BICON ZAMBIA LTD DEFENDS ITSELF OVER POOR WORKS ON SOCIETY BUSINESS PARK
By Logic Lukwanda
Bicon Zambia Limited Consulting Engineers and Project Managers responsible for the design and supervision of the structural engineering works at Society Business Park has defended itself over the alleged poor works done on the project.
The Engineering Institution of Zambia –EIZ- has maintained that Society Business Park located in Lusaka’s Central Business District is a disaster in waiting following the collapse of some columns holding the building due to poor works.
But Bicon Zambia Limited Consulting Engineers and Project Managers through its Managing Director Renatus Mushinge says the EIZ has on three occasions with other stakeholders visited the site and have been kept informed of the column strengthening works which are underway.
Mr. Mushinge says in addition to the foregoing, Bicon Zambia has on several occasions shared with EIZ and the National Council for Construction copies of the reports in connection with the column strengthening works and has also attended a hearing called for by EIZ in connection with this project.
He says the contractor engaged to do the work is currently executing the column strengthening works under the full-time supervision of Bicon Zambia and is working diligently in order to complete the column strengthening works on site as soon as possible.
153 columns in the parkade and office block out of a total of 258 columns which carry the parkade and office block of the society business park had column capacities lower than the design capacity.
PHOENIX NEWS
Only an independent third party can be trusted to reassure all stakeholders. Bicon Zambia Ltd should not be allowed to mark its own exam sheet.
Hiw do you strengthen a column after concrete has been poured. Is it the size of the steel used, number if bars used, spacings of the ligatures on the columns or is it the strenght of the concrete, was the correct mixture o cement to stone size used. How can you have over 60% of columns fail structural testing, who and when were the columns passed as in conformity with structural requirements
The picture provide looks as if the cement is powerdery.who signed off on the columns and the concrete strength
This is not a laughing or flippant matter
That’s why it’s always better to engage foreign architects and foreign contractors for such projects. Zambian companies their only interest is to get paid, to hell with the rest.