ABSTRACT

Often the initial response when looking over a re-damaged structure is one of despair and horror at the extent of damage. This situation is exacerbated by the amount of nonstructural debris lying around and the acrid smells of many combustion products. In most cases the damage is not as severe as initially thought, even though immediate decisions must be taken on whether the short-term safety of the structure temporary propping is necessary or, indeed, whether demolition work is required. Such decisions may need to be taken very quickly after a re and will generally be based on a visual survey and expert judgement.