ABSTRACT
Suspension bridges soon began to replace the heavily engineered ironwork of the 19th century and box girder bridges made their first appearance soon afterwards. Hugh Griffiths report stated that progressive collapse after such an accident can be avoided by the introduction of sufficient steel reinforcement to provide effective ties at the joints between the structural components, and by so arranging the components that loads can be carried in alternative ways if a failure occurs. The report also recommended that existing blocks in large panel construction over six storeys in height should be structurally appraised and where necessary strengthened. It recommended that the gas supply should be cut off in any blocks judged susceptible to progressive collapse until they had been strengthened. This chapter describes the facts, what happened and why, and what happened next, concluding with a short summary of lessons to be learned.
