Bilgrami & PartnersConsulting Structural Engineer, Planners & Project Management

Services

Re-strengthening of old and damaged structures

The firm reports completing re-strengthening projects over the last 30 years. The work starts with finding out what the structure can actually carry.

The procedure

  1. Test the concrete by hammer test or core cutting.
  2. Check the condition and placing of steel in existing members with a scanner.
  3. Analyse the structural behaviour in view of the test results.
  4. Revise the design calculations and drawings, allowing for applied load, live load and frame behaviour.
  5. Re-strengthen the structure using the methods below.
  6. Check the structure after repair by applying the specified extra load.

Methods used

  • Demolishing dangerous portions with extra support in place
  • Column jacketing
  • Additional beams
  • RCC walls where required
  • Protecting slabs from rain
  • Protecting the structure from sewerage leakage
  • Repairing minor cracks with chemicals
  • Rectifying major cracks according to the failure condition
  • Studying and protecting against foundation settlement
  • Re-strengthening foundations

Cases

Work the firm reports completing

Adnan Corner

F.B. Area, Karachi

Some columns and foundations of an existing G+1 structure were removed and replaced. The firm reports the building has stood safely for 25 years and is in residential use as G+4.

Popular Juice factory

A slab deflected under excess loading. Columns were jacketed and intermediate beams added.

Mid Asia Grammar School

North Karachi

Rain water seepage had deflected a slab. The drainage was revised, the roof waterproofed and the slab rectified under the firm's supervision.

Flats, North Karachi

North Karachi

A chajja projection had settled along the front of the flats. It was redesigned and re-strengthened under full supervision, in coordination with the SBCA.

Iqbal Plaza

North Karachi

Sewerage seepage had damaged the steel and concrete of ground-floor columns. Old cast-iron pipes were replaced with PVC and the columns were jacketed.

G+4 building, Lyari

Lyari, Karachi

Seepage from a nala caused foundation settlement. The seepage was stopped and the foundation re-strengthened, in coordination with the SBCA.

Rajes Textile factory

Korangi, Karachi

Soil settlement affected the back of the factory. Columns were jacketed, the foundation re-strengthened and new columns added.

D.P-5 factory, North Karachi

North Karachi

Machine impact was making the factory building vibrate. RCC walls and internal beams were added under the firm's consultancy.

Structure strength testing, O&M R-13 building, K-Electric

Dual Fuel site, Karachi

A 2007 consultancy agreement with KESC, now K-Electric, for structure strength testing, design and drawings for the O&M R-13 building at the Dual Fuel site.

On site

Site photographs

Site photographs from the firm's work.

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