marble cladding for buildings

[dac1]

we are going to investigate a building (40 yrs old) where the 2" thick marble panel connections are deteriorating. What is the best technical references or case history report for such a project?

 

[raywc]

raywc(structural)
The multimillion dollar replacement of the marble cladding of an oil company hi-rise in the Chicago loop a number of years ago might be a useful reference.I believe replacement anchors were stainless steel.

 

[Ron]

dac1...this is one of those investigative processes where there are no guidelines other than experience, observations, and common sense.

If info is available, you can start with the original specs. Was the installation as designed? Were the proper materials used? Was the material selection proper for the application and area?

What about maintenance? How often were the joints sealed? Was the deterioration long-term (over the entire life) or short-term and concentrated? If short term, what caused the change?

How were the panels cleaned? Any change in cleaning process? Any change in cleaning materials?

Was the attachment rigid (pins) or flexible (wires)? Is fatigue an issue?

What about current safety? Can the panels fall from the building? If so, better get something to protect those below (net, walkway cover designed to absorb energy of falling panels). I've seen the result of panels falling 50 stories...not pretty!

There have been a few significant "re-skinnings" over the past 10 years or so. Tall buildings in Houston, Chicago, Miami, Tampa are ones that I can think of. Skidmore-Owings did one in Houston (and probably others, considering their size). Others have been done through owner/developers. The Miami project was for one of their taller buildings. As I recall, it had to have nets attached to protect the sidewalks.

Isolated panel releases have occurred on numerous buildings.

Good luck.
Ron

 

[jheidt2543]

Ron has provided a great outline for starting your research on the building itself. For background information you might try some of the trade associations like the Brick Institute of America, Marble Institute of America, Indiana Limestone Institute of America and . Also, an engineer who published a number of cases of various types of failures was Jacob Feld. He wrote a book quite a few years ago called "Construction Failure". You might try a web search on his name to see what is available.

Just a couple of ideas.

 

[JedClampett]

I went to an AISC Seminar in 1982 where a presentation was made by Roger Hotz of the Hotz Corporation in North Branford Connecticut that dealt with Cladding. I'm not sure he's around anymore but I still have the notes and could fax them to you if you want. They're 21 pages and have a bunch of references dealing with Facade Failures. Of course all of the references are from the 70's and 80's, but I bet they'd discuss applicable subjects. Or I could fax just the references (2 pages).

 

[dac1]

jedclampitt-- this is dac1; thanks for your help. Pls send me your email address so I can send you my fax number. ((I really appreciate your help))

 

[JedClampett]

Send your fax number to jsmason@carollo.com