Ronan Point collapse
Canning Town, Newham, East London, UK · 1968 (collapsed May 16, 1968; opened two months prior) · Not readily available in sources, likely not a primary metric for this event.
The judgement call
Account action unavailableThe collapse led to significant changes in UK building regulations, particularly regarding structural integrity and progressive collapse (e.g., introduction of Approved Document A). - Emphasized the need for structural redundancy and alternative load paths in high-rise buildings. - Highlighted the dangers of large panel system construction without sufficient ties and robustness. - Prompted a review of gas installations in high-rise buildings.
Key engineering challenges
Lack of structural robustness and alternate load paths in large panel system (LPS) construction. - Progressive collapse initiated by a localized gas explosion. - Inadequate connections between precast concrete panels, relying heavily on friction. - Design flaws that did not account for localized damage leading to disproportionate collapse.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Newham Council (owner)
- Lead contractor
- Taylor Woodrow-Anglian (contractor)
- Lead designers
- Phillips, Powell, Leverton & Partners (architects); Taylor Woodrow-Anglian (engineers)
- Project type
- new build (collapse event)
- Scale
- 22-storey tower block; 18th floor explosion; partial collapse of south-east corner; 4 fatalities, 17 injured.
- Disciplines
- Structural engineering; fire safety engineering; materials science; building regulations
- Standards & frameworks
- Building Regulations (post-collapse revisions, e.g., Approved Document A for structural safety)
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronan_Point; https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/sixties-britain/ronan-point-collapse/; https://www.engr.psu.edu/ae/thesis/failures/MKP/failures/failures.wikispaces.com/Ronan_Point.html; https://buildingsafetyregister.co.uk/ronan-point-at-57-the-collapse-that-reshaped-building-regulations/