What Do These Cracks Mean?: A practical guide to identify the importance of cracks in buildings.

Visible cracks are a way that buildings communicate that they are under stress. However, not all cracks will lead to structural failure. If cracks are properly interpreted, then unnecessary remedial work can be avoided. The people who are best placed to notice building cracks are the building?s occupants. If an occupant does not understand the significance of a crack, then their response can range from unnecessary emotional distress over non-structural cracks, to an oblivious neglect of structural cracks. Ignoring evidence of structural distress can be fatal to a building?s occupants during natural hazards. Since every house may not benefit from having a comprehensive structural engineering assessment, building occupants need a tool to inform them of a crack?s significance. This book describes typical cracks that I have observed in concrete and masonry buildings impacted by a diverse range of hazards, including: earthquakes, hurricanes, waves, floods, landslides, volcanoes, excessive gravity loads, foundation settlement and subsidence. It also includes idealised cracks of failed structures. This book is intended to benefit building contractors, owners, occupants, and maintenance personnel who may notice cracks and want to know their importance.