Engineering Considerations for Lift-Slab Construction

In 1987, the collapse of L' Ambiance Plaza in Bridgeport, Connecticut demonstrated the need to re-evaluate the engineering of lift-slab construction and determine what is needed to make it safe. This re-evaluation was made by The Task Committee on Lift-Slab Construction of the Technical Council on Forensic Engineering of the American Society of Civil Engineers. "Engineering Considerations for Lift-Slab Construction" is based on the work of the task committee; it addresses engineering requirements for lift-slab construction and presents recommendations to engineers, architects, and lift-slab contractors for its safe use. Included are: concepts and details of various lift-slab systems; theories on the cause of the l' ambiance plaza collapse; discussions on other failures and problems; considerations and recommendations for lifting collars and lifting equipment; considerations and recommendations for stability; recommendations for construction loads; discussions and recommendations for preventing progressive collapse; and considerations for planning and execution of lift-slab projects.