While the grim and horrific recovery efforts continue around the clock at Champlain Towers in Surfside, FL for the victims of the condo collapse, a new report reveals that an engineering analysis in 2018 found structural damage in the building's concrete. The analysis by private consultant engineer Frank Morabito pointed to a major flaw in the building's waterproofing system that prevented water from running off. In addition, the article notes:
"Morabito wrote that 'failure to replace the waterproofing in the near future will cause the extent of the concrete deterioration to expand exponentially.'
Replacing the waterproofing would cause a major disturbance to residents and prove to be 'extremely expensive,' he said at the time.
Morabito also pointed out the 'abundant' cracking and crumbling that was apparent in the walls, columns and beams of the building’s underground parking garage.
'Though some of this damage is minor, most of the concrete deterioration needs to be repaired in a timely fashion,' he wrote." (our emphasis)
This report follows information that the 40 year old building was scheduled for a engineering recertification, and a study by a Florida International University professor that indicated the building was gradually sinking over time.
These reports point to both major waterproofing design flaws (perhaps due to cost cutting) initially, followed by years of neglect and / or deferred maintenance (cost cutting again) on the concrete foundations. There are similar aging buildings not just in Florida, but up and down the eastern seaboard that need to undergo an evaluation immediately, and not wait for a comparable disaster to happen first.
