Curious Lack of Curiosity 2

[JedClampett]

It seems like at a minimum the city should require that the owner submit a post mortem on why the tank failed. I guess when no one is killed, it's a big ho-hum.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-water-tower-update-20130821,0,6296125.story

 

[JoshPlumSE]

The part of the article I love is: "The city doesn't have forensic architects on staff who investigate structural failure."

Serenity now, serenity now....

 

[JStephen]

Wooden tanks are pretty much a historical relic. It'd be like wondering why a log cabin failed.

 

[SteelPE]

Is providing a report for the failure typically part of the process for building a new structure? I would probably make sure the existing structure was capable of supporting the weight of the new tank. I wold also try to figure out why the tank failed (just to make sure there is no underlying problem with the structure). However, I do not believe I would write a report on the failure and submit it to the building department.... unless that was a condition of the permit.

 

[MJB315]

...Or if the tank was holding molasses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster

"We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us." -WSC

 

[a2mfk]

"Two of the people injured by the tank filed a lawsuit this month against the Brewster's owners and the condominium association."

In my experience in the US, forensic investigations are usually performed on behalf of insurance companies, attorneys, and property owners, in that order. Building departments are completely unpredictable when it comes to these types of matters, from being very proactive to putting their heads in the sand. Just trying to reach the right person to talk to when you are trying to report a dangerous condition can be a huge task.

The plaintiff's attorney for the injured people will hire a forensic engineer, as will the property owner's insurance company, and maybe even a third for the condo association if they are named in the lawsuit.

And if I was that structural engineer, I would call my E and O insurance company.

The cops should look to see if Wile E Coyote has a good alibi.

 

[bridgebuster]

In NYC Wooden water tanks are still the norm.

As an aside, Chicago doesn't seem to care about being the murder capital of the country, why would they care about a water tank?