Analysis of Collapses

This chapter presents the procedural, enabling and triggering causes o f temporary structures collapses,with an emphasis on falsework and scaffolding. The review into collapses described in Chapter 2 is extended by investigating in detail the causes of collapse in temporary structures and providing comprehensive lists of faults which can occur during design, erection, use and disassembly of these structures.As bridge falsework collapses are more commonly reported, with usually greater financial implications and greater risks to life, a survey, conducted by Andre, is summarised showing that these collapses occur regularly throughout the world. The chapter concludes with the presentation o f two examples of forensic analyses, namely of a scaffold collapse and of a bridge falsework collapse.