INITIAL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ASSESSMENTsfi.fairfactories.org/sfi_dev_files/1/Audit_Files/Niagara...

INITIAL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ASSESSMENTREPORT (SIAR)

Factory Name: Niagara Textiles Ltd.

Address: Chandra Circle, Kaliakair Gazipur Gazipur DhakaBangladesh

Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014

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The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety /10

Introduction to the Report

The following report contains a site profile and summary of non-conformities identified during an onsite assessment commissioned by theAlliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (Alliance) and conducted by a third-party Qualified Assessment Firm (QAF). The assessment wasconducted against the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Assessment Protocols (APs) and Fire Safety and Structural Integrity Standard,which is harmonized with the factory assessment guidelines developed by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) forthe Bangladesh National Tripartite Plan of Action (NTPA). The goal of the Alliance process is to provide clear and practical technicalrequirements by which Bangladeshi Ready Made Garment (RMG) Factories producing for Alliance members may be consistently and fairlyevaluated for fire, structural, and electrical safety in a non-duplicative manner. Each assessment will prompt action plans that will be used byRMG factories to systematically and sustainably improve safety conditions for garment workers. Beyond tracking and reporting on actionsteps taken in a transparent manner, the Alliance organization and its members will seek to further support factory improvements throughtechnical assistance, training, implementation support for functional Worker Committees, and in some cases financial assistance and wagesupport for workers if factories are closed for remediation.

The contents of the report do not constitute a guarantee of compliance with the applicable laws, the Alliance Standard or the absolute orcontinued safety against fire, electrical and/or structural integrity issues that may lead to injury or loss of life. The report is designed to providea non-exhaustive summary of risk issues, based on a limited sampling and duration of time onsite by the named QAF. Neither the QAF northe Alliance can certify or guarantee the quality, outcome, or effectiveness of actions taken in response to the report.

For more information and report feedback please go to: www.bangladeshworkersafety.org.


Address: Chandra Circle, Kaliakair Gazipur Gazipur Dhaka Bangladesh

Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



GENERAL INFORMATION

General Information



Country: Bangladesh

Province: Dhaka

City: Gazipur

Zip Code:

Audit Duration: 13 Hours

Re-Audit: Re-Audit After 0 Months

Draft Report Date : 13 April 2014

Final Report Date : 14 May 2014

Are all Action ItemsFrom PreviousAssessmentCompleted?:

N/A

Buildings in Complex : Fifteen (15) Main building : 7 Ancillary building : 8

Number of BuildingLevels (Stories) :

Main Building 1: 7-storied; Main Building 2: 6-storied; Main Building 3: 3-storied; Main Building 4: one-storied;Shed-1: one storied; Shed-2: one storied; Shed-3: one storied

Approximate BuildingArea (SF) :

203,000 sft (total)

Date of BuildingConstruction :

Main Building 1: 2002 - 2006 Main Building 2: 2004 Main Building 3: 2006 Main Building 4: 2013 (underconstruction) Shed-1: 2001 Shed-2: 2007 Shed-3: 2001

Date of Last BuildingRenovation/Addition :

No Renovation/Addition

Is the Building mixeduse?:

No

Ancillary Structures inComplex :

Eight (8) buildings and ETP

Number of AncillaryLevels (Stories) :

Number of one storied ancillary structures: 7, One 2-storied RCC building used for training purposes

Approximate Ancillary 85,035 sft



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



Structures Area (SF) :

Number of Occupants : 1800

Exterior FacadeDescription :

Unreinforced brick masonry wall has been used as exterior wall in all of the main buildings. Some cracksvisible in main building -3 exterior masonry walls.

Structural SystemDescription :

Three (3) RCC buildings (Beam-Column Frame) and five (5) steel structure building



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



ASSESSMENT FINDINGS

Structural System Design

Question: Can credible structural documentation indicating general conformance with2006 BNBC or other comparable applicable international model building codebe produced?

Priority Level: Medium

Non-Compliance Level: 1

Description: In the design drawing it was not mentioned which Building code has beenused for design of the factory buildings, therefore the answer of this question is"No"

Source of Findings: Document Review: Provided Design Documents

Suggested Plan ofAction:

Engage a qualified structural engineer to develop the required documents toconfirm the structural integrity of the buildings. Documents must comply withAlliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.19 and 8.20

Suggested DeadlineDate:

25 Jun 2014

Standard: Reference Alliance Standards Part 8 Section 8.2 Structural Integrity of ExistingFactory Buildings

Question: Can documentation be provided that the building is compliant with therequirements for wind loading and storm surge loadings as detailed in BNBCPart 6 Section 1.5.3?



Description: There is no indication in the design drawing that the requirements for windloading and storm surge loadings, as detailed in BNBC Part 6 Section 1.5.3,are considered in design of the buildings

Source of Findings: Document Review: Provide design drawings


Engage a qualified structural engineer to confirm satisfactory structuralperformance of the buildings under wind loading


25 Jun 2014

Standard: 2006 BNBC Part 6 Section 1.5. Compliance may be waived if the FactoryOwner provides satisfactory evidence of a cyclone operations plan thatincludes full evacuation of the factory in advance of any approaching cyclone"

Question: Are Certificates of Occupancy available for review?



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



Priority Level: Low


Description: Occupancy certificate was not asked for during pre-assessmentcommunication. No occupancy certificate is available for review.

Source of Findings: Document Review: Occupancy certificate was not provided to the assessors.


Provide occupancy certificate for review


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.3 Preliminary Structural Assessment

Structural System Construction

Question: Is the structural system free of distress, separations, or cracking that indicateslack of performance or overstress of the lateral load-carrying system?

Priority Level: High


Description: Cracks in beams and slabs were seen at all levels of RCC building M1

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: Photo of crack in beam in Building M1


Engage a qualified structural engineer to provide additional investigation intothe areas of distress or cracking and provide a remediation plan if required


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.3.3

Question: Is the structure free from any major/progressive distress?

Priority Level: High


Description: Signs of cracks in beams and slabs were observed in building M1

Source of Findings: Photograph: Crack in slab in main building #1


Engage a qualified structural engineer to confirm the causes of such distressand suggest appropriate remedial measures.


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standards Part 8 Section 8.3.3



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



Question: Are all non-structural elements suspended from, attached to, or resting atopthe structure adequately anchored and braced to resist earthquake forces?



Description: M1 building has 3 free standing columns on roof which are susceptible toearthquake. All the storage racks are not adequately anchored.

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: i)Photograph of free standing column ii)Photograph ofunbraced storage racks.


Develop engineered plan to brace all non-structural elements to resistearthquake forces to comply with the BNBC and Alliance Standard.Installanchor and braces as shown on approved plans and Free standing columnsare asked to remove


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standards Part 8 Section 8.18 Seismic Bracing of Key Non-StructuralElements and 2006 BNBC Part 6

Question: Have all areas of needed maintenance, including areas with efflorescence,dampness, standing water on rooftops, and corrosion been addressed.



Description: Dampness was found in the exterior wall of The training building.

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: Photograph of dampness in wall of training building


Under guidance from a qualified structural engineer, address all areas ofneeded maintenance by correcting the identified issues


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.26 Durability and Maintenance

Question: Is the building free of active signs of water intrusion or ponding due to lack ofperformance of the façade system?

Priority Level: Low


Description: An ancillary building (training building) has been seen with active signs ofwater intrusion/ponding

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: Photograph of water intrusion in wall of training building

Suggested Plan of Repair the exterior facade system to prevent water intrusion



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



Action:


06 Aug 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.26 Durability and Maintenance

Question: The exterior façade is free of cracking.

Priority Level: Low

Non-Compliance Level:

Description: Some cracks in the non-structural façade were observed in building M3. Butthose were not due to over stress.So no CAP is required.

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: photograph of exterior wall crack in Building M3


No action needed.


Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.2

Structural Safety Programs

Question: Is a program in place to ensure that the live loads for which a floor or roof is orhas been designed will not be exceeded?



Description: No such program was found in the factory during inspection

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: Visual Inspection


Develop a program to ensure that all live loads for which a floor or roof hasbeen designed for will not be exceeded. The designated Load Manager shalloversee this program and ensure it is enforced


11 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 13 Section 13.7 and Part 8 Section 8.9.

Question: Have Load Plans been prepared for each floor documenting the actualmaximum operational loading that is intended and/or allowable on each floor.

Priority Level: Low


Description: No load plan was available



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



Source of Findings: Document Review: No floor load plan was provided


Have a qualified structural engineer prepare load plans including theinformation required in Section 8.20 of the Alliance Standard� as well aslanguage that these load plans should be clearly displayed on each buildinglevel per Alliance Standards sectio


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.10 Floor Loading Plans (Load Plans)

Question: Are Floor Load Plans posted as required?

Priority Level: Low


Description: No floor load plan was available

Source of Findings: Document Review: No floor load plan was provided to the assessors


Have a qualified structural engineer prepare load plans including theinformation required in Section 8.20 of the Alliance Standardâ€� as well aslanguage that these load plans should be clearly displayed on each buildinglevel per Alliance Standards sect


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.20.5.3

Question: Are areas used for storage of work materials and work products, clearlymarked to indicate the acceptable loading limits as described in the Load Planfor that floor?

Priority Level: Low


Description: No marking was found during inspection to indicate the acceptable loadinglimits.

Source of Findings: Document Review: No load plan is available, Visual Assessment, DocumentReview: No load plan is available, Visual Assessment


Prepare floor load plan and provide signage or appropriate markings at allareas used for storage to indicate the acceptable loading limits detailed in theLoad Plan.


25 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standard Part 8 Section 8.11 Floor Load Markings



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



Question: Is a designated representative (Factory Load Manager), who is onsite full time,trained regarding the structural floor capacity, and serves as an ongoingvendor resource and monitor of operational factory floor loadings?

Priority Level: Low


Description: No designated representative (Factory Load Manager)was appointed in thefactory.

Source of Findings: Visual Assessment: No Factory Load Manager was seen during theassessment


Designate a representative as the Factory Load manager. The Factory Ownershall ensure that at least one individual, the Factory Load manager who islocated onsite full time at the factory, is trained in calculating operational loadcharacteristics of t


06 Jun 2014

Standard: Alliance Standards Part 8 Section 8.9 Factory Load Manager



Assessor: EIMS

Date: 02 Apr 2014



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