Defects have been identified in the structure of several Dublin office buildings.
In recent weeks five separate office blocks in Dublin city centre have been found to have defective concrete in their facades.
Merrion Hall on Strand Road where the Insurance Corporation of Ireland is headquartered has structurally defective concrete.
Pierce Pigott of An Foras Forbartha (the National Institute for Physical Planning and Construction Research) says that buildings must be designed and constructed with both external and internal environments in mind.
If any of these factors are ignored, then difficulties can arise.
Civil engineer Joss Lynam says that a number of factors apply with regard to the quality of the concrete used in a building. Once defects are identified they can be repaired,
It’s then as good as new, but of course you’ve had to spend money to get it right.
An office block represents an investment by an insurance company or a pension fund, so a problem with a building causes issues for them, says Frank McDonald. It is not clear who will pay the repairs bill as many of the companies who built the pre-cast have gone into liquidation.
The owners are trying to look for other scapegoats on which to hang the problem.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 11 July 1983. The reporter is Jackie Hayden.
