What to check when building by the sea

Source- The Indian Express

Relevance: Florida building collapse highlights the need for caution in building structures in coastal areas.

Synopsis – Some factors should be considered while building construction close to coastal areas, as well as a possible way to avoid sudden building collapses.

Introduction-

• The sudden collapse of a building in surfside, Florida, coastal area underlines the vulnerability of structures near the sea.
• According to some reports, the collapsed building was in need of substantial repairs. There has been a lack of adequate waterproofing and abundant cracking of varying degrees.
• Sea level rise, corrosion might be possible causes of Florida building collapse.

Key consideration with coastal construction-

1. Soil and foundation type- In general, the bearing capacity of the soil around the coastal areas, is not good enough. Thus the deep foundation is to be adopted for multi-storey buildings in which the superimposed loads are transferred to firm strata.
   • Type of deep foundation in the coastal area-
   • Pile foundation
   • Pier foundation

2. Consider Corrosion – saltwater seeping into concrete is a major issue in a coastal area, causing support beams to corrode and weaken over time, eventually leading to collapse. Therefore, engineers should consider the following things during construction in such conditions

• • Should use non-corrosive steel.
  • Concrete Carbonation should be considered. Anti-carbonation coatings can be applied to the cleaned surface of the concrete reinforcement.

3. Choosing the right building material – The use of the right material that withstands the hostile saline environment is very important for coastal area construction.
   • Use of chemical additives to improve the performance of concrete.
   • Cement type – Sulphate-resistant cement.

4. Proper and timely structure audit – To avoid buildings in coastal areas from collapsing unexpectedly, proper maintenance and regular structure audits are required. The following audits can be done –
   • Buildings that are 30 years or older can undergo Non-Destructive Testing.
   • Basic check related to columns, beams, pillars, iron bars and plaster, sewage discharge systems, and water pipelines.

5. Rising sea levels and overdevelopment are two significant causes that contribute to the abrupt collapse of coastal structures.