As concerns mount over the recurring building collapses in Ghana, a building and roads engineer, Ing. Kwabena Bempong says buildings rarely collapse without first showing signs of distress.
Ing. Bempong says structures typically provide visible warning signals before a catastrophic failure occurs. The danger, he says, is that many property owners either overlook these signs or fail to act on them in time.
Speaking exclusively to The High Street Journal, Ing. Bempong outlined several red flags that should never be ignored when noticed on a building.
Cracks in Columns and Structural Members
One of the earliest warning signs is the appearance of cracks, particularly in columns, beams, and other structural elements.
While minor surface cracks may not always be dangerous, cracks in load-bearing members can indicate that a building is under excessive stress. If left unattended, such cracks can widen and weaken the structure, potentially leading to collapse.
“Once the columns begin to crack, it can lead to catastrophic failure,” he warned.
Visible Sagging or Bending
Another major sign of distress is sagging, bending, or what engineers call “deflection.” He explains that buildings are designed to be straight and level. Floors, beams, and roofs should remain horizontal. When these elements begin to curve or bow visibly, it suggests the structure is struggling to support its load.
Ing. Bempong compares it to a clothesline. When empty, it remains straight, but when overloaded, it sags.
“If the bending becomes visible to the naked eye, then there is a problem,” he explained.
Concrete Breaking Away or Falling Off
Property owners should also watch for pieces of concrete breaking off from columns, beams, balconies, or walls. This phenomenon, he explains as “spalling,” often occurs when steel reinforcement inside the concrete begins to rust and expand.
As the rusted steel increases in volume, it pushes against the surrounding concrete, causing it to crack and eventually break away. He noted that when concrete begins to spall, it loses its strength and can result in building failures if not properly addressed.
Rusting Reinforcement Hidden Inside Concrete
One of the most dangerous threats is corrosion of steel reinforcement embedded within concrete structures. Buildings located near the coast are particularly vulnerable because salty air and moisture can penetrate concrete and attack the steel inside.
Over time, the reinforcement may rust away almost completely, leaving the building structurally weakened even when the damage is not immediately visible from the outside.
Ing. Bempong described rust as the “cancer of reinforced concrete” because once it starts, it progressively eats away at the building’s structural integrity.
Tilting or Leaning Buildings
A building that is no longer standing upright should trigger immediate concern. Whether it leans to one side, tilts backward, or appears out of alignment, such movement often points to serious foundation problems.
According to the engineer, weakening soil, poor drainage, excessive water infiltration, or foundation failure can all cause a building to shift from its original position.
“When you see that a building is tilted, something has happened,” he stressed.
He further noted that heavy rainfall, poor drainage, and water accumulation around buildings can gradually weaken the soil supporting foundations. As the ground loses strength, parts of the building may begin to sink unevenly, creating stress throughout the structure and increasing the risk of collapse.
The danger becomes even greater when these foundation problems are ignored over long periods.
Warnings That Should Not Be Ignored
Ing. Bempong emphasized that building failures are often preventable if warning signs are detected early and addressed by qualified professionals.
Cracks, sagging floors, spalling concrete, rusting reinforcement, tilting structures, and foundation-related movement should never be dismissed as normal wear and tear.
With building collapses continuing to pose a threat to lives and property, he urged owners, developers, and occupants to seek immediate structural assessment whenever any of these signs appear.
