Independent Engineers Report Believes Home Collapse Due to Long Term
Water Penetration of Concrete Block, Which is Consistent With Lack of Prior Evidence
of Structural Distress
Today (July 24, 2018), following a
request by Hamilton Township officials, an independent engineering company has
issued a report regarding yesterday’s home collapse in Hamilton, in which the
company believes long term water penetration of concrete block was the cause of
the collapse, and which the company notes is consistent to situations where
there is a lack of prior evidence of structural distress.
In a 5-page report, Ewing, NJ-based
Leonard Busch Associates PC concluded the following:
“In conclusion and with a reasonable degree of
engineering certainty, we believe the proximate cause of the catastrophic
collapse of 1804 South Broad Street was from the failure of deteriorated concrete
block due to long term water penetration.”
“We note that such an occurrence is consistent with a
prior lack of evident structural distress (cracking, misalignment or budging)
in the superstructure.”
Aided with technology thanks to
Google Earth images from September of 2017, which helped to illustrate the lack
of visual structural distress, along with their on-site inspections yesterday, Leonard
Busch Associates found that the 1920’s constructed home had basement walls made
from “an early form of concrete block –
one truly made from sand, coarse aggregate and cement and little else.”
The company concluded the home “fell nearly vertically into the basement or
possibly with a lean eastward, towards the all alley separating 1804 S. Broad
and the single-story photography store next door (1806 S. Broad St.).”
As the report explains, while a
variety of common problems can lead to residential collapses, a catastrophic
collapse must include an initiating source “at
or below the first supported level.” Additionally,
examples of block masonry through the debris we found to be crumbling and weak. In one case, inspectors were able to break a “wet block face shell” with their hands
– which should not be possible for block in “serviceable condition.” Moreover,
it is believed that “chronic, long-term
water penetration through the east side exterior wall” caused deterioration
in at least one area of block. The report continues on to say “Block masonry, both historic and modern
has been known to powder subject to constant wetness and particularly if
subjected to frost-thaw action which a poorly insulated exterior basement wall
would very likely have been.”
Five years ago (2013), the property
passed housing codes for a certificate of occupancy approval. Hamilton Township requires inspections for
rental properties at the time of a change in occupancy. However, as the engineers explain in the
report, the likely cause of the recent collapse would typically not lead to visual
signs of structural distress.
“This tragedy is truly heartbreaking
regardless of the cause,” explains Mayor Kelly Yaede.
Earlier today, Mayor Yaede joined
with Saint Phillips Baptist Church and the John O. Wilson Neighborhood Service
Center – both located nearby in Hamilton – to announce a collection drive to
benefit the two surviving children of Tika Justice, the 38-year-old mother who
perished as a result of the home collapse.