CASE STUDIES CONSTRUCTION FORENSICS: FAILURES, RISKS ... · case studies construction forensics: failures, risks & liability stuart sokoloff, p.e. president construction engineering

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construction technology services

CASE STUDIESCONSTRUCTION FORENSICS: FAILURES, RISKS & LIABILITY

STUART SOKOLOFF, P.E. PRESIDENT CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES P.C.(CTS GROUP)

●N.Y. CITY: (212) 239-0135 ●LONG ISLAND: (516) 746-0072 ●BOCA RATON, FL: (561)465-2889

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construction technology servicesOpinions

a. Half empty?

b. Half full?

c. The water is poisoned

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construction technology servicesValue Methodology

Value Engineering What to construct

“Value Construction” How to construct

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construction technology servicesValue Engineering

• Design Applicability

• Value / (Cost)

• Risk

• Constructability

• Safety

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Risk: The chance of a negative event

Mitigation: Reduces the chance

Avoidance: Eliminates the chance

Liability: With every event

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construction technology servicesFORMAL RISK

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construction technology servicesINFORMAL RISK

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construction technology servicesRISKSDesigner Project Contractor

(Designer & Contractor)

Approach Schedule Changed ConditionsErrors & Omissions Staging (With Owner)Design To Cost Access Delay (Schedule)

Constructability Means & MethodsTemporary Structures

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construction technology servicesRISK RISK DESIGN (VE) CONSTRUCTION

COST

SCHEDULE/DELAY

QUALITY

LIABILITY

INJURY/DEATH

PROPERTY DAMAGE

FAILURE/COLLAPSE

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BASICS OF A PRODUCTIVE VA STUDY

IN CONTROL OF:

Time allocation

“Productive” days

Risk evaluation: DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Idea selection (surgeons & shoemakers)

NOT IN CONTROL OF:

Quality of design

Intervention of owner

Overall time

Quality VE Productivity (V= )1DQ

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construction technology servicesREGISTER

MITIGATION

RISK ITEM PROBABILITY X SEVERITY = RATING

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PROBABILITY MODEL (MONTE CARLO, ETC)

SINGLE OR GROUPING (AVG. P)

a) RANGE/LIKELIHOOD % CHANCEb) ESTIMATE IMPACT RANGE/LIMITS

c) COMPUTER SIMULATIONS REVENUE SCHEDULE COST

IMPACT

P

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construction technology servicesRISK IN VA: MAKE TIME!!

• Information • Function analysis [fast: as fast as possible]• Idea generation• Idea selection

• Write-up • Presentation

RISKIDEA GENERATION & SELECTION REPRISE

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VA & RISK COMPATIBLE

VA IMPROVES VALUE V = F$

VARIABLE

VARIABLE

RISK MITIGATION REDUCES THE CHANCE OF A NEGATIVE EVENT

R =F$

SUMMARY

PROBABILITY

PROBABILITY

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construction technology servicesFORMAT

CASE FAILURE RISK CAUSEMITIGATION/AVOIDANCE LIABILITY

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construction technology servicesCONSTRUCTION FORENSICS:


World Trade Center, NYC

Access Mat Slip,Trip, Fall

Mud covered mat

Dewater & excavate

ContractorOwner

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Building Foundation,NJ

Piles & Mat Foundation failure

Design & installation

Proper Eng & QA

EngineerContractor

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2ND Ave, NYC Tilt Collapse Adjacent Demolition

Reinforce Building

Pre-Existing

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E. 13th St., NYC Underpin Building crack Poor underpinning

Proper design Engineer

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CASE Failure RISK CAUSEMITIGATION/AVOIDANCE LIABILITY

Englewood, NJ Paving Joints Damaged Courts

Improper sealing of jt

Proper construction

Contractor

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East River Barge, NY

Block fall Injury Improper rewiring

Rewire block set on barge

Crane Op. Owner

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Demolition Collapse HIGH Under investigation

Could have, Should have

Contractor

CONSTRUCTION FORENSICS:

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Throgs Neck Bridge, NY

Platform Shield

Fall, Injury, Death

Improper insp procedure

Replace shield

Eng./Cont./Owner

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Verrazano Platform, NY

Fall Fall, Death Not following procedures

Supervision Worker

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construction technology servicesExample: Verrazano Platform

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“Isn’t it amazing how things get done despite all of our efforts”-Irving “The General” Roth Circa 1979

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Issues/Discussions

• Liabilities: Engineers/Architects/Contractors/Owners

• OSHA: General Contractors

•NY State Labor Law: LL 200: Contractors/Owners who controls the workLL 240(1): Scaffold/GravityLL 241.6: Specific violation of Industrial Code

• State/City/Local: Building Codes

Documents

CASE STUDIES CONSTRUCTION FORENSICS: FAILURES, RISKS ... · case studies construction forensics: failures, risks & liability stuart sokoloff, p.e. president construction engineering