Sad news from Russia

Hey folks, just heard this on the news... here is a link to the story:

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/040214/w021464.html

There has been a serious accident at a Russian indoor Waterpark. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected.

-Escher

Not again....

---

rentzy17 said:
When I read the article, the first thing that came to my mind was the Hyatt Regency hotel disaster. What's visually appealing might not always be the best way to build.

---

It's often less about how something looks or how it's designed and more to do with how it's finally assembled. The Hyatt Regency walkway designs were structurally sound, but they were not built as the plans specified and that's why they failed. News reports are indicating that, like other failures, this may have been as a result of cutting corners during construction that, in turn, sacrificed the stability of the roof's design.

Snow loading is a common cause for roof failures, as well. In the past, some enormous roofs have collapsed due to load by snow, but luckily, none of the larger buildings were occupied at the time. That this waterpark was open and operating at the time of the collapse is most unfortunate.

My thoughts are with those who have experienced this tragedy.

Update:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/02/15/russia.roof.collapse/index.html

But does other glass deform in other areas in Russia due to differences in outdoor and indoor temperatures (such as on houses)? I would think that could be a reason, but moreso weight of snow and cut corners caused this tragedy.

I've seen/heard of glass failures due to extreme temperature differences, but a failure like that traditionally won't bring an entire structure down. Glass is rarely used as a structural element, and if a temperature difference caused the glass to fail, one would think only the glass would fail and not the structure.

-seth

Looks like corrupt contractors are being targeted.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-roof17.html