Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:16 am  

The Chair Maker wrote:

Hopefully the roofs weakness can be solved through additional bracing.
There are always engineering solutions to these types of issues. The problem with these solutions is that they can add significant additional costs into the equation.

Whilst I share your concern, I'm feel I'm a little more positve about the solution.
The roof, along with other aspects of the stadium, will come with a guarentee. I have an industrial unit in Knowsley with which the roof was given a 10 year guarentee when it was built.
Whilst the roof will have been put on by the subcontractor (from cumbria?), it will be Langtree's responsibility to fix it and I don't expect them to take to kindly to shoddy work on what is a marquee project for them that has their name plastered all over it.

A fly in the ointment, but we'll get it resolved at no extra cost, I'm sure.

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:39 am  

zinser wrote:

the game was abandoned, and the pice of sheeting that fell off didnt go anywhere near any player at all. I was in the seating underneath it when it happened.

Well I was there too and the roofing sheer landed on the pitch and narrowly missed Gary Mercer by no more than a few feet. In fact he has even referred to said incident in print. I actually wrote about the incident as soon as I got home and still have the report now.

The type of wind that night was very different than the winds we had yesterday. That five minute storm in 1990 was a freak event the likes I have never seen before or since when winds were sustained at anything between 70-100mph for those five minutes, coming from a breeze and going back to a breeze almost immediately. It was almost like a lengthy tornado. If that had happened yesterday it would have taken the whole bloody lot off looking at the state at what a few strong gusts have done.

Building Regulations are a lot stricter now than they once were and roofs have to be designed/constructed to withstand winds far and above the record winds ever recorded in this country. Yesterday's winds inland were not even half of that record wind speed. There has clearly been a major malfunction here and it's very concerning. In my opinion, the whole safety of the stadium has to be questioned.

With all these changes that seemed to have happened (enclosed stadium, then non-enclosed, the enclosed again; steelwork originally designed for cladding then downgraded so it's not only to discover that we do need cladding after all), I am wondering whether all things have been factored into the equation or things have been altered without the knock-on effects being considered.

Would the roof have been damaged if it hadn't been for the exposed corners allowing the wind to get into the ground and up and below the roofing for example?

For months I have expressed concerns about what I saw as some very shoddy designs. Sadly it would appear I was justified in those concerns.

What is going to happen if the entire roof is condemned as unsafe because, to me, there is no possible way any of it can be seen as safe now?

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:31 am  

We should all be glad this has happened now as opposed to 20th January.

I know it seems like a blow to Saints but I'd much rather this happen than everyone think it's all hunky dory and for fans to get injured (or worse.)

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:50 pm  

It's more than a blow. It must have been a bloody big gust.

Just a storm in a teacup with your new sponsors.

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:53 pm  

Can someone check if the Stobart stadium is booked on our season's dates.

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:25 pm  

Meanwhile, a planning application to install perforated aluminium cladding around perimeters of the north, west and east stands, to ensure concourses are covered “as much as is technically possible”, has also been approved by St Helens Council.

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:30 pm  

Rommel wrote:

Meanwhile, a planning application to install perforated aluminium cladding around perimeters of the north, west and east stands, to ensure concourses are covered “as much as is technically possible”, has also been approved by St Helens Council.

as long as they attach it properly

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:24 pm  

Cheer Up Guys

Cheer Up Guys

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:38 pm  

just because you went home and reported on it doesnt make it fact, and as for gary mercer what a story to tell everyone, it missed me by inches, it landed nearer to me and I was in the stand.

Re: Storm Damage : Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:40 pm  

Sounds promising.

Sounds promising.