FARK.com: (7103833) Recipe for disaster: Start digging underground parking lot AFTER you've finished constructing an apartment building and people have moved in (w/photos)

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		Recipe for disaster: Start digging underground parking lot AFTER you've finished constructing an apartment building and people have moved in (w/photos) (dailymail.co.uk)		63
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Millions_Knives		2012-05-14 01:49:12 AM

Fark doesn't have a Scary Dumbass tag yet?

Mock26		2012-05-14 01:49:38 AM

Yeah China!

Britney Spear's Speculum		2012-05-14 01:53:39 AM

My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

Luneward		2012-05-14 01:54:53 AM

Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

True. But I'd imagine we have far more robust building codes than China did. I'd imagine the college had to submit all kinds of plans and studies about it before they could actually try to do so.

SuperT		2012-05-14 01:54:55 AM

Not for nothing, but this isn't that scary.

Harry_Seldon		2012-05-14 01:55:18 AM

Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

I am sure they did the same engineering studies, planning, and permitting in China.

AverageAmericanGuy		2012-05-14 01:56:17 AM

Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

You're buzzing my harsh, dude.

bittermang		2012-05-14 01:56:17 AM

Luneward: Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

True. But I'd imagine we have far more robust building codes than China did. I'd imagine the college had to submit all kinds of plans and studies about it before they could actually try to do so.

Well you can imagine all day, but that doesn't make you Peter farking Pan.

Get back to me after the structure has collapsed. Until then we're just outsourcing concerned neighbor panic to the Chinese too.

Mock26		2012-05-14 01:59:37 AM

Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

But did they build it beneath buildings that were 6+ stories tall? Or was it just an underground garage with nothing but grass on top when they were done?

miss diminutive		2012-05-14 02:03:10 AM

No, no. Dig up, stupid.

Bathia_Mapes		2012-05-14 02:04:58 AM

Millions_Knives: Fark doesn't have a Scary Dumbass tag yet?

No, but IMHO it should.

Bathia_Mapes		2012-05-14 02:06:58 AM

Harry_Seldon: Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

I am sure they did the same engineering studies, planning, and permitting in China.

I highly doubt it.

FTA...China has been hit by a number of scandals in recent years in which high-rise buildings have simply toppled over because of shoddy workmanship and planning.

In 2009, a newly-built 13-story apartment building in Shanghai fell over without warning, killing a construction worker.

Pray 4 Mojo		2012-05-14 02:07:02 AM

I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

Daily Fail.

Need to stop clicking these.

WhyteRaven74		2012-05-14 02:07:50 AM

Bathia_Mapes: In 2009, a newly-built 13-story apartment building in Shanghai fell over without warning, killing a construction worker.

I remember the Fark thread about that.

wildcardjack		2012-05-14 02:07:56 AM

I suspect they're digging down to build a parking garage under the open space. Soil like that would indicate foundation piers, so you can't just dig under the building.

Otherwise we are in for a viral video in a few weeks when the building falls into the pit. I wonder why they didn't build a parking garage into the foundation to begin with. Heck, full footprint and I bet they could have done half as apartments.

WhyteRaven74		2012-05-14 02:10:05 AM

Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

It's China, there's a good chance they are.

wildcardjack: I wonder why they didn't build a parking garage into the foundation to begin with

It's China.

Bathia_Mapes		2012-05-14 02:11:44 AM

WhyteRaven74: Bathia_Mapes: In 2009, a newly-built 13-story apartment building in Shanghai fell over without warning, killing a construction worker.

I remember the Fark thread about that.

Yep.

Comsamvimes		2012-05-14 02:13:23 AM

Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

Daily Fail.

Need to stop clicking these.

Well, this *is* China we're talking about, the place that brought us this:
i.imgur.com

/My first guess as to where this was taking place when I read the headline was "China"

Bathia_Mapes		2012-05-14 02:14:18 AM

This article from 2009 shows what happened when they decided to dig the underground garage after the construction of the apartment building was complete.

Basically they're doing the same thing with the apartment building in the thread that they did in 2009. It will not end well.

Pray 4 Mojo		2012-05-14 02:15:33 AM

WhyteRaven74: Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

It's China, there's a good chance they are.

wildcardjack: I wonder why they didn't build a parking garage into the foundation to begin with

It's China.

I hear you... but you can see the foundation piers right there in the picture.

AverageAmericanGuy		2012-05-14 02:16:11 AM

Bathia_Mapes		2012-05-14 02:17:21 AM

Pray 4 Mojo: WhyteRaven74: Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

It's China, there's a good chance they are.

wildcardjack: I wonder why they didn't build a parking garage into the foundation to begin with

It's China.

I hear you... but you can see the foundation piers right there in the picture.

Please click on the link in my previous post. You'll see that having foundation piers won't help.

LoneWolf343		2012-05-14 02:21:25 AM

Comsamvimes: Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

Daily Fail.

Need to stop clicking these.

Well, this *is* China we're talking about, the place that brought us this:
[i.imgur.com image 460x288]

/My first guess as to where this was taking place when I read the headline was "China"

Wow, that doesn't even look real.

Pray 4 Mojo		2012-05-14 02:23:09 AM

Bathia_Mapes: Pray 4 Mojo: WhyteRaven74: Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

It's China, there's a good chance they are.

wildcardjack: I wonder why they didn't build a parking garage into the foundation to begin with

It's China.

I hear you... but you can see the foundation piers right there in the picture.

Please click on the link in my previous post. You'll see that having foundation piers won't help.

I know... not defending Chinese construction methods... just expressing my distaste for the "Mail". And that they "forgot" to build a car park.

Did they stand that building back up? That'd be pretty neat.

Harry_Seldon		2012-05-14 02:23:17 AM

Bathia_Mapes: Harry_Seldon: Britney Spear's Speculum: My community college built an underground parking garage :::gasp::: 30 years after the place was completed. The college didn't cave in.

I am sure they did the same engineering studies, planning, and permitting in China.

I highly doubt it.

FTA...China has been hit by a number of scandals in recent years in which high-rise buildings have simply toppled over because of shoddy workmanship and planning.

In 2009, a newly-built 13-story apartment building in Shanghai fell over without warning, killing a construction worker.

Do you think they just thought, "Hey, who forgot to dig the hole to park the cars? Oh fark it, let's just do it now before the equipment lease is up. Just use the original plans, and eyeball it."

Point02GPA		2012-05-14 02:23:45 AM

Building 柒 Never Forget.

Harry_Seldon		2012-05-14 02:25:32 AM

Pray 4 Mojo		2012-05-14 02:25:34 AM

Harry_Seldon: Do you think they just thought, "Hey, who forgot to dig the hole to park the cars? Oh fark it, let's just do it now before the equipment lease is up. Just use the original plans, and eyeball it."

The chief engineer was too busy trying to find out who peed in his Coke to notice they forgot to build it.

/obscure?

drjekel_mrhyde		2012-05-14 02:27:50 AM

It's not like we have Big Dig problems here or farking bridges falling apart

LordOfThePings		2012-05-14 02:33:05 AM

BarkingUnicorn		2012-05-14 02:35:21 AM

I didn't even have to click to know it was China.

ongbok		2012-05-14 02:36:00 AM

AverageAmericanGuy: Bathia_Mapes: This article from 2009 shows what happened when they decided to dig the underground garage after the construction of the apartment building was complete.

Basically they're doing the same thing with the apartment building in the thread that they did in 2009. It will not end well.

Well, we don't know if it will end well or not just yet.

Are we going to open up betting on it? If so what's the over under that it won't end well.

Harry_Seldon		2012-05-14 02:36:22 AM

drjekel_mrhyde: It's not like we have Big Dig problems here or farking bridges falling apart

The Big Dig was an engineering nightmare no matter how you look at it.

zulius		2012-05-14 02:38:01 AM

/most appropriate...
/lukewarm...

JudgeMuttonChops		2012-05-14 02:39:38 AM

LordOfThePings: [fc08.deviantart.net image 410x300]

you magnificent bastard. I was playing that on a C64 emulator the other day.
/CSB

Jument		2012-05-14 02:54:17 AM

Harry_Seldon: Comsamvimes: Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

Daily Fail.

Need to stop clicking these.

Well, this *is* China we're talking about, the place that brought us this:
[i.imgur.com image 460x288]

/My first guess as to where this was taking place when I read the headline was "China"

How the heck it that even possible? I have built towers out of popsicle sticks that stood up better.

Perhaps you should tell the Chinese about this amazing "popsicle stick" contruction technology of yours!

Harry_Seldon		2012-05-14 02:58:04 AM

Jument: Perhaps you should tell the Chinese about this amazing "popsicle stick" contruction technology of yours!

No way, I am protecting my intellectual property. One whiff of my superior engineering plans, and "let a thousand popsicle stick buildings bloom" will become the Chinese mantra for the next decade.

brimed03		2012-05-14 03:16:12 AM

They could dig it from the other end. They just need to finish the hole I started in the back yard when I was 8.

buckler		2012-05-14 03:32:53 AM

Pray 4 Mojo: I find it funny that anybody thinks the apartment buildings are just sitting on dirt and will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

Daily Fail.

Need to stop clicking these.

Of course not. The buildings are sitting on foundations that will tip over if you dig a big hole next to them.

Jon iz teh kewl		2012-05-14 03:43:14 AM

and i should care about this how?

if the building tumbled it would be during the day
when every china man, woman, and child is at work.

Rik01		2012-05-14 03:57:02 AM

Stupid is not limited to China.

Where I live, we're right on the Atlantic Ocean. There's a long barrier island reached by bridges, where the wealthy have decided to clump. For decades the city allowed no buildings over 4 stories, especially along the beach -- until along came a condo company with ample bribe money.

Smack up against the beach, they built a 10 story condo, complete with underground garage.

Now, this is hurricane country. Beaches have been known to change radically year by year. The water level, especially on the barrier island, is shallow. Dig down 6 feet and water shows up.

The underground garage is about 10 feet below the water level. It also has this great, wide, inclined open ramp to enter and exit. During hurricanes, it acts like the sluice on a dam. They have sump pumps in the garage to pump out rain water -- which get overwhelmed when hurricanes dump basically an ocean in there all at once.

They've had to reinforce the ocean side because the wandering beach was getting closer and closer to the foundations. Hurricane Katrina and Jeanne blew in a lot of the big apartment picture windows -- boarded up with plywood or steel shutters.

They also ate away so much of the beach that we wondered (and hoped) the tower would fall into the sea.

It didn't.

They fixed everything and the darn place is full to capacity.

I'm just waiting for the next hurricane. Though no other 10 story condos have been built since. Five story ones, and those are not right at the waters edge.

The members of the zoning board who approved the building long ago retired to their luxury homes out of state. It's interesting how they could afford such expensive places on their moderate salaries.

Mock26		2012-05-14 04:35:56 AM

Rik01: Stupid is not limited to China.

Where I live, we're right on the Atlantic Ocean. There's a long barrier island reached by bridges, where the wealthy have decided to clump. For decades the city allowed no buildings over 4 stories, especially along the beach -- until along came a condo company with ample bribe money.

Smack up against the beach, they built a 10 story condo, complete with underground garage.

Now, this is hurricane country. Beaches have been known to change radically year by year. The water level, especially on the barrier island, is shallow. Dig down 6 feet and water shows up.

The underground garage is about 10 feet below the water level. It also has this great, wide, inclined open ramp to enter and exit. During hurricanes, it acts like the sluice on a dam. They have sump pumps in the garage to pump out rain water -- which get overwhelmed when hurricanes dump basically an ocean in there all at once.

They've had to reinforce the ocean side because the wandering beach was getting closer and closer to the foundations. Hurricane Katrina and Jeanne blew in a lot of the big apartment picture windows -- boarded up with plywood or steel shutters.

They also ate away so much of the beach that we wondered (and hoped) the tower would fall into the sea.

It didn't.

They fixed everything and the darn place is full to capacity.

I'm just waiting for the next hurricane. Though no other 10 story condos have been built since. Five story ones, and those are not right at the waters edge.

The members of the zoning board who approved the building long ago retired to their luxury homes out of state. It's interesting how they could afford such expensive places on their moderate salaries.

That is an understatement. The barrier islands are actually "migrating." Sand erodes off one end and is deposited on the other.

KyDave		2012-05-14 05:50:26 AM

Sooo... a story about what? A man thinks that something bad might happen, but hasn't. And pics to show it didn't?? Hard hitting journalism, alright.

Guess they're waiting for, "See, we told ya' so!" bragging rights.

/a'rite, then. Mmhmm
//got any of them french fried pataters?

Smidge204		2012-05-14 06:07:19 AM

Comsamvimes: Well, this *is* China we're talking about, the place that brought us this:
[i.imgur.com image 460x288]

To their credit, the building is remarkably undamaged from the fall. Just jack it back up, wash it off and repoint some of the brickwork and you're good to go.
=Smidge=

The Envoy		2012-05-14 06:19:05 AM

Bathia_Mapes: This article from 2009 shows what happened when they decided to dig the underground garage after the construction of the apartment building was complete.

Basically they're doing the same thing with the apartment building in the thread that they did in 2009. It will not end well.

The problem in that story was also compounded by the fact that they used hollow concrete pipes as foundations! Look at those things! No re-bar, just a chicken-wire frame it looks like. We've probably all got something similar carrying waste in our office buildings, but certainly not holding them up. That's my favourite "shoddy building" story.

Day_Old_Dutchie		2012-05-14 06:30:31 AM

Bathia_Mapes: This article from 2009 shows what happened when they decided to dig the underground garage after the construction of the apartment building was complete.

Basically they're doing the same thing with the apartment building in the thread that they did in 2009. It will not end well.

Of course they're safe. There's absolutely no doubt about that. They are as ,strong, solid and as safe as any other building method in this country provided of course people believe in them.

Jon H		2012-05-14 06:43:01 AM

"when the building above it was already finished"

I think we are looking at it all wrong. The guy that finished the building before the garage was started is pretty darn fast. We need more of this.

Arkanaut		2012-05-14 06:57:32 AM

China?

*reads article*

Of course.

Although, it is rather short on detail - for starters, where in China? It's a big country, you know. TFA also mentions something about a rainy season, knowing where it is would inform the curious reader about how big a problem this would be.

Satanic_Hamster		2012-05-14 07:01:23 AM

Daily Fail. Likely they were just doing excavation on that lot.

THE GREAT NAME		2012-05-14 07:10:43 AM

Everything you know about China is false. Even the Chinese know very little about China. The most knowledgable are those who say the only thing they know for sure is that they know nothing, and only gut feeling tells them that is something to be worried about.

I suspect, but cannot be sure since if I was I would be wrong (see above) is that China is like an onion, with layers of

(a) Unquestioning conformism, built up from centuries of beurocratization following China's period of (relative) success a couple of millennia ago and
(b) Orwellian socio-economic facades, created during major government actions over the last few decades, eg the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution and the new Socialist Market Economy.

These seem to alternate like the layers of an onion, so that when you try to interpolate what must be going on at the centre, you have no idea, and moreover is impossible to understand the issues for any common Chinaman beyond basic survival.

All you know for sure is, everybody's opinion about China is wrong, including this one.

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