Revision: Issue 1

Date: 30th June 2014

Fakir Garments Ltd.

East Chandmari, Khapur, Fatullah, Narayanganj, Bangladesh
(+23.63136N,90.49829E)
18 June 2014

Structural Inspection Report

Authors: Bernard FitzPatrick / Billy Allen
Reviewed by: Hugh ODwyer
Approved by: Peter Flynn

Category Red
DEA

Executive Summary
On Wednesday 18th June 2014, Mr Bernard FitzPatrick and Mr Billy Allen of Arup carried out a visual structural survey
of the Fakir Garments Limited factory at the address and co-ordinates given on the cover page of this report. We met
with a number of representatives of Fakir Garments including F.S. Zaman the Managing Director, S.M. H. Noton the
Executive Director, K M Mazharul Hoque the Manager of HR & Compliance and Md. Anisur Rahman the Technical
Manager. The lead brand Li & Fung Bangladesh was also represented by Md. Al-Amin Sarker.
Fakir Garments own and occupy 4 buildings on a shared compound, there are 3 additional buildings occupied by
separate companies and their activities have no connection to Fakirs activities or its staff . During our inspection
access was provided to all areas of the 4 buildings occupied by Fakir and they are described as follows:

Building 1 as it is referred to in this report is a 6 storey building constructed in the period 1990 / 1992. It is the
main production facility, constructed with a reinforced concrete frame and the activities in the building include
sewing, cutting, sampling, finishing, packaging, offices and storage.
Building 2 is 3 storey reinforced concrete building constructed in 2011/2012. This building accommodates the
security room, doctors room, childcare room, prayer room and offices.
Shed 1 was also constructed in 2011/2012 and is a steel portal frame with intermediate concrete floors; the
ground floor is a knitting floor with a small area dedicated to material storage. A small mezzanine floor provides
office space while the entire 1st floor is currently being fitted out as a sewing floor. We were informed during our
survey that the intention is to move sewing activities from Building 1 to this area upon completion of the fit out.
To service the increase in personnel there is an elevated 2 storey toilet block under construction adjacent to
Shed 1, this can be accessed externally via stairs or directly from the 1st floor level.
Shed 2 houses the boiler, the generators and associated services, it is constructed with a combination of
reinforced concrete, brickwork and lightweight steel framing that supports a lightweight corrugated iron roof.

During the pre-survey meeting we were presented with a Permit drawing for Fakir Garments Ltd. This drawing
references a 7 storey version of Building 1, Shed 2 and a single storey shed building in the location of Building 2. Shed
1 is not referenced on the drawing and the site layout indicated a building that is no longer under the control of Fakir
Garments Ltd.
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Executive Summary (Continued)

A set of as-built drawings (dated September 2013) was also presented. These drawings were generally
representative of the buildings surveyed, although discrepancies were noted and these are described in the
observations section of this report. A complete Soils Report was not available for any of the buildings. Soil
investigation log data dated October 2011 was provided but referenced a 12 storey building with a general address
of Fatulla Narayanganj. The site plan indicated in this document was not representative of the site layout surveyed.
We have important and urgent concerns in relation to the adequacy of the structural support columns for Building
1, which give rise to our recommendation for FULL EVACUATION of Building 1 and an immediate Detail Engineering
Assessment.
The principal reason for our concerns is that the columns appear to be stressed to levels that require
immediate action and review.
Following evacuation of Building 1, we would recommend that the Detail Engineering Assessment for this building
be completed within 6 weeks of receiving this report.

Cursory calculations
indicate very high column
stresses in Building 1.
Typical Internal

Typical Edge
3

Ferroscans of the internal

columns confirmed 4no.
20mm diameter rebar in a
254 x 254mm column.
Brick aggregate observed

Executive Summary (continued)

A high-level and non-exhaustive list of key concerns are:

Building 1 - Columns appear to be stressed to levels that require immediate action & review
Building 1 - Cracking to structural elements observed
Building 1 - Management of storage loads
Shed 1 - Structural concerns
All Buildings - Inconsistencies noted between drawings and as built construction
All Buildings - Apparently non-engineered lightweight roof structures

Further actions with associated priorities and timeframes are given at the end of this report. Please note that these
actions should be completed as soon as practically possible and certainly within the timeframe noted.
We have reviewed the property from an outline seismic perspective and would consider that the building along with
many others in the Dhaka region to have a significant risk of damage in a major seismic event.
Our limitations and assumptions are also noted at the end of this report.

Building Extents

Shed 1
Building 2
Building 1
Shed 2

Fakir Garments Ltd. Factory Site Location

Building Extents

Building 1 (North) Elevation

Building 2 (East) Elevation

Shed 1 (North) Elevation

Shed 2 (South) Elevation

Building Extents

Water Tank

Building 2
Ground: Childcare, doctor & guard room

Roof general access

First Floor: Office

Second Floor: Office & prayer room

Sewing

Cutting
Sewing & accessory store

Roof: Solar panels and a 2,000L plastic

water tank

Shed 1
Ground: Knitting
Mezzanine: Office
First: Proposed Sewing (Under
construction)

Finishing & office

Under construction proposed office
and showroom space
Building 1 Floor usage
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Building Extents

Shed 2
Ground: Plant room (generator, boiler
etc.)

Structural System

North

Building 1:
Six storey reinforced concrete beam and column
frame. N-S beams omitted in shortest bay
introducing a one way spanning slab
Faade:
Rendered brick walls.
Stability system:
Concrete sway frame with infill brickwork walls.
Foundations:
Isolated pad footings indicated on structural
drawings.

Typical floor plan

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Structural System- Building 1

Beam-column frame system : Building 1

North

Building 1 - Critical dimensions

Floor to ceiling height:
2.97m avg.
Column Grid:
5.0m x 4.8m max.
Slab thickness:
218mm avg. including finishes
Columns:
255mm x 255mm typically ex. render
Beams:
275mm d/s x 260mm wide in both directions

Two way spanning slab

One way spanning slab
Typical floor plan
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Structural System- Building 1

North

Building 2:
Three storey RC beam and column frame with 2-way
spanning slabs.
Faade:
Rendered brick walls.
Stability system:
Moment/ Sway concrete frame.
Foundations:
Isolated pad footings indicated on structural drawings.
Critical dimensions:
Floor to ceiling height: 3.19m avg.
Column Grid: 5.0m x 7.1m max.
Slab thickness: 175mm avg. including finishes
Columns: 255mm x 255mm typically ex. render
Beams: 370mm d/s x 275mm wide in both directions

Typical floor plan

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Structural System - Building 2

Structural System (Shed 1):

Portal steel frame with intermediate concrete
slabs cast on profiled metal formwork on a
primary and secondary steel beam system.
Lightweight purlins provided to support roof
sheeting.
Lateral System:
Portal frame and sway frame action
Typical Section of Shed 1

Grid:
Portal frames span 22.12m
Portal frames at 7.1m centres.
Slab thickness:
200 mm overall depth including finishes
Stanchion size:
Edge stanchion: tapered
Internal stanchion: 175mm X 350mm
Rafter: Tapered

Steel frame system : 1st floor

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Structural System Shed 1

Shed 2 : Steel truss supported on masonry & steel

column .

Steel frame system : Ground floor & mezzanine

Shed 2 : Steel column supported on truss

Structural System- Shed 1&2

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Observations

15

Observations

Building 1 Columns appear to be stressed

to levels that require immediate action &
review

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Observations
North

Brick aggregate was observed in the

ground floor columns
Ground Floor Column Layout

Cursory calculations
indicate that columns
are working at high
stress levels requiring
immediate action.
Ferroscans of the internal columns confirmed 4no. 20mm
diameter rebar, consistent with the as built drawings.
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Observations

Building 1 - Cracking to structural elements

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Observations

Hairline crack in beam

Cracking in centre of slab soffit

Cracking to stair half landing

Hairline cracks were noted in the beams and soffit of floor slabs on all levels.
On each of the half landings in the north-western stairwell, cracking was also observed.

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Observations

Building 1 Management of storage loads

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Observations

5th Floor sewing section

5th Floor Sewing section

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3rd Floor -Cutting section

4th Floor- Sewing section

2nd Floor Accessory store

Storage of stacked
material was
observed on most
floors. Since columns
are highly stressed,
these loads should be
removed and a load
management plan
put in place.

Observations

Shed 1 - Structural Concerns

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Observations

1st floor chase

Bolts missing in frame supporting mezzanine floor

The steel frame appears to be an engineered structure

that has been poorly constructed. Some connections
were observed to have been modified on site to facilitate
frame erection. These modifications included welding fin
plates directly to beams due to misalignment of bolt
holes. Purlin to beam connections were missing bolts and
one windpost on the eastern side of the building was not
connected to the rafter.
During the survey we noted that chasing of the 1st floor
slab was being carried out extending 40mm into the slab.
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No connection between rafter and windpost

Observations
Concrete stair on northern side of steel shed does
not appear to be tied back to the main building. The
stair is supported on singular intermediate column
sections. Building Engineer to check overall stability
of stair and propose stability works if required.

Steel shed has a moment frame stability system in

one direction. No obvious stability system in the
opposite direction, Building Engineer to carry out a
stability analysis of the building and propose
additional stability system if required.

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Observations

Inconsistencies noted between

drawings and as built construction

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Observations

Building 2

Building 1

North
North
Toilet block, all floors

Accessory store partition,

2nd floor
Additional column, roof

Inconsistencies were noted between the as built drawings and

what was observed. The toilet block on all floors was not
indicated on the drawings, the location of accessory store
partitions on the second floor were incorrect. A column located
under the corner of the concrete water tank on the northern side
of the building was not indicated on the drawings. This column
extends from water tank to roof/6th floor only. The beam below
this acts as a transfer beam carrying the load to the adjacent two
columns.
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As built drawings show beam and

columns around the perimeter of the
building. On the western face of the
building the floor slab on each level
cantilevers beyond face of column.

Observations

North
Layout plan of shed 1

Steel stair as per drawings

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Standalone toilet building for steel shed was under

construction at time of inspection on the northern
side of the building. This was not represented on the
drawings. The drawings detail two separate steel
stairs. One concrete stair was provided.

Observations

Lightweight roof structures

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Observations

Shed 2 Plant house

Plant house roof trusses

The plant house roof structure appears from observation to be non-engineered. The main issues
observed are:
Some section sizes used appear to be slender
Lateral stability of the roof structure does not appear to have been achieved
Connection details between roof trusses and perimeter columns/walls appear inadequate
No lateral restraint observed to eastern perimeter wall
Building Engineer to review stability of these structures and propose strengthening works.

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Observations

Canopy adjacent to Shed 1

No bracing provided to roof structure
Column base plates welded to rebar
Column to truss connection not at truss
nodal points
Building Engineer to review stability of
these structures and propose
strengthening works if required.
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Canopy adjacent to Building 2

No lateral stability provided
Slender section sizes used throughout
Corroded column section due to poorly
welded splice joint
Poor connection detail securing roof
structure to Building 2

Observations

Lightweight roof structure on Building 1

Roof structure over stairwell in Building 2

Lightweight roof structures were observed on Building 1 and covering the stairwell in Building 2.
The main issues observed are:
Some section sizes used appear to be slender
Lateral stability of the roof structure does not appear to have been achieved
Connection details between roof and wall for Building 2 appear inadequate
Building Engineer to review stability of these structures and propose strengthening works.

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Priority Actions

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Problems Observed
ITEM 1: Building 1 - Columns appear to be stressed to levels that require
immediate action & review
ITEM 2: Building 1 - Cracking to structural elements
ITEM 3: Building 1 - Management of storage loads
ITEM 4: Shed 1 - Structural concerns
ITEM 5: All Buildings - Inconsistencies noted between drawings and as built
construction
ITEM 6: All Buildings - Apparently non-engineered lightweight roof structures

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Item 1 and actions

Building 1- Columns appear to be stressed to levels that require immediate action &
review

Priority 1
(Immediate - Now)

Priority 2
(within 6-weeks)

Priority 3
(within 6-months)
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Immediately evacuate the entire building

Factory Engineer to review design, loads and column stresses . Verify insitu
concrete strengths (using min. 4 no. 100mm dia. cores) and existing reinforcement
for all columns.
A Detail Engineering Assessment of Factory to be commenced, see attached Scope.

Produce and actively manage a loading plan for all floor plates within the factory
giving consideration to floor capacity and column capacity. This should establish a
safe imposed load for each floor and allowable fill level for all water tanks.
Detail Engineering Assessment to be completed.

Continue to implement load management plan.

Detail Engineering Assessment

This Schedule develops a minimum level of information, Analysis and testing expected as part of a Detail Engineering Assessment.
The Building(s) have been visually assessed and it is deemed necessary that a detailed engineering assessment be carried out by a competent Engineering
Team employed by the factory Owner.
This Request should be read in conjunction with the BUET developed Tripartite Guideline document for Assessment of Structural Integrity of Existing
RMG Factory Buildings in Bangladesh (Tripartite Document), the latest version of this document should be referenced. T his document also gives guidance
on required competency of Engineering Team.

We expect that the following will be carried out:

1. Development of Full Engineering As-Built Drawings showing Structure, loading, elements, dimensions , levels, foundations and framing on Plan,
Section and Elevational drawings .
2. The Engineering team are to carry out supporting calculations with a model based design check to assess the safety and serviceability of the building
against loading as set out in BNBC-2006, Lower rate provisions can be applied in accordance with the Tripartite Guidelines following international
engineering practice, justification for these lower rate provisions must be made.
3. A geotechnical Report describing ground conditions and commenting on foundation systems used/proposed.
4. A report on Engineering tests carried out to justify material strengths and reinforcement content in all key elements studied.
5. Detailed load plans shall be prepared for each level showing current and potential future loading with all key equipment items shown with associated
loads.
6. The Engineering team will prepare an assessment report that covers the following:
As-Built drawings including
Plans at each level calling up and dimensioning all structural components
Cross sectional drawings showing structural beams, slabs, floor to floor heights, roof build-ups and Basic design information of the
structure
Highlight any variation between As-built compared to the designed structure
Results of testing for strength and materials
Results of geotechnical assessment and testing/investigation
Details of loading, inputs and results of computer modelling
Commentary on adequacy/inadequacy of elements of the structure
Schedule of any required retrofitting required for safety or performance of Structure
Any proposals for Retrofitting to follow guidance developed in the Tripartite Document

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Item 2 and actions

Building 1 - Cracking to structural elements.

Priority 1

None required

Sections of render to be removed to investigate if cracks

penetrate the building structure.
Building Engineer to carry out design check on floor slab and
beams to confirm that these cracks are non-structural. (Refer to
Item 1 Detail Engineering Assessment)

(Immediate - Now)

Priority 2

(within 6-weeks)

Priority 3
(within 6-months)

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Building Engineer to monitor location of all cracks and

ensure that, where required, remedial works are carried out.

Item 3 and actions

Building 1 - Management of storage loads.

Priority 1

None required

Produce and actively manage a loading plan for all floor plates
within Building 1 giving consideration to floor capacity and
column capacity. (Refer to Item 1 Detail Engineering
Assessment)

Continue to implement load management plan

(Immediate - Now)

Priority 2
(within 6-weeks)

Priority 3
(within 6-months)

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Item 4 and actions

Shed 1 - Structural Concerns

Priority 1
(Immediate - Now)

Priority 2
(within 6-weeks)

None required

Complete as built survey of the steel frame connections and

commence calculations as required to justify any deviation from
the original engineering intent. Engineer to prepare a schedule of
remedial works required to all connections.
Building Engineer to investigate the chasing to the 1st floor slab in
Shed 1 and confirm that the capacity of the slab has not been
compromised, prepare a schedule of remedial works if required.
Complete as-built survey and commence calculations for
verification of toilet building and access stair.
Produce and actively manage a loading plan for all floors within
the Building, giving consideration to floor capacity and column
capacity.

Priority 3
(within 6-months)

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Building Engineer to survey as constructed building and

update drawings as required.

Item 5 and actions

All Buildings - Inconsistencies noted between as built drawings and as built construction.

Priority 1

None required.

Building engineer to prepare a set of as built drawings

for all structures used by Fakir Garments Ltd. (Refer to
Item 1 Detail Engineering Assessment).

Permit documentation and drawings to be updated.

(Immediate - Now)

Priority 2
(within 6-weeks)

Priority 3
(within 6-months)

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Item 6 and actions

All Buildings - Apparently non-engineered lightweight roof structures

Priority 1

None required.

Building Engineer to check the capacity of what appear to

be non-engineered lightweight roof structures under
horizontal and vertical loading and make any necessary
alterations required.

None required.

(Immediate - Now)

Priority 2
(within 6-weeks)

Priority 3
(within 6-months)

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Survey Limitations and Assumptions

This report is for the private and confidential use of Accord for whom it was prepared together with their professional advisors as appropriate. It should
not be reproduced in whole or in part or relied upon by third parties for any use without the express written permission of Arup.
This report can be used in discussion with the supplier or factory owner as a means to rectify or address any observations made. The report is not
comprehensive and is limited to what could be observed during a visual inspection of the building.
This Report is not intended to be treated as a generalised inspection and does not cover the deterioration of structural members through dampness,
fungal or insect attack, nor does it deal with problems and defects of a non-structural nature. Other non structural aspects of the building such as fire
safety have not been assessed in this survey.
Except as otherwise noted, drains and other services were not viewed or tested during our inspection and are therefore similarly excluded from this
Report. We have not inspected any parts of the structure which are covered, unexposed or inaccessible and we are therefore unable to report that any
such part of the property is free from defect.
External inspection of the faade walls has generally been carried out from ground level only by visual sighting. No opening up works were carried out
(except as noted) and we rely on the Architects and Engineers drawings provided to us for our views on concealed parts of the structure and in particular
foundations. Strengths of materials and components are untested and we recommend that the factory owners Building Engineer carries out insitu testing
over and above those suggested to satisfy themselves with the material strengths and component details.
Recommendations, where given, are for the purpose of providing indicative advice only, are not exhaustive, relate solely to identifying key and obvious
structural defects as identified in this presentation, and do not take the form of or constitute a specification for works. We take no responsibility for the
works as constructed. This report does not interfere with the factory owners Building Engineers responsibility for the structural performance of this
building, The Building Engineer remains fully responsible for the structural adequacy of the building.
This report does not comment in detail on the future seismic performance of the building and only highlights the fact that the building may experience
significant damage or collapse in a seismic event along with many others in the Dhaka region.
The observations in this report are based on the Engineering Judgement of the lead surveyor/engineer at the time of the survey. We assume in making
these observations that no covering up of faults defects, filling or plastering over cracking or significant repair work has been carried out by the building
owner. Any future alteration or additional work by the building owner will void this report.

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