Category: Structural Engineering

  • The Aussie Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) Cladding Crisis (Part II)

    The Aussie Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) Cladding Crisis (Part II)

    MELBOURNESpencer Street Tower, MelbournePhoto credit: The Age, SIMONE FOX KOOB   PART II – HOW DO OWNERS HANDLE THEIR LIABILITY ARISING FROM THE EXISTENCE OF ACP ON THEIR BUILDINGS? Recently, the Lacrosse Tower fire of 2014 was in court. Judgement was found against four parties; the Builder, Architect, Fire Consultant and Principal Certifier. The largest…

  • The Aussie Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) Cladding Crisis (Part I)

    The Aussie Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) Cladding Crisis (Part I)

    MELBOURNE, LACROSSE TOWERPHOTO CREDIT: ARCHITECTUREAU, Metropolitan Fire Brigade.   PART I – HOW DID IT HAPPEN?ACP is popular all over the world. Notable known failures include: Lacrosse Tower, Melbourne in 2014 Dubai Hotel Fire (NYE) in 2016 Grenfell Tower, London in 2017 Spencer Street Tower, Melbourne in 2019 How many others have been kept quiet?…

  • Six Key Points in Any Proposed Changes to Building Regulation

    Six Key Points in Any Proposed Changes to Building Regulation

    140 Sussex Street, Sydney. Designed by Rickard Engineering in 1989. As good as new in 2019. I was interested to read the view of Lynda Kypriadakis (Australian Financial Review – 13 July 2019) regarding the suggestion that we should return building control to the District Building Surveyors. The reader may be interested to know that…

  • The Fall & Fall of the Australian Building Industry

    The Fall & Fall of the Australian Building Industry

    CHAPTER 2: DEVELOPMENTS JANUARY-JUNE 2019 Recognising that there is a problem – Why did it take so long? • We now have two large residential tower projects which have caught the imagination of the Australian media and the Government. It is ironic that all of the endeavours in the last seven years and more to…

  • Energy Efficiency in Buildings

    Energy Efficiency in Buildings

    Europe is leading the way, it’s time the rest of the world caught up! In light of the growing issue of global warming, a movement towards renewable energy sources and a goal to decrease CO2 emissions, the construction industry needs to better realise its responsibility to play its part. The building sector is responsible for…

  • Can do, will do

    Can do, will do

    Every company will nominate that they can design anything; very few companies can match the range of skills within the field of Civil and Structural Engineering that are offered by Rickard Engineering. Since 1984, the company has built its reputation on being a small (and therefore personalised) firm of Civil and Structural Engineers.   Our…