, risk factor, with the natural fibres in wads
timber used for fibrous plaster laths is rudimentary scarves, poorly positioned/ wholly deleterious. Along with the wads,
very susceptible sized notches (Figure 8). Given the the horizontal panels rely on these
Ò| cyclical expansion/contraction in the number of such ad hoc connections, this plant-based cellulosic textiles to provide
wetting/drying cycle at timber fixings, would have allowed tight construction tensile strength to allow them to span
leading to ‘nail sickness’ and times by minimising the trades on site, significant distances in both directions. If
significantly reduced pull-out but often left frames vulnerable. Isolated the gypsum casing becomes
resistance single vertical nails (Figure 9), often used compromised, say, through impact or
Ò| corrosion of structural iron or steel to connect perpendicular over-sailing disintegration through repeated wetting,
framing elements members, have little redundancy and are êFIGURE 6: Apollo
the fibres can become exposed,
Ò| migrating salts which have leached particularly susceptible. Theatre auditorium allowing microbial attack and
from gypsum or cement can crystallise
at the wall/ceiling surface, rapidly
deteriorating more porous lime mixes
and surface finishes. Lime plaster
without such admixtures is otherwise
almost completely weatherproof.

Insect infestation can lead to

significant timber section loss (Figure 7)
and often go unidentified due to
accessibility issues or concealment.
Commonly, deathwatch and furniture
beetles at areas of high moisture – look
for fl ight holes.
Humidity can spike when the space
below is densely occupied during events,
or if air conditioning plant is kept in the
void space. This can promote
development of timber mould – look out
for fruiting bodies. Ceilings are often
insulated on their topside, which stops air
fl ow over the ceiling structure which would
dry out damp. Conversely, continued low
humidity can cause shrinkage and splitting
of support timbers.

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 Historic plaster ceilings (part 1) Technical

RICHARD IRELAND
éFIGURE 8: Notching of fibrous plaster ceiling joist near its top edge, leading to splitting under load

éFIGURE 7: Insect attack to fl oor joist has detached ceiling structure, with
only nail supporting joist over

3mm square nail

Tertiary battens

RICHARD IRELAND
éFIGURE 9: Partial pull-out of vertically driven square-cut iron nail
ëFIGURE 10:
Fracturing of plaster
of Paris encasement
allows degradation of
temperature, humidity and light to cause hessian’s natural fibres
sti ening and a reduction in tensile
capacity (Figure 10).
Such localised degradation can lead to of thumb, allow for 50kg static load per
disproportionate collapse or ‘unzipping’. wad.
Whereas lath and plaster ceilings are The investigating engineer should
continuously supported, fibrous plaster remember that there remains very little
panels rely on a low number of widely WHERE THERE IS standardisation of plaster composition or
spaced hangers and failure of a single
wad can lead to significant load
UNCERTAINTY ON workmanship. BS EN 15319:20076
regulates the quality of materials used for
redistribution. This is a particular risk for PERMISSIBLE modern fibrous plastering, but not the
those ceilings where wads were installed LOADING, ONE method of application or the required
‘unwired’. Metal detecting will help
determine those specific wads without MUST DEFER TO structural performance of the ceiling.
The variability of gypsum strength alone
wires, and they should be considered to LOAD TESTING (up to 200% in a single batch), along with
have no functional suspension in the
analysis phase.
(IN SITU OR a significant number of factors – cross-
section of wad, setting time, mixing time,
Where there is uncertainty on PREFERABLY A freshness of plaster – makes codification
permissible loading, one must defer to MATCHING of performance near impossible and
load testing (in situ or preferably a
matching mock-up). As a preliminary rule MOCK-UP) case-by-case assessment of each ceiling
essential.

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 Technical Cracking
Historic plaster
of concrete
ceilings (part 1)

To be continued… FURTHER READING

Part 2 of this article will discuss
methods of underside and topside
ceiling inspection, how to interpret the
British Standards Institution (2014) historicengland.org.uk/images-
inspection’s findings, and specifying an
BS EN 13964:2014 Suspended books/publications/historic-
appropriate maintenance or remedial
ceilings. Requirements and test fibrous-plaster/ (Accessed:
strategy.
methods, London: BSI December 2020)
Acknowledgements Historic England (2019) Historic Ireland R. (2020) ‘Investigation and
The author is grateful to Richard Ireland fibrous plaster in the UK: Guidance assessment of decorative plaster
for his direction and images of ceiling on its care and management ceilings’, J. Build. Surv. Apprais.
failure. [Online] Available at: https:// Val., 9 (3)

Contact details
To contact the author in relation
REFERENCES
to this article, email
[email protected].

1) Richard Ireland Plaster & Suspended Fibrous Plaster Mortars, renders and plasters,
Paint (2014) Fibrous Plaster Ceilings: Survey and Inspections Farnham: Ashgate Publishing
Ceiling Investigation: The Apollo [Online] Available at: www.abtt.
5) Millar W. (1897) Plastering
Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, org.uk/resources/guidance-
Plain and Decorative. A
London – Auditorium Ceiling note-20-suspended-fibrous-
Practical Treatise on the Art
HAVE (redacted) [Online] Available plaster-ceilings/ (Accessed:
and Craft of Plastering and
YOUR at: http://transact.westminster. December 2020)
Modelling (1st ed.), London: B.T.
SAY gov.uk/docstores/publications_
3) Association of British Batsford
store/Fibrous%20Plaster%20
Theatre Technicians (2015)
Ceiling%20investigation.pdf 6) British Standards Institution
Technical Standards for Places
(Accessed: December 2020) (2007) BS EN 15319:2007
of Entertainment, London: ABTT
General principles of design of
2) Association of British
4) English Heritage (2012) fibrous (gypsum) plaster works,
Theatre Technicians (2015)
@IStructE Practical Building Conservation: London: BSI
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 Industry CPD Supplied and sponsored by Steel for Life

Supplied and
sponsored by Industry CPD
Structural steel and the circular economy
This CPD module, Continuing professional development (CPD) ensures you remain
sponsored by Steel for competent in your profession. Chartered, Associate and Technician
members of the Institution must complete a specified amount each year.
Life, examines a number
All CPD undertaken must be reported to the Institution annually. Reading
of steel’s credentials and refl ecting on this article by correctly answering the questions at the
specifically on its ability to end is advocated to be:
be reused, recycled and
multi-cycled, its structural 1 hour of verifiable CPD
efficiency as a construction
material, and its alignment
and application to circular
economy principles.

The construction industry continues to set

itself ambitious targets for reducing its carbon
footprint and environmental impact as a sector;
key to this approach is the adoption and
implementation of circular economy principles.
A circular economy aims to design out
waste and pollution, maximise the service life
of products and materials and avoid sending
materials to landfill after their first-life use. It
signals an end to the ‘take-make-dispose’
attitudes that have contributed to the climate
emergency.

Circular economy principles

Client demand, as well as legislation, are key
drivers of the increasing focus on the circular
economy; one in which resources including
construction materials are used long enough to
ensure the maximum societal value is gained
from them. At the end of the useful service life éFIGURE 1: Forth Rail Bridge (1890) – example of durable steel structure
of a building or other structure, products and
materials used in the original construction, and construction include crushing concrete to combination of strength, recyclability, availability,
those added to accommodate changing uses, produce aggregates for fill and chipping timber versatility and a ordability makes it unique.
will be recovered and regenerated by being to produce chipboard. Although landfill is Maintaining products at their highest utility
recycled and/or reused. avoided, production of new concrete and timber and value for as long as possible is a key
Another distinction to be understood is is not avoided. component of the circular economy, as the
that there are di erent types of recycling that longer a product lasts, the less raw materials
deliver di erent circular economy benefits. With How steel enables the circular will need to be sourced and processed and less
true, or closed-loop, recycling, products are economy waste generated.
recycled into new products with exactly the Steel has excellent circular economy credentials: Steel-framed buildings are adaptable
same material properties. An example would be it is valued as a strong, durable (Figure 1), and fl exible assets a business can invest in.
reprocessing steel through a steelworks, which versatile material that provides structural framing The steel frame itself can be easily adapted
could be called upcycling. systems that are lightweight, fl exible and (Figure 2), with parts added or taken away,
On the other hand, downcycling describes adaptable, as well as reusable. and its light weight means that extra fl oors can
the process of converting materials into Its high strength-to-weight ratio means often be added without overloading existing
materials of lesser quality and reduced other sustainability benefits can be created, foundations, as frequently seen in inner-city
functionality. Examples of downcycling in such as lighter and smaller foundations. Steel’s projects. This can add many years to the useful

26
March 2021 | thestructuralengineer.org

CPD_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer.indd 26 17/02/2021 11:19

 Supplied and sponsored by Steel for Life Industry CPD

îFIGURE 2: Redevelopment of
life of a building. former Royal Mail sorting office
Steel structures are commonly used to made use of significant elements
renovate buildings, e.g. behind retained of its existing frame
facades. This allows the historic value,
character and resources of the facade to be
retained, and the building structure can be
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spaces that meet modern client requirements
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Circular Economy Action Plan

The EU has adopted a Circular Economy
Action Plan1, one of the main strands of the
European Green Deal, the EU’s new agenda for
sustainable growth.
It refers to the Levels study2, which
recommends the whole-life carbon approach,
i.e. including building end-of-life impacts
(Module C) and benefits from reuse and
recycling (Module D).
The Action Plan incorporates initiatives
throughout the lifecycle of products, targeting
their design, promoting circular economy
processes and promoting sustainable
consumption, with the aim of ensuring that the
resources used are kept in the EU economy for
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Among other things, the aim is to make we are going to deliver a truly circular, zero-
sustainable products the norm in the EU, carbon built environment, then we have to move
focusing on the sectors that use most
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THE VERSATILITY OF
is high, which includes construction and While reducing ‘upfront’ carbon emissions STEEL MEANS THAT IT
buildings. is a short-term priority, this has to be achieved CAN BE EASILY
Even post-Brexit, such a plan must surely be
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in tandem with longer-term, smarter thinking
that is compatible with broader sustainable RECYCLED OR
here in the UK of the need to include Modules development objectives. REMANUFACTURED
C and D as part of a robust, whole-life carbon
assessment. Limiting the scope to just Module History of steel recycling
A equates a 100% recyclable building to one Since steel was first mass produced in the the price paid for UK scrap structural steel
which is 100% landfilled when it is demolished. 1880s, it has always been highly recycled (grade OA) is currently £230–240 per tonne
Landfill avoidance through downcycling (Figure 3). This is principally because: Ò| the versatility of steel means that it can be
construction materials is unsustainable and if Ò| steel has a relatively high economic value – easily recycled or remanufactured into new
applications as demand dictates
Ò| steel’s magnetic properties mean that it can
îFIGURE 3: There are
considerable savings to
be efficiently segregated from mixed waste
be made from recycling streams.
steel as landfill is no longer
considered to be an option
for construction products
Steel is available in thousands of di erent
and materials compositions (grades), each tailored to
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Steel recycling in the

construction sector
Steel has a unique characteristic as it can be
reused and recycled repeatedly without losing
its qualities as a building material.
All steel used in today’s construction
projects has some recycled content. The
constructional steelwork used in the UK
contains an average of 60% recycled content.
Current recovery rates from demolition sites in
the UK are 99% for structural steelwork and
96% for all steel construction products.

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 Industry CPD Supplied and sponsored by Steel for Life

îFIGURE 4: Surplus
large-diameter steel
tubes repurposed
for bridge repair at
Grinton Moor

éFIGURE 1: Comparison of lifecycle assessment scopes and system boundaries

CLEVELAND STEEL & TUBES LTD

Steel is routinely recovered for recycling, future reuse. Steps that the designer can
and a highly sophisticated global infrastructure take to maximise the opportunity for reusing
has developed to take advantage of this.
THERE IS A GROWING structural steel include:
Ò| using bolted connections (Figure 5)
Steel reuse TREND TOWARDS in preference to welded joints to allow
As well as recycling, there is a growing trend THE REUSE OF the structure to be dismantled during
towards the reuse of structural steelwork
(Figure 4), as there are significant savings to STRUCTURAL deconstruction
Ò| using standard connection details including
be made if a new project simply uses steel STEELWORK bolt sizes and the spacing of holes
sections obtained from an older demounted or Ò| ensuring easy and permanent access to
disassembled structure. situ. This is generally associated with connections
Structural steel sections are inherently refurbishment projects and it is currently Ò| where feasible, trying to ensure that the
reusable. Reuse, as opposed to the current, the most common way of reusing steel is free from coatings or coverings
common practice of recycling structural structural steel in the UK. that will prevent visual assessment of the
steel by remelting, o ers significant potential Ò| Relocation reuse involves condition of the steel
in terms of resource efficiency and carbon deconstruction of an existing steel frame, Ò| minimising the use of fixings to structural
emission savings, which support the which is then transported and re-erected, steel elements that require welding,
construction industry’s ambitious carbon generally in its original form, at a di erent drilling holes, or fixing with Hilti nails; using
reduction targets as the industry moves location for the same or similar purpose. clamped fittings where possible
towards net-zero. Ò| Component reuse involves careful Ò| identifying the origin and properties of
Currently, there are many steel-based deconstruction of an existing structure the component, e.g. by bar-coding or
temporary works systems which are highly where individual structural steel members e-tagging or stamping and keep an
reused; the next step is to develop permanent are reclaimed and used to construct a inventory of products
works systems that are similarly reusable. new permanent structure. Ò| considering using long-span beams as
Steel reuse generally happens in three main they are more likely to allow fl exibility of use
ways: Reuse advice for designers and to be reusable by cutting the beam
Ò| In situ reuse sees the structural frame To facilitate greater reuse, it is important to a new length – bearing in mind the
reused, with or without alterations, in that designers do what they can to optimise increased steel weight associated with this.

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 Supplied and sponsored by Steel for Life Industry CPD

íFIGURE 5: Reuse advice for designers

includes suggestion of using bolted
connections in preference to welded
joints to allow structure to be dismantled
during deconstruction

REFERENCES

1) European Union (2020) Circular Economy

Action Plan: For a cleaner and more
competitive Europe [Online] Available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-
economy/pdf/new_circular_economy_action_
plan.pdf (Accessed: February 2021)
2) European Commission (s.d.) Level(s):

SEVERFIELD
European framework for sustainable buildings
[Online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/
environment/topics/circular-economy/levels_
en (Accessed: February 2021)

Questions To claim your CPD certificate, complete the module online

by 30 April 2021 at: www.istructe.org/industry-cpd

1. What was the value of 1t of UK structural scrap steel in 4. Which of the following modules should be included as part of a
2020? whole-life approach to carbon assessment?
£230–240 Module A (product and construction stages)
£105–150 Module C (end-of-life stage)
£50–100 Module D (reuse, recovery, recycling)
£25–50 All of the above

2. What is the average recycled content of structural steel in 5. In what ways does steel enable a circular economy? (Select all
the UK? that apply.)
20% Its strength and durability enable long-lasting structures when well
40% maintained
60% A steel frame is fl exible and can easily be adapted
80% Scrap steel is difficult to recycle or remanufacture
Structural steel sections can often be reused in situ or in new or
3. What are the current recovery rates from demolition sites relocated structures
in the UK for structural steel?
29% 6. Which of the following can designers do to maximise the
49% opportunity to reuse structural steel?
89% Use bolted connections in preference to welded joints
99% Consider using long spans
Use standard connection details
All of the above

Supplied and sponsored by

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 Project focus 1 Triton Square

1 Triton Square, London –

low-carbon development through
reuse of an existing building
ANDREW ROBERTSON îFIGURE 1:
Aerial view of
MEng, CEng, MICE original 1 Triton
Structural Associate, Arup, London, UK Square building

ERIC STUREL
MEng
Senior Structural Engineer, Arup, London, UK

SYNOPSIS
1 Triton Square is a
THE GEOINFORMATION GROUP

sustainable commercial
office redevelopment
project in London that
has achieved a BREEAM
Outstanding rating by
maximising retention
and reuse of the existing
structure and facade.
This article describes Introduction maximum retention and reuse of the
The 1 Triton Square project existing structure and facade. From the
the structural reuse and demonstrates the value structural outset, the multidisciplinary design team
strengthening strategies engineering can bring to sustainable explored opportunities and balanced
redevelopment through reuse and priorities to quickly assess the potential
adopted to enable three extension of an existing building. for reuse of the existing building. With
additional storeys to be The 10-storey commercial office the aid of detailed record information
development in London’s West and a range of innovative structural
added to the existing End o ers the client, British Land, a strengthening techniques, this cross-
building in order to significant increase in lettable fl oor area discipline approach unlocked the design
compared with the existing building, and achieved the targeted BREEAM
increase the fl oor area through retention and strengthening Outstanding rating for the scheme.
by 70%, while resulting of the original structure. Integrated
in an overall carbon architectural, servicing and building Original design
performance initiatives have helped The original 1990s scheme was a 72m
footprint per unit area deliver a high-quality, modern-day × 72m square building with six storeys
for the scheme of workplace for the prospective tenant. above ground and a single-storey
Arup and British Land’s shared low- basement, following a 9m × 9m grid. The
136kgCO2e/m2 and a carbon and sustainability agendas drove structural form was unusual, with the
SCORS A rating. ambitious goals for the project, targeting building being predominantly concrete-

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 1 Triton Square Project focus

framed, but with steel-framed stability no increase or a reduction in design

íFIGURE 2: Original facade
cores in each corner above ground with stone-clad cores loading in the new scheme were deemed
(Figures 1–3); below ground the adequate without further checks.
structure was entirely concrete-framed, Conversely, the structural adequacy of
with concrete shear walls below the elements which experienced an increase
cores. The basement had a retaining in loading because of the proposed
wall on its north side only, the three changes would be reassessed to current
other sides being contiguous with the design codes.
basements of neighbouring buildings.
Most foundations were 1.2m or 1.8m Gravity loads
diameter single piles. To minimise any increase in structural
One remarkable feature was a 36m weight, new fl oor areas were created
× 36m atrium carved into the central using lightweight composite steel-
region of the building, down to first fl oor and-concrete fl oor construction. To
(Figure 4). There was also a smaller further limit structural weight, the use
atrium in the entrance area, in the of lightweight aggregates was initially
south-east corner of the building. envisaged, but abandoned after footfall-
induced vibration analysis showed
Potential for structural reuse that this would make the dynamic
and extension performance of the new fl oor plates
The original building was well suited unsatisfactory.
to refurbishment and extension for the The imposed loading allowance for
following reasons: office use was reduced from a generous
Ò| New planning rules meant that 5.0kN/m2 to 4.0kN/m2 (both values
1990s height limits were no longer including a 1.0kN/m2 allowance for
relevant, unlocking the potential for movable partitions), and the super-
new levels to create additional fl oor imposed dead load allowance for
area. services and finishes from 1.0kN/m2 to
Ò| The large existing atrium lent itself to 0.85kN/m2. The imposed loading
being filled in, at least partially, again îFIGURE 3: Axonometric view of original structure allowance for roof plant was kept to a
creating additional fl oor area. modest 4.0kN/m2, which was made
Ò| The generous stair provision allowed possible by accommodating all heavy
ZĨƌĂŵĞǁŝƚŚƌŝďďĞĚƐůĂď ^ƚĞĞůďƌĂĐĞĚ
a significant increase in the building’s ĂŶĚďĂŶĚďĞĂŵ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJĐŽƌĞŝŶ plant in the basement.
occupancy without requiring new ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚŝŽŶŽŶϵŵŐƌŝĚ ĞĂĐŚĐŽƌŶĞƌ Despite these steps, vertical
escape routes. loadbearing elements experienced a
Ò| The original imposed loading significant increase in loading because
allowances were high, meaning that of the proposed changes. The most
structural capacity could be freed up significantly a ected elements were the
simply by adopting current practice columns and piles under the central
values. atrium infill, for which the increase was
Ò| The existence of extensive record almost threefold as a result of the number
information, including resident of supported fl oors increasing from two
engineer’s records from the original (ground and first fl oor) to 10 (ground to
piling works, provided a mitigation ninth fl oor).
against the inherent risks of The first step to address the
structural reuse and maximised the increase in vertical loading was to
opportunity for justifying additional back-calculate the structural capacity
capacity through strengthening. ^ŝŶŐůĞďŽƌĞĚƉŝůĞƐ ^ŝŶŐůĞͲƐƚŽƌĞLJ of existing columns and foundations,
ŝŶƚŽ>ŽŶĚŽŶĐůĂLJ ďĂƐĞŵĞŶƚ based on current standards. In the
These opportunities having been case of foundations, the 1990s site
mapped out, the proposed scheme records included as-built pile toe levels
was able to increase the existing fl oor îFIGURE 4: View from within original atrium and the level where the London clay
area by 70% through the addition was encountered during the original
of three extra storeys on top of the piling works. This made it possible to
existing building, part-infilling the calculate an as-built capacity for each
existing central atrium, and infilling pile, which in several instances proved to
most of the existing entrance atrium be significantly higher than the specified
(Figures 5 and 6). The three additional design load.
levels are set back relative to the Outside the cores, additional fl oors are
existing, thus not extending to the set back, meaning that existing concrete
existing perimeter columns, which is an edge columns only saw a marginal
important feature of the structural reuse increase in loading. As a result, columns
strategy, as explained below. and foundations located on the building
perimeter, with the exception of those
New design located in the cores, did not require
The structural reuse strategy followed strengthening. This was valuable because
two basic rules: limiting loads and strengthening of these columns and
maximising structural capacity. foundations would have been particularly
Structural elements which experienced challenging due to the immediate proximity

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 Project focus 1 Triton Square

loading was carried out, accounting

for parameters such as the distance to
the sea and for obstructions in di erent
directions. This also helped to reduce the
demand on the stability system.
In spite of this, it was found that the
capacity of the original braced stability
system was largely exceeded. This was
addressed by a series of di erent steps:
Ò| Existing steel columns forming part of
braced bays were strengthened, as
detailed below.
Ò| Existing diagonal braces were
sequentially removed and replaced
KƌŝŐŝŶĂůƐĐŚĞŵĞ EĞǁƐĐŚĞŵĞ with new braces designed for the
increased stability loads.
Ò| Existing shear walls were
ëFIGURE 5: Diagrammatic
strengthened in a similar way to that
section through original
and new schemes applied to the concrete columns.

At basement level, there was an

incremental change in total horizontal
loading due to the earth pressure being
applied to one side of the basement only.
Three new shear walls were introduced
in the basement to deal with the
cumulative e ects of the earth pressure
and the increased stability loads on the
superstructure.

Strengthening
Strengthening was required for a range
of columns, walls and foundations,
and achieved through a variety of
approaches. As noted above, perimeter
ëFIGURE 6: columns and their foundations did not
Axonometric views require strengthening, except in core
showing extent of
demolition (magenta) areas.
and new construction
(cyan), and completed Foundations
new structure
Pile strengthening was achieved
through the addition of supplementary
piles installed from within the existing
basement. A key consideration was the
of the facade and basement perimeter available headroom, which limited the
(Figure 7). size of the piling rig and therefore the
Where, as a result of the increase in THE ADDITION OF THREE diameter of the supplementary piles to
vertical loading, the capacity of existing NEW STOREYS TRANSLATED 450mm.
columns or foundations was found to be
exceeded, these required strengthening. INTO A SIGNIFICANT It was initially envisaged to connect
existing piles to supplementary piles by
INCREASE OF THE forming individual pile caps in all locations
Stability loads
The addition of three new storeys
HORIZONTAL LOADS where strengthening was required. This
solution then evolved into a piled raft
translated into a significant increase of in the central region of the basement,
the horizontal loads on the building, be stability was taken into account. This had which proved significantly more e ective,
they wind loads or loads associated with been originally designed to resist vertical with savings on total supplementary pile
geometric imperfections. In addition, loads only, so the moment capacity of length in the order of 30%.
current design codes require such loads to each beam-to-column connection had Individual pile caps were still used in
be considered acting together, while in the to be back-calculated based on archive core areas and adjacent to the retaining
pre-Eurocode era only the more onerous reinforcement information. A range wall to the north of the basement.
set would have had to be considered. In of realistic concrete sti ness values, This made it possible to maintain a
the original scheme, stability was assumed accounting for the e ects of cracking continuous horizontal ‘picture frame’
to be provided by a minimum of two and creep, was considered in order to of concrete connecting all four stability
perpendicular braced steel bays above satisfactorily estimate the new loads cores and propping the base of the
ground in each of the four cores, and by that could be resisted by the monolithic retaining wall throughout all stages of the
shear walls at basement level. concrete frame as part of a hybrid stability strengthening works.
To minimise the demand on the system. Supplementary piles were installed
existing stability system, the contribution As a further mitigation, a new through local openings in the existing
of the existing concrete frame to overall directional assessment of the wind ground-bearing basement slab prior to

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 1 Triton Square Project focus

êFIGURE 8: Typical connection detail between new raft and existing piles

(;,67,1*6/$% 5(7$,1('6/$%5(,1)25&(0(17
&283/(5
+<'523+,/,&675,3

$6680('
*:/

1(:7+.5$)7

1(:7+.5$)7 %/,1',1*

>ŽŶĚŽŶ (;,67,1*67((/ '2:(/%$5

&$6,1*
ĐůĂLJ 5(7$,1('3,/(

çFIGURE 9:
more extensive demolition works taking éFIGURE 7:
Retained piles and
Section through
place. The breaking out of the existing central atrium in
supplementary
piles prior to raft
slab, and subsequent construction new scheme
being poured
of pile caps and raft, took place in
a sequential manner so as not to
undermine the concrete ‘picture frame’.
Once existing piles were exposed, their
original steel casing was cut o , leaving
their rough concrete surface exposed.
Existing reinforcement in the slab
above the piles was left projecting, and
new pile caps or raft reinforcement
were connected to existing by means of
couplers, with new dowel bars installed
below. Load transfer between the
existing piles and the new pile caps or
raft happened through a combination 66/
of Coulomb friction, dowel action and èFIGURE 10:
Concrete-encased
interlocking (Figures 8 and 9).
concrete column
Foundation settlements at all stages
of the building’s life were calculated %($5,1*72%($&+,(9(' 00*$372
using a 3D finite-element model of the 217+,6685)$&( 5(%$5
(;,67,1*685)$&(
substructure interacting with the ground. 7+,&.
&21&5(7(
+,*+675(1*7+
6(/)&203$&7,1* 72%(6&$%%/('
These movements were monitored (1&$6(0(17 &21&5(7(

throughout demolition, strengthening

and extension works. The measured
values, which were in the order of a few
millimetres, were found to be in line with
predictions.
The foundation reuse and
strengthening scheme on 1 Triton
Square has been covered in further
detail in a separate article1.

Concrete columns
The default strengthening method for the
concrete columns was encasement. The
surface of columns to be strengthened
was first scabbled to promote bond
between existing and new concrete,
then new reinforcement was fixed
around the existing surface and a
125mm or 150mm thick high-strength
concrete encasement was cast. This
was pumped at high pressure from
the bottom of the formwork to achieve
ìFIGURE 11:
adequate compaction and bearing at the
Concrete column
underside of the fl oor above (Figures 10 prepared for
and 11). encasement

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 Project focus 1 Triton Square

îFIGURE 12:
FRP-wrapped 675(1*7+(1,1*
concrete column 3/$7(6

675(1*7+(1,1* ),//(7:(/'
),//(7:(/' 3/$7(6

ìFIGURE 13: Double- and single-sided steel-plated steel column

6+($5
678'
6+($5
678'

ìFIGURE 14: Partially and fully concrete-encased steel column

A smaller number of columns was

strengthened using fibre-reinforced
plastic (FRP) wrapping, which was
beneficial in terms of programme and
resulted in virtually no loss of fl oor
area. This method was only suitable
for columns experiencing a modest
increase in loading, typically towards
the top of the existing structure
(Figure 12).

Steel columns
Steel columns were strengthened
either through concrete encasement
or the addition of steel plates
(Figures 13–16). Encasements were
either partial (concrete between
the column fl anges only) or full.
Strengthening plates were added on
one or both sides of the columns. The
drivers for the choice of strengthening
method were accessibility and the
failure mode of the original columns
under the new loads. C olumns
failing only in buckling but not in
local section capacity did not require éFIGURE 15: Steel-plated steel column éFIGURE 16: Fully encased steel column
the strengthening to be continuous
through fl oors, making the use
of discrete strengthening plates of 6400tCO2e, a number achieved
suitable. Columns failing in local through the extensive use of cement
capacity needed to be continuously
strengthened through fl oors, which THE DRIVERS FOR replacements (70% GGBS for most
elements). This gives a carbon
was achieved through concrete THE CHOICE OF footprint per unit of additional area
encasement.
STRENGTHENING METHOD of 390kgCO2e/m2. This is not a
dramatically low figure, but that is
Structural embodied WERE ACCESSIBILITY AND not surprising considering the extent
carbon THE FAILURE MODE OF THE of strengthening work to the existing
The project added 13 100m2 net
of fl oor space (16 400m2 gross) ORIGINAL COLUMNS UNDER structure.
However, it highlights the significant
for an additional embodied carbon THE NEW LOADS carbon benefits of reuse. By retaining

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 1 Triton Square Project focus

éFIGURE 17: SCORS rating and benchmarking against yearly design targets

and extending the existing structure,

35 000t of concrete and 1900t of
reinforcement and structural steelwork BY RETAINING AND
were saved from demolition, avoiding
the need to add back a similar fl oor EXTENDING THE EXISTING
area of new materials. STRUCTURE, 35 000t OF
The extension brought the
refurbished building up to a total net
CONCRETE AND 1900t OF
area of 32 100m2 (47 200m2 gross). REINFORCEMENT AND
The carbon footprint per unit area for STRUCTURAL STEELWORK
the scheme is therefore 136kgCO2e/
m2, achieving a SCORS A rating WERE SAVED FROM
(Figure 17). This compares very DEMOLITION
favourably with the ‘current practice’
benchmark value of 350kgCO2e/m2,
as well as meeting the International Another significant feature of the
Panel on Climate Change’s 2030 new design is the central atrium, with
carbon budget target, set out in large openings that vary on each level
the article introducing the SCORS and allow natural daylight to fl ood onto
scheme2. the fl oorplates. Interconnecting stairs
between levels help create a dynamic and
Summary collaborative workspace that make the
The structural design for 1 Triton building a great place to work. This was
Square has been fundamental to highly attractive to the prospective tenant.
unlocking the scheme and maximising Overall, the result is a building with HAVE
the potential of the existing building sustainability at its core, showcasing the YOUR
for reuse and extension. However, potential value that can be realised when SAY
this only tells part of the story, with redeveloping an existing building. British
design initiatives across all disciplines Land sees the reuse of existing buildings
contributing to the success of the as a key part of achieving its low-carbon
project. targets and aspirations in the future. Due
Reuse and circular economy for completion in the first half of 2021, @IStructE
initiatives ran through several aspects and on track to achieve a BREEAM [email protected] #TheStructuralEngineer

of the design, from retaining and Outstanding rating, 1 Triton Square is a

modifying the existing structure to great example of what can be achieved.
REFERENCES
refurbishing instead of replacing the
existing facade. Even paving and other Acknowledgements
roof materials were reused products The success of the refurbishment and 1) Tayler H. (2020) ‘A short guide to
from other demolished buildings. extension of 1 Triton Square was the reusing foundations’, The Structural
Efficient mechanical, electrical and result of a tremendous collaborative Engineer, 98 (11), pp. 20–23
public health (MEP) design also meant e ort across the project team, so thanks 2) Arnold W., Cook M., Cox D.,
that, despite the significant increase in to all those who played their part in this Gibbons O. and Orr J. (2020) ‘Setting
lettable area, there was no increase in fantastic story. Thanks also to Catherine carbon targets: an introduction to the
plant area compared with the original Rankine for her suggestions and proposed SCORS rating scheme’, The
scheme. contributions to the article. Structural Engineer, 98 (10), pp. 8–12

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 Opinion Profile

Jo da Silva
Arup global sustainable development leader, îFIGURE 1:
Chek Lap Kok
Jo da Silva, was made a Dame in the recent New airport, Hong
Kong
Year Honours. She talks to Jackie Whitelaw about
social responsibility in business, the engineering
response to COP26 and the impact of the pandemic
on future planning of cities.
WHEN JO DA SILVA BECAME A Finding a sense of purpose
DAME in the New Year Honours list, Da Silva is now 53 and began her
she made history. Records suggest career at the end of the 1980s after
she is the Institution’s first ever dame, studying at Cambridge University. That
and one of few structural engineers to was a decade when computers were
receive that level of honour in recent a revelation, engineers were pushing
decades. the boundaries of what was possible
Da Silva received her award and designing exquisite, awe-inspiring
for engineering and international structures was the focus of most
sustainable development, potentially a ambitions.
high-level signal as to what is needed ‘I did contribute to some amazing
from engineers in the years ahead. The buildings, such as Chek Lap Kok airport
profession is increasingly being asked terminal in Hong Kong (Figure 1)
to concentrate not just on its ability to and the National Portrait Gallery
build at the cutting edge, but to apply (Figure 2). Back then, when people

ARUP
those technical skills for the health and asked me to describe my job, I’d say
wellbeing of others in fields such as “making architects’ dreams come
zero carbon and building back better true”.’ That job description changed
after the Covid-19 pandemic. significantly.
Da Silva has been promoting It was a tour in Rwanda in 1994 for
concerns of vulnerability and engineering disaster relief charity RedR,
sustainability for over 15 years, first building warehouses, food distribution
as Arup’s director of international centres and toilets for refugees escaping
development and now also as an from genocide, that changed the
Arup Fellow and its global sustainable direction of her working life.
development lead. But having the ‘When I came back, some said to
government recognise her work and me, “you were very brave”. I replied,
rewarding it with a damehood was a “no, I’m lucky. Lucky to have the skills
huge surprise. ‘I never aspired to the and expertise to make a di erence to
honour and when I got the email, I was people’s lives”.’
astonished, and delighted,’ she says. The humanitarian aid side of her
‘But I did think they were giving it to me career began to take priority until, in
for the right reasons and at the right 2005, she left Arup for 10 months to
time.’ work for the UN refugee agency as the
According to the government, ‘no senior shelter co-ordinator in Sri Lanka
other individual UK engineer is so following the Indian Ocean tsunami
personally associated with shifting (Figure 3).
the approach of a major engineering ‘Back in London with Arup, I realised
company to prioritise social outcomes that I didn’t want to design beautiful
for vulnerable communities in buildings anymore, but to use my
developing countries. She is an engineering skills in the international
GRAHAM GAUNT

extremely e ective proponent of the development field.’

FIGURE 2:
“build back better” philosophy for Da Silva started to promote the Ondaatje Wing,
humanitarian relief, as well as being idea of establishing an international National Portrait
one of the most successful women development business separate from Gallery, London
structural engineers globally’. the firm’s philanthropic humanitarian

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 Profile Opinion

us realise that cities are made up of

neighbourhoods and their sense of place
is defined by the buildings and even
more important, the meeting places,
whether these are structures or open
spaces (Figure 5).
‘Covid has changed us as a
profession, I believe. Hopefully, it will
make us think more about what our
designs actually achieve, rather than just
the fine structural details; the outcomes
not outputs, and who benefits. ’

Climate challenges
The changes being wrought by Covid-19
sit alongside climate change, da Silva
points out.
‘It is an incredibly exciting moment to
be an engineer,’ she says. ‘I wish I was
at the beginning of my career again.
The climate change and sustainable
development agenda gives us a real
purpose to what we are doing. We
are designing a sustainable future for
everyone, not solely the dreams of
FIGURE 3:
investments. ‘It was 2006, there was Carrying our architects as I was in the 1980s and
a building boom. I was very much community 90s.’
HEALTH AND
consultation in Aceh,
swimming against the tide,’ she says. Sustainability has been around for
Indonesia for Oxfam-
But lobbying paid o and ‘when you decades, da Silva says. ‘But what is
work for an organisation for a while, WELLBEING Muslim Aid
di erent now is that it is incredibly urgent
there is an element of trust. I stressed DEPEND ON THE and it needs to be done at scale. And
this was not about me but the future of
the firm. I can remember being on the THE QUALITY OF we now have data and technology
to help us. The data enables us to
steps of 13 Fitzroy Street when Terry Hill THE BUILT AND understand the performance of built
[the then Arup chairman] said, “OK, Jo, I
get it. It’s not about next year, it’s about
NATURAL design. It gives us the evidence and
information so we can use less material
10 years’ time”.’ ENVIRONMENT and keep materials in use. We can
The division was formed in 2007 with use digital technology to work more
da Silva at the head with a brief to focus the crisis. ‘This extraordinary pandemic efficiently and faster, which frees us to
on reducing vulnerability and increasing occurred when digital connection has think more creatively.’
wellbeing of the global south. Just over made it possible for lots of people to The COP26 global climate summit,
a decade later, da Silva says the lessons work at home. So, the paradigm where to be held in Glasgow in November this
learned are now an integral part of the people commute to central business year, she says, is an opportunity for
Arup way of working and a prerequisite districts to work, with cities defined by structural engineers to commit to the
for what is needed from engineers in the arterial transport networks, and property role they will play in meeting the climate
decades ahead. prices linked to transport will change emergency. ‘We need to understand
radically,’ she believes. ‘We have also that what we do over the next 10 years
Time to think again realised the necessity of much more matters for future humanity. We can’t
The Covid-19 pandemic is in the green space.’ wait, we have got to act.’
course of highlighting the gaps in Da Silva understands as much as The issues that da Silva has been
êFIGURE 4:
fairness in society, living conditions and anyone about city resilience. Thanks Receiving IStructE focusing on in the developing south
environment around the world. ‘What to a grant from the Rockefeller Gold Medal in 2017 are issues that increasingly apply
you learn in the humanitarian field Foundation, da Silva and Arup produced
is that health and wellbeing depend in 2014 the City Resilience Index
on the quality of the built and natural (www.cityresilienceindex.org/).
environment,’ da Silva says. ‘People who This contributed to her being awarded
are poor and marginalised tend to have the Institution of Structural Engineers
a poor quality of built environment. Gold Medal in 2017 (Figure 4). The
‘Covid-19 has underscored what we index is designed to help an increasingly
have always known but tried to ignore, urbanised world respond to the
that this applies in the developed as challenge of climate change and other
well as developing world. We have shocks and stresses.
seen highlighted the problems for those ‘When we started that work, the
who have less access to health care, majority of cities were talking about
inequality of education, poorer living economic resilience rather than
conditions and less access to green people. Why the City Resilience Index
space.’ was successful was that it adopted a
The accepted view of how cities will people-centric approach.
develop has been challenged during ‘I think the pandemic has really made

37
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Profile_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer.indd 37 17/02/2021 17:23

 Opinion Profile

everywhere. ‘The things I care about, and steel. We need to be talking about HAVE
such as vulnerability, inclusivity, safety, industrialised construction, minimising YOUR
resilience and sustainability, are and tracing materials and the use of SAY
becoming real issues generally because renewables. And we need to do it
of the pressure of increasing numbers of quickly. Above all, we as engineers
people on the planet,’ she says. need to step up to the big challenges
‘Arup has always had a humanitarian facing the world, and find the
êFIGURE 5:
attitude and social usefulness is one Lavender Nursery, solutions. No other profession is better
@IStructE
of the six aims of the firm. But what Mitcham, London placed to do so.’ [email protected] #TheStructuralEngineer
we have learned in international
development is strengthening the firm’s
determination that our projects will have
a positive impact on both people and
the planet. We are making big shifts
in sustainable development, so rather
than taking resources to make an
amazing building, we are concentrating
on net zero, our impact on the natural
environment and issues such as how to
sequester carbon.’
Da Silva sees two major challenges
ahead that present big opportunities for
structural engineers.
‘The first is to think not about new
build, but how we can better utilise
existing buildings and retrofit at scale so
we keep materials and their locked-up
carbon in use.

PETER COOK
‘The second is how are we going
to support rapid urbanisation over the
next decade? The planet can’t a ord
for everything to be built out of concrete

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 Opinion Planning
Opinion Hand sketching
application
in aprocedures
digital age

graphically in Figure 2, where one could

Viewpoint imagine hand sketching at the very

beginning of the concept design process.
I have witnessed engineers commit

Is there still a place for

to a first idea and then boldly go directly
into finite-element analysis and building
information models (BIM) without all the

hand sketching in the

options or alternatives being thoroughly
considered. This often leads to going
back and spending precious time
redrafting or modelling to get to the right

digital design age?

solution. When beginning a sketch, you
might start with feint lines on the page as
the outline dimensions or key elements
are laid out and basic proportions and
scale established. Then, as the brain
starts to visualise how the thing might
Andy Veall discusses his love of sketching and makes a case for work or look or fit together, decisions are
made and line weights can be increased
engineers to continue to value and develop this essential design until a solution starts to present itself.
skill alongside their digital tools. There is formal empirical evidence
of how sketching enhances the design
process. Studies have been carried
Introduction Developing design ideas out2 which compared the problem-
The media in our industry have Developing design ideas nearly always solving process adopted by designers
published a vast amount of material starts with a hand-drawn sketch (people who can sketch generally)
related to the development of (Figure 1); this is still true in many other and non-designers (people who do
computational design, digital design industries, including, notably, not sketch generally). The results
engineering tools, software the automotive design industry. In car indicated that, through sketching, the
interoperability, slick analysis and design, the first steps are still hand-drawn designer is in a better position to explore
design workfl ows, etc. These are sketches despite it being one of the most potential solutions given a developing
all incredible, and there is no doubt technologically advanced and formal understanding of the design problem,
we are currently going through a industrial design processes. facilitated through generative attempts.
revolution in how engineering work will There are many well-known examples Whereas non-designers tended to
be done and delivered in the future. of initial ‘doodles’ of what turned out to become stuck in problem definition and
Ignore it at your peril! be iconic structures. These sketches produced fewer options or solutions.
The speed of development of provide a wonderful and intimate insight During the sketching process and
these tools is remarkable and will into the very first, almost instant recording development of ideas, moving from a
probably increase as engineers’ of what was in the designer’s mind. This 2D sketch to a simple 3D sketch
programming and development skills kind of personal expression of design (Figure 3) also leads to further
also increase. This digital revolution intent is not possible using a mouse and understanding of the design and makes
is disrupting, inevitable and exciting, keyboard. the engineer question things further.
allowing previously laborious tasks As any design solution progresses This is often another iteration where the
to be automated, human error to be from initial ideas, one moves from low- process may highlight some aspect of
reduced, complex 3D models to be resolution, rough sketches towards more the design which impacts the solution.
developed and manipulated incredibly detailed, higher-resolution information. This skill also helps to imagine the plan,
quickly, and data to be shared. But are This process of ideation using sketching section and elevation of a design or
the basic skills of being able to sketch at the beginning allows di erent solutions detail, as these will be the requirements
and draw by hand therefore becoming îFIGURE 1: Rough, to be considered, rejected or developed, for what needs to get drafted to
immediate sketch of
less important and less necessary in idea during meeting and the problem to be further understood communicate the design clearly.
our work? Are the days of hand- with architect in a very iterative manner. It is presented Maurice Brennan, Associate Partner
drawn sketches gone for good? at architect Rogers Stirk Harbour +
Despite the technology currently Partners, says, ‘It’s not about drawing
available, hand sketching – both well, or beautiful shading in, it’s about
on paper and on tablet – is still an being able to put things in relation to each
extremely useful skill to develop as a other, at the right scale, on a piece of
structural engineer. In fact, with the paper. That’s not a drawing ability, that’s a
speed at which a sketch can now cognitive ability. An engineer who draws
be created and shared, it is arguably to scale is really important – you’ll find the
more useful than ever. people who can draw in the meeting are
This article sets out why hand also the ones who can give you the quick
sketching remains a vital and answer’3.
important part of the design process
and also provides some information Spatial problem solving
on useful resources to help develop The reality in our day-to-day work in the
skills and appreciation of the subject. design office or on site is that we are
rarely (unfortunately!) sketching grand

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 Hand sketching in a digital age Opinion

sweeping designs of Calatrava-style

footbridges or long-span stadia with
pioneering roof geometry on the back
of napkins, but are very often problem-
solving on a smaller scale within more
mundane physical constraints.
The first step to understanding

ADAPTED FROM CROSS N.1

the issue is often to sketch out the
situation to a rough scale (Figure 4),
to very quickly understand the key
problems and start to think about ideas ëFIGURE 2:
and solutions. Without going through this Iterative design
process
process, the engineer will not understand
the issues clearly and will take much
longer to arrive at a solution. This kind
of problem-solving work is particularly
useful in site-related queries and also
construction engineering/temporary to digital free-hand sketching software)
works design, etc. requires you to almost know what you
The ability to sketch becomes even are modelling before you start; if you
more powerful when it is combined with don’t know, it could limit your ability to AS A TOOL FOR
a certain amount of knowledge and generate ideas. VERY QUICKLY
practical experience. The very process
of sketching something feels practical; if
There are some incredible parametric
modelling tools which allow complex COMMUNICATING
you draw something or some sequence geometries to be stretched, manipulated AN IDEA, HAND DRAWING
of work, then it is more likely it can be
built – so sketching is like testing out
and optimised, and variations generated,
very quickly and efficiently, but I argue
IS HARD TO BEAT
the first prototype of some solution to a this technology is still complementary
problem. and can best be used after the very basic This kind of visual exchange of
Engineers should try and develop the design principle has been worked out. ideas promotes and generates more
ability to visualise scale and understand A sketch can be produced extremely open discussions. There is something
how the real pieces of a structure could quickly with emphasis on a particular light and easy about a quick sketch
all fit together physically, and then be aspect of the design or be presented in a where other parties are less concerned
able to produce a sketch to quickly way to infl uence the audience. In my own about challenging the idea and o ering
check it all makes sense. This skill work, I have experienced online design alternatives. Sketches invite people in to
will improve the speed and quality of coordination workshops where a design democratically comment and contribute.
solutions to all kinds of day-to-day work issue arises and is being discussed, A sketch can be used to express an
as a structural engineer. and one can quickly sketch a thought idea with perfect clarity, whereas a written
or suggestion on a tablet by hand and description can be open for interpretation
Communication of ideas immediately share it live on the screen, or misunderstood. A classic example
As a tool for very quickly communicating which significantly speeds up the process might be the unwelcome requests for
an idea, hand drawing is hard to beat. to get to a solution. Sketches are not information from site, an inevitable part
Sketching freehand has no ‘barrier’ always standalone, hand-drawn from of life – often these can be answered
between the creative mind, the hand, the a blank sheet, but more often a quick íFIGURE 3: quickly and efficiently with a decent
Concept sketch
eye and the output, whereas current 3D mark-up on an architect’s drawing or ideas for roof space sketch, rather than attempting a purely
digital modelling software (as opposed model, etc. truss/node details written description or having to produce
a formal drawing or model to respond. I
have found that engineers who can draw
are much more efficient at dealing with
site queries.
On large, complex projects nowadays,
it is quite common for consultants to
be from many di erent countries and
time zones, with di erent languages and
cultures – the one common language
that everyone instantly understands is
drawings and sketches.

Detailing
The truth of the matter is that, for the
time being, we still rely on drawings in the
construction industry. This will change in
the future, but I believe we are probably
some way o from all contractors

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 Opinion Hand sketching in a digital age

receiving LOD 400 information from a Similarly, on a smaller scale, there is

design team and then producing fully a certain satisfaction from creating
coordinated shop drawings in a purely 3D something elegant that expresses your
environment. Therefore, at least in many thoughts clearly without the need for
cases, consultants still need to draw and words or explanation.
produce 2D contract documentation Based on my experience, other
information (in addition to the 3D design team members, particularly
models) to a sufficient level of detail for architects, appreciate and enjoy a clear
a contractor to be able to develop shop sketch which is well presented, clarifies
drawings with a minimum number of a question or solves a problem. Other
queries. disciplines may not understand all the
Design engineers still therefore need terminology used by structural engineers.
to ensure sections are cut, details are Additionally, there is a certain integrity to a
generated and annotated appropriately, hand-drawn sketch as it demonstrates a
whichever 3D BIM tool is being used to commitment to the project.
produce the drawings, and sketching still The very act of creating something is
plays an essential tool in this process. fun and satisfying and surely good for
In addition to generating drawings, mental wellbeing; this is the mantra of
another key aspect of our work The Big Draw charity in the UK4. Moving
as structural engineers is design away from the keyboard, mouse and
calculations. Calculations need to be screen to a tablet and pen, or traditional
checked internally prior to issue and often paper, for a small portion of time during
externally by a third-party consultant the working day must be a good thing.
or local authority engineer (or even an Sketching can also be a very personal
IStructE examiner!). So, it is essential the thing. Sketching is a highly efficient
calculation is presented clearly. method of taking key notes in meetings,
The start of a calculation typically in one-on-one conversations or when
would include some sort of sketch to simply thinking alone. These notes may
explain the arrangement of members only ever be for your own personal use.
being checked or designed, or some Often during a meeting, perhaps as a
loading and load path diagrams, etc. The coordination discussion is going on,
ability to clearly and simply communicate you could straight away be discretely
the intent of the calculation is essential, sketching out the issue or problem in
and a sketch is the best way to do this. a notebook and adding annotations
This clarity of communication of the of formulated ideas, questions or
design will transform into commercial ìFIGURE 4: Initial comments, so sketches are highly
benefits when checking engineers can concept sketch ideas efficient ways of communicating with
for small ‘base jump’
understand the thought process of the platform design at top yourself.
designer more easily; the approvals of Burj Khalifa, UAE Personally, if I look back now at some
will come faster, and the job can move íFIGURE 5: Concept sketches in my old notebooks, I can
sketch for method of
forwards. achieving
remember the whole conversation or
approximation of thought process around the sketch from
Other benefits doubly curved steel years ago. I don’t think it’s the same with
CHS profile for
As structural engineers, one of the most project in Middle East
words and minutes of meetings.
satisfying aspects of the profession is Another nice benefit is that if an idea
seeing our designs of buildings and comes to you, you can record it or
bridges come to life and be constructed. develop it almost anywhere with a hand
sketch in a notebook or on a tablet.
Figure 5 shows an idea that came to a
structural engineer in an airport departure
lounge to ease fabrication of doubly
curved tube sections by bending the
tubes in a single curve, then segmenting
and twisting the arches to achieve an
approximation of the double curves.

Summary
Hand sketching on paper or tablet is
still an important part of the structural
engineer’s skillset and should be
considered complementary to 3D digital
drawing and modelling software. Those
very important first steps developing
ideas and solutions are made much more
easily if you can visualise a problem,

42
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 Hand sketching in a digital age Opinion

HAVE
YOUR
USEFUL RESOURCES SAY
draw to scale and proportion, and
quickly work out possible di erent
solutions. Furthermore, sketching Online tools and courses
is still useful for communicating
designs and providing solutions to Ò| Expedition Workshed
‘Toolbox’ videos:
any practical issues encountered @IStructE
https://expeditionworkshed.org/toolbox/
on site. [email protected] #TheStructuralEngineer
Sketching is also good fun and Ò| UCL Drawing Gym:
can be a relaxing, enjoyable part of www.ucl.ac.uk/drawing-gym/ REFERENCES
our work. The good news is that Ò| IStructE Drawing Gym online course:
drawing skills can be practised www.istructe.org/events/hq/2021/the-
and developed. There are a lot of drawing-gym-may-2021/ 1) Cross N. (2008) Engineering Design
available resources, including many Books Methods: Strategies for Product Design (4th
online videos and formal courses. ed.), Chichester: Wiley
Ò| Hunt A. (1999) Tony Hunt’s Sketchbook,
Those listed here are just some of Abingdon: Architectural Press 2) Self J. (2016) Why is Sketching (Still)
the most relevant I am aware of. Important (To Design)? To sketch is to
Ò| Hunt A. (2003) Tony Hunt’s Second
design [Online] Available at: www.core77.
Sketchbook, Abingdon: Architectural
com/posts/52948/Why-is-Sketching-Still-
Press
Andy Veall Important-To-Design (Accessed: January
Ò| Jodidio P. (2016) Calatrava, Cologne: 2021)
MEng, MIStructE
Taschen
3) Jones N. (2018) Back to the drawing
Andy Veall is a Technical Director
Ò| Moore R. and Powell K. (1995) Structure, board [Online] Available at: www.the-
at WSP based in Dubai, helping Space and Skin: The Work of Nicholas possible.com/lost-art-of-drawing-engineers-
drive technical excellence. He has Grimshaw & Partners, London: Phaidon architects/ (Accessed: January 2021)
been with WSP for 22 years and Press
4. The Big Draw website (2021) [Online]
previously worked in WSP offices
Ò| Slade R. (2016) Sketching for Architects Available at: https://thebigdraw.org/uk-
in London and New York. events (Accessed: January 2021)
and Engineers, Abingdon: Routledge

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43
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 Opinion Letters

Verulam
Send letters to…
HAVE All contributions to Verulam should be
YOUR submitted via email to: [email protected]

SAY Contributions may be edited on the grounds

of style and/or length by the Institution's
Readers’ letters, comments and queries publishing department.

Carbon need to do is be aware that the

population of sustainable forestry is a
sequestration and emissions may be
complicated, but the conclusions are
sequestration carbon sink (i.e. the annual net CO2
emissions are negative) and that the
simple. In summary, where it is
necessary to build and assuming you
TOBY MACLEAN carbon stored in the population of seek to reduce CO2 emissions, then you
buildings should increase. should specify the efficient use of
The only question is whether the sustainably sourced timber where
timber felled is used for short-life possible and normally in preference to
products like fuel and toothpicks or other materials. And the building should
long-life products like building last forever, or as close an approximation
components. The more timber that is to forever as possible.
used in long-life products, the greater
the carbon store in timber products will
grow. As little as possible and as long as
Overall, the total carbon stored in possible might be a good mantra.
timber products (whether building But it’s not going to be possible to
components or toothpicks) is limited by do away with all our options of
the average lifetime of timber products structural materials in favour of
and how much timber is felled from timber. As ever, views are welcome.
sustainable sources. The latter is
ultimately controlled by the finite supply
of sustainable forestry, but the former is Climate change:
I was delighted to see Will Hawkins’
article in the January issue of The
controlled by commercial demand for
long-life timber products and structural
time for action
Structural Engineer exploring engineers can help create that demand. MAX CLAYTON
sequestration of carbon in timber One other thing that we should I am disappointed to see Ian Whitlam’s
buildings, and I fully support the recognise is that sustainable letter (Verulam, January 2021) published
conclusions reached, namely: commercial forestry does not exist in a in The Structural Engineer.
1) Non-sustainably sourced timber is an vacuum. I’m not aware of an argument While a 1.5°C rise in global
environmental disaster. for allowing commercial forestry to temperatures does not represent a
2) Releasing CO2 from a timber building return to nature, unmanaged and distinct tipping point, the International
at end of life is unfortunate. unfelled. One problem with doing this, Panel on Climate Change has a high
3) Build nothing where possible, or build as the average age of the forestry degree of confidence in many of the
less if nothing is not possible. increases and so (perhaps especially for di erences between 1.5°C and 2°C of
4) When you do need to build, use commercial timber) the rate of carbon warming. They advise that limiting
timber efficiently so you can build as sequestration slows, is that you’d end warming to 1.5°C would reduce the
many buildings as possible with the up with a large area of forest that is number of people frequently exposed to
timber you have. capturing carbon fairly inefficiently. extreme heatwaves by about 420M, and
Because of this, arguments that focus the number of people exposed to severe
I’d also add a fifth conclusion, on why it could be better to leave the drought by 61M. That extra half a degree
perhaps related to 2) above, which is: trees in a forest miss an important point. will result in up to 270M people being
5) The longer timber buildings last, the I’m not claiming that commercial exposed to increased water scarcity by
larger the carbon store in timber forestry is the optimum land-based 2050.
buildings can grow. carbon sequestration model, but I am The proportion of insects that will see
claiming that using as much timber as their range reduced by more than half is
However, I feel that some further possible from sustainable forestry in three times higher at 2°C, including
comments on the rationale might help long-life products might be the optimum many pollinating species. At 2°C, coral
understanding. First, I find it easier to sustainable forestry carbon reefs will be non-existent.
think not about one building and the sequestration model. I must disagree that to declare a
trees that it is necessary to fell to build In almost all cases, a timber building ‘climate emergency’ is a political
that particular building, but rather about will have lower overall CO2 emissions statement. Emissions must be drastically
the whole population of timber buildings over its lifetime than an equivalent cut to meet even the pessimistic
(say, in Europe) and the population of steel- or concrete-framed building, and scenario above, yet they continue to rise
sustainable forestry. it will always have much lower initial CO2 year on year. If the above does not
If we do this, then it removes the emissions which will have a greater constitute an emergency, I don’t know
necessity to think about how long it e ect on climate change than possible what does.
takes the specific trees that were felled emissions in decades from now. If, as engineers, we are guided by
for a single building to re-grow. All you The dynamics of carbon science and have regard to the public

44
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 Letters Opinion

interest, then taking serious and Low-income countries are expected

urgent action is exactly what is to experience huge development over
required of us both professionally and
ethically, particularly as we are better
the coming decades to close the
economic gap, and it is this that will THE MAIN FACTOR
placed than most to have an impact. infl uence emissions far more than CONTRIBUTING TO
population growth. This progress will
be vital to ensure that people around
CLIMATE CHANGE IS
Verulam tries to give an the world can live lives free of disease, NOT POPULATION, BUT
opportunity for readers to express hunger and poverty, and we should CONSUMPTION
their views whichever side they welcome it.
are on. In the UK, our emissions rose
significantly up to 1970, but have been I was also reminded of my last job

Climate falling ever since, despite a growing

population. The real challenge of the
before retirement, working in Bahrain for
a local consultancy on the design of a
change and coming years is in ensuring the world prestressed concrete footbridge for a

population
can reach the same high standards of contractor on a design-and-build tender.
living that we enjoy, while Since there was only one other engineer

growth simultaneously cutting climate-

changing emissions dramatically and
within the firm with sufficient experience
to check the design, and he was the
MAX CLAYTON permanently. boss, I was very glad that the Bahrain
I read with dismay the letter from Public Works Department had
Peter Wright in January where he introduced a requirement that all
laments ‘ever-increasing population As in his earlier letter, Max is bridges, however minor, must have an
growth’ and cites this as the greatest clearly on the side of those who independent check, and that the cost of
challenge in combating climate want to take action. We can all this had to be allowed for in the
change. rally round his sentiment of contractor’s tender price.
This is a common misconception. striving to do our part to ensure In my case, a world-renowned bridge
When it comes to discussing climate people ‘live lives free of disease, designer performed the check and
change, a focus on population growth hunger and poverty’. while, much to my relief, the basic
is fundamentally misguided and I’d be design was found satisfactory,
pleased to clear this up.
While the world’s population has Lessons from comments were received regarding the
design of the prestressed end-blocks
increased dramatically in the last
century, the rate of increase is
disasters which were both constructive and
illuminating. As I found out, it is never
shrinking (as Peter’s figures show), MELVIN HURST too late to learn.
and we have already passed ‘peak David Brett’s letter (November/
child’, meaning the number of December 2020), in response to Ian
children on earth is no longer Firth’s Viewpoint in the October 2020 It is never time to stop learning. Old
increasing. By 2100, population issue of The Structural Engineer on the hands will be sanguine about what
growth will be very small, if it is not apses o
box-girder bridge collapses of tthe
e can go wrong, and Melvin is
already in reverse. Hardly ‘ever- 1970s, reminded me of absolutely right that all profession
increasing’, then. a similar and excellent entrants should study major
The main factor contributing to book to the one disasters and learn that their causes
climate change is not population, but mentioned by David. were multiple. It’s always better to
consumption, and it is a fact that rich This is Catastrophic learn from somebody else’s
nations emit far more carbon per failures, an Open mistakes.
capita than poorer nations. As Peter University publication
points out, the UK contributes only
1% of global emissions, whereas Asia
from 1977, a reader for
a course on system
or
Lessons from
is responsible for 50%. Considering
Asia contains over 60% of the world
performance.
It covers several
the archive
population, and the UK only 0.85%, construction-related BOB WODEHOUSE
Asian countries appear to be doing disasters, including the e Structural strength: The renovation of a
far better than us in this department. Summerland fire, and listed property where the timber fl oor was
Greenhouse gas emissions are Ronan Point and Westt to be reused. Building control rightly
fundamentally linked to economic Gate Bridge collapses,, as well as expressed an interest and so did the
development. For example, while the others, such as Aberfan [[colliery
lli spoilil conservation people. One arrived in the
global population has tripled in the tip collapse], which illustrate the morning, jumped up and down on the fl oor
last 65 years, the amount of cement many-faceted causes of most and pronounced it OK. The other arrived in
we use has gone up by a factor of disasters. I think that all young the afternoon, did the same thing and
35. The average person in Europe is engineers should be required to read pronounced the complete opposite. I was,
responsible for five times the one of these books as part of their however, led by the science!
emissions of the average person in Institution membership application Lesson: Compliance with standards at
Africa. process. all times is essential.

45
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March 2021
2019

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AKT II

Opinion Letters

Site survey and dimensions: A client

measured the site, and instructed the
face to face, and after a while the
impossible happened. The contractor Nothing like a
consultants accordingly to extend the
rear of an existing property; the design
took out his mobile phone and, after
a quick phone call back to the office,
dame
and then the construction commenced. agreed to be on site at 7.30am the DAVID BRETT
Warnings from the consultant and day after the following day with the Many congratulations to Jo da Silva on
contractor regarding the extension and correct loading trolley. Thereafter the becoming the first dame of the Institution.
the adjacent boundary were to no avail. load tests went extremely well! Such honours are rare for structural
The construction was well under way Lesson: All equipment to be engineers – recent knighthoods have
when the gentlemen next door returned checked before being allowed on site. included former President Ted Happold,
from abroad late one night. He opened Duncan Michael and Nigel Thompson.
the curtains the following morning to find Not only have we had two
there was a new building just within the Every engineer will have tales to distinguished female presidents, we now
edge of his garden. Subsequently, the tell of eye-rolling events: some in have a dame as well! This is a well-
client was busy in negotiations for the the category of ‘you couldn’t deserved recognition of her achievements
next six months with eventually a positive make it up’. But many also over many years. It also sets a fine
outcome and work restarted. contain salutary lessons that we example to many other young women
Lesson: The site boundary location is can all learn from. Verulam recalls who are considering engineering as a
vital. a contractor arriving on site to profession.
build on existing foundations. It is interesting to note that all the
Material strength: Block strength Nothing was to be found. On above are Arupians, although Ted formed
information was received as urgent enquiry to the design team, his own practice after leaving Arup. When
requested. The average strength was it was verified the foundations did I met Ted at Arup, it was a way of life
as per the specification. However, exist; just at another site in rather than a job. It was such a fun and
when applying the science and another city. Any more stimulating environment with some of the
evaluating the standard deviation and contributions? greatest engineers of their time.
coefficient of variation, it was found I was very reluctant to leave, but
that the resulting values were far less wanted to study economics and
than one would normally expect (to be GREAT ARTICLE IN marketing, so one of the partners, Peter
acceptable). #THESTRUCTURALENGINEER BY SCOTT Dunican (a former President of the
BLACKHURST ON HIS CAREER TIPS AS
Lesson: Always cross-check using AN ENGINEER. I ESPECIALLY VALUED THE IStructE), helped me to get a grant to
the science/compliant information as NOTES ON MISTAKES AND CONSTRUCTIVE attend the London School of Economics.
required by ISO. CRITICISM. ALWAYS A TOUGH ONE TO The only female engineers at Arup in
MASTER. @ISTRUCTE those days were usually from Eastern
@clairefyoung
Load testing: A load test was Europe, where it was more common for
arranged, and the contractor arrived women to study engineering.
on site. The equipment unloading
seemed to go very slowly. I asked to
see the type of loading trolley to be All of us should applaud Dame Jo on
used on the lower fl ange of the steel this distinction. Engineering provides
beam. The trolley was produced, and the basic infrastructure for civilised
it was the incorrect type (not as living. In this there is no more noble
specified and indicated on the aspect than in providing relief against
drawing). I was told that this was the nature’s elements to those distressed
only type available and no other could or in trying to provide basic needs to
be obtained. This was quite those in poverty, all of which has Jo
unacceptable. We just stood there, has done. Support RedR!

Enter a sketch in the next competition – deadline 12 March 2021

The Drawing Board Sketches must be: To take part, submit your
is The Structural • hand drawn (no CAD, except for ‘guided freehand’) entries to: [email protected]
Engineer’s quarterly • from a real project or assignment
Each published entry will receive
sketching competition, • at a suitable scale for publication (i.e. not too
a free single e-book from the
judged by Ron Slade intricate/detailed).
Institution’s current list of titles.
FIStructE of WSP. Please also submit a short description (150 words) to put
the sketch into context. Background sketch by Kevin Lyons (Lyons O’Neill)

46
March 2021 | thestructuralengineer.org

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 Diary dates At the back

Diary dates
Unless otherwise stated,
evening technical meetings
start at 18:00 and are free of
charge to attend.

History Study Group meetings

start at 18:00 and are free of Note that more current information may be available from
charge to attend. Registration the Institution website: www.istructe.org/events
is not required except for the
Annual Business Meeting held
in January. ONLINE LECTURE 10:00−17:30
Thursday 18 March Price: Members: £295 + VAT; Standard:
Industry workshops and CPD
Launch of The Structural Carbon Tool £395 + VAT
courses are held at HQ unless
otherwise stated. Presenters: Will Arnold, Penny Gowler Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2021/
and John Orr eurocode-9-aluminium-design/
18:00−19:15
Price: Free EXAM PREPARATION
ONLINE CONFERENCES Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/ Friday 19 March
Wednesday 17 March launch-of-the-structural-carbon-tool/ Exam preparation day
Young Researchers Conference Presenter: Stephen Vary
Speakers: Various WEBINAR 10:00−17:30
Price: Free Wednesday 24 March Price: Members: £255 + VAT; Standard:
Registration: www.istructe.org/events/hq/ Graphic statics: structural design and £335 + VAT
young-researchers-conference/ analysis through geometry Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2021/
Presenters: Philippe Block and exam-preparation-day-march-2021/
Tuesday 27 April–Thursday 29 April Juney Lee
Stadia and long span structures 12:30−13:45 REGIONAL GROUPS
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Key speakers: Knut Göppert and £70.00 + VAT istructe.org/get-involved/regional-groups/
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Price: Members: £155.00 + VAT; Standard:
£245.00 + VAT ONLINE CPD COURSES Friday 5 March
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/ Tuesday 9 March Committee meeting followed by Chair’s
hq/stadia-and-long-span-structures- Management accounting for SMEs address
conference/ Presenter: Penny Taylor Sandra Orr and Martin Powell
09:30–17:00 18:00–19:30
Wednesday 12 May–Thursday 13 May Price: Members: £295 + VAT; Standard:
Digital design and computation £395 + VAT INTERNATIONAL
e-conference Booking: www.istructe.org/events/ CONFERENCES
Keynote speaker: hq/2021/management-accounting/
Professor Caitlin Mueller Sheffield, UK
13:00–17:00 Wednesday 10 March
Price: From £155 + VAT Business and strategic planning Wednesday 1–Friday 3 September
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/ Presenter: Parag Prasad Eurosteel 2021
digital-design-computation-conference/ 14:00–17:00 The Diamond, University of Sheffield, UK
Price: Members: £145 + VAT; Standard: Registration: £350 (early bird rate until
Wednesday 7−Thursday 8 July £195 + VAT 1 June)
Reuse and life extension of existing Booking: www.istructe.org/events/ Further information:
structures e-conference hq/2021/business-strategic-planning/ https://eurosteel2020.com/
Keynote speaker: Steve Fernandez
Presenter: Fiona Cobb Wednesday 10 March Cape Town, South Africa
13:00−17:00 Demolition and structural refurbishment
Price: Members: £155 + VAT (until 7 June); Presenter: Charles Treasure Monday 5–Wednesday 7 September
Standard: £245 + VAT (until 7 June) 10:00−17:30 2022
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/ Price: Members: £295 + VAT; Standard: SEMC 2022: Eighth International Conference
reusing-existing-structures-e-conference/ £395 + VAT on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/ Computation
hq/2021/demolition-structural- Cape Town, South Africa
SPONSORED WEBINAR refurbishment-march-2021/ Deadline for special session proposals:
Wednesday 10 March 30 June 2021
Designing with innovative steelwork Tuesday 16 March Deadline for submission of abstracts:
connections (Lindapter industry briefing) Eurocode 9: design of aluminium 30 September 2021
Presenter: Matt Taylor structures Further information: www.semc.uct.ac.za
09:00–10:00 Presenter: John W. Bull Contact: [email protected]
Price: Free
Registration: www.istructe.org/events/hq/
Regional Group Committee members should submit details of forthcoming events to:
lindapter-industry-briefing [email protected]

47
thestructuralengineer.org | March 2021

Diary Dates_TSE MAR 2021_The Structural Engineer 47 17/02/2021 14:16

 At the back Spotlight on Structures

Access to Structures
is free to paying-grade
Institution members as
one of their membership
benefits, via the ‘My
account’ section of the
Institution website.
The journal is available
online at: www.
structuresjournal.org

Read the latest issue

The latest issue of Structures (Volume 29, February 2021) is
available at www.sciencedirect.com/journal/structures/vol/29.
Editor-in-Chief, Leroy Gardner, has selected a paper on
‘Robustness of steel truss bridges: Laboratory testing of a full-
scale 21-metre bridge span’ as his ‘Featured Article’ from this
issue. The article will be available free of charge for six months.

Editor-in-Chief’s Featured Article

Robustness of steel truss bridges: progressive structural collapse. Although
gh causes
cau
ca uses
ess not
not included
no inc
ncl
ncllud
ude
uded in
in the
the
he experiment.
experi
exp
ex eriment. The
erim Th
Laboratory testing of a full-scale there are many
any experimental studies on results proved
proved
rovvedd the
h structural
stru
st
truc
ructtur
tural redundancy
tural redund
nda
ancy
21-metre bridge span robustness and progressive collapse on of this type of truss structure based on the
Manuel Buitrago, Elisa Bertolesi, Pedro A. buildings, those on bridges are either joints’ resistance to bending moments and
Calderón, José M. Adam theoretical or deal with actual collapses. gave rise to a series of practical structural
ICITECH, Universitat Politècnica de València, This paper describes a unique case of a health recommendations to identify early
Valencia, Spain 21m full-scale bridge span tested under failures and avoid progressive or sudden
laboratory conditions with an extensive bridge collapse. The study carried out and
Abstract monitoring system, together with an the recommendations it produced are now
This study aimed to experimentally analyse experimental study to evaluate structural being applied in three similar bridge case
the robustness of riveted steel bridges behaviour and robustness as damage studies.
based on truss-type structures and to or failure progressed in its elements. A
define practical recommendations for early linear-static finite-element analysis was Ò| Read the full paper at https://doi.
detection of local failures before they cause also included to examine other possible org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.12.005

Register for alerts

If you’d like to receive regular updates about new content in Structures, register for email alerts at www.sciencedirect.com/.

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48 Spotlight.indd 48 17/02/2021 11:23

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