302 Collapsed Structures

Question 1

What are the two main headings of Structural collapse

Answer 1

Natural & Human

Question 2

What are the Natural causes of Collapse?

Answer 2

• Earthquake.
• Hurricane.
• Lightning.
• Flooding.
• Subsidence.

Question 3

What are the Human causes of collapse?

Answer 3

• Premises under renovation.
• Accidental impact.
• Arson.
• Terrorist induced (aeroplane impact, vehicle impact. etc.).
• Accidental gas explosion.
• On many occasions the collapse will occur without warning, leaving casualties little or no time to escape.

Question 4

What are the two classes of building when dealing with a structural collapse?

Answer 4

Framed - where a skeletal frame of steel or concrete bears the weight of the building
Unframed - where the walls bear the weight of the building

Question 5

What are the 3 categories of collapse?

Answer 5

Internal
External
Total collapse

Question 6

What are the 4 types of Internal Collapse?

Answer 6

Pancake collapse - floors fall onto each other causing other floors to fail
Lean to collapse - where one wall collapses, causing a triangle void to be created
V collapse - Where the floor fails in the middle
Tent collapse - where a floor fails at both sides but a central wall hold up the middle of the floor

Question 7

What are the 3 types of External collapse?

Answer 7

90 degree collapse - where an external wall falls out to a distance equal to its height
Curtain collapse - Where a wall collapses straight down forming a pile of debris
Inward/Outward collapse - where a wall cracks in the middle causing the top half to fall inwards and lower half to fall out wards

Question 8

Who are the greater London authorities concerned with structural collapse?

Answer 8

• The City Corporation
• The ‘inner’ London Borough Councils, acting through the Dangerous Structures Engineer
• The ‘outer’ London Borough Councils, acting through the Dangerous Structures Engineer

Question 9

If a structure becomes dangerous as a result of fire who should be contacted?

Answer 9

LOC - London operations centre who will mobilise a dangerous structures engineer

Question 10

Who will investigate a collapsed structure?

Answer 10

The Police and HSE (Health and safety Executive)

Question 11

What are the 5 USAR modules?

Answer 11

• Module 1 – Structural collapse
• Module 2 - Major transport
• Module 3 – Breaching and Breaking
• Module 4 – Multi purpose vehicle (MPV)
• Module 5 – Timber

Question 12

What are the 6 stages of Rescue (REPEAT)?

Answer 12

The Six Stages of Rescue
R
Reconnaissance and survey.
E
Elimination of utilities
P
Primary surface search and rescue
E
Exploration of voids and spaces
A
Access by selected debris removal
T
Terminate by general debris removal

Question 13

What needs to be established if USAR are attending a collapsed structure?

Answer 13

A separate USAR RVP