Structural Audit

What Is a Structural Audit?

Since the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, there has been heightened awareness of the lack of structural safety in many factory facilities, particularly in developing countries. Tragically, structural safety failures continue today, with all-too-regular reports of factory fires, explosions and collapses. More often than not, these tragedies would have been prevented if regular checks and maintenance had been carried out. There are many factors that can increase the level of risk in factory facilities:

• Extreme weather, such as monsoon rains or heavy snowfall.

• Natural events, such as earthquakes.

• Vibration caused by machinery or construction work in the area surrounding a building..

• Water leaks in walls.

• Structural additions, such as mezzanine floors or additional storage areas.

• Heavy loads, such as the addition of water storage tanks on building roofs, floor storage & racks.

• Exposure to corrosive chemicals.

• Repurposing of a building to serve a different function to what it was designed for.

A structural audit is the first step in identifying structural safety risks and putting preventative measures in place that will protect the lives of those working in a factory facility.

Our Solution

QIMA offers structural audits to ensure that your suppliers' industrial and commercial premises are structurally safe, are in accordance with relevant building codes, and otherwise present no danger to employee life and health.

QIMA's structural audits are conducted by licensed and highly experienced structural engineers who possess expertise in both design and construction supervision.

Our Audit Protocol Covers:

• Background information/documentation: Detailed building description provision, and verification of structural certifications and construction approvals.

• Load conditions: Floor by floor assessment of load management, identification of 'at risk' loads and misuse of the building; application of non-destructive testing (NDT).

• Structural system: Description of structural forms, building foundation system and alteration review.

• Structural defects, damage, distress, deformation or deterioration: Assessment of the foundations, super structure, floors and roof.

• Plan and alignment: Verification in key areas of the factory that dimensions are compliant with the design plan.

• Maintenance and building exposure to aggressive environmental conditions: Evaluation of building maintenance, drainage and exposure to chemicals that could affect structural safety.

• Further structural surveys and checks: Additional assessment of potentially dangerous structural features, such as water tanks, lifts and safety barriers.

• Fire safety: Full verification of fire safety compliance, based on local legal requirements and best practices in the industry.

• Electrical safety: Full verification of electrical safety compliance, based on local legal requirements and best practices in the industry.

• Thermographic scan: Verify the temperature of key electrical components to identify potential risks related to overload or loose connections.

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What You will Receive Following an Audit:

Post-audit, you will receive a comprehensive structural audit report. This will include a grading of the factory’s safety level, a detailed explanation of any risks present and any necessary supporting photographic evidence. Our auditor will also provide a corrective action plan, based on the findings of the audit, which will detail any steps needed for remediation, such as repairs, retrofitting measures, strengthening of structural elements or replacement of damaged or faulty components.

Follow up Services:

Beyond the audit, we also help factories to correct potential risks. We can help to establish an improvement program for each factory and then follow-up to ensure that the necessary corrective action is taken.

We can also provide other follow-up services, such as:

• Live load analysis through laboratory material testing and/or on-site stress tests.

• Post-earthquake inspection.

• Simulation performance testing.

• Fire safety and electrical plan redesign.

• Review geotechnical reports to support factories on their remediations.

• Custom onsite training, e-learning and workshops on structural safety best practices, as well as specific structural safety topics such as load analysis and fire safety. These ultimately help suppliers to achieve structural safety compliance.

Why Perform a Structural Audit?

A QIMA structural audit will ensure that working conditions are safe in your supplier’s factory facilities. You can use a structural audit to:

• Ensure safe working conditions and prevent injury and loss of life.

• Receive an accurate picture of the current conditions in your supplier’s buildings.

• Identify critical areas that require immediate action.

• Extend the life of buildings through preventative and corrective measures such as repairs and retrofitting.

• Comply with statutory requirements (construction and design codes by country).