By Jacob Bugge
Writer, engineer, MSc, Veddinge
Since my second contribution in no. 16, Why are the standard folks dawdling?, I have seen the article More violent cloudbursts in Denmark in no. 17; it is expected that in the autumn the wastewater committee will recommend at sewage systems be built 1,3 times larger owing to the likelihood of heavier precipitation.
But I am surprised that my contributions about standards have led to nothing. This is the short version:
Buildings erected today will have to withstand the environmental actions of the future, not those of the past. The standards are based upon distributions of past years and no longer constitute the safe basis everyone assumes; in 1998, the basic Danish wind action was even reduced by 20%. My suggestion: the load basis of the standards should be changed so it is based upon the most unfavourable supportable/probable weather projections. Stricter standard requirements cost little, whereas the insufficient standard requirements may have incalculable consequences, for each individual and for society.
Myself, I can multiply some environmental actions by 1.5 or 2 because I no longer trust DS410. Only that is of little help: the rest of you will have to join me.
What say you, Danish Standard? In 2002 you took part in outvoting the subject at the plenary meeting in ISO/TC98, you have not followed up on the ATV (Academy of the Technical Sciences) report Effects of climate changes − adaptations in Denmark from September 2003, and you have not answered the letter/contributions from me.
What say you, impartial building researchers?
What say you that build Denmark of the future, the buildings to last the next 100 years? Especially you large ones, consultants, contractors, developers? Will they last when they are constructed for 20% lower wind actions than hitherto?
What say you that believe the IPCC? And what say you that do not, do you not believe in the wild weather either?
And what say you engineers, politicians, officials, and others, that read Ingeniøren?
Shall we act now, prevent, make sure?
Or will you wait for a Danish Katrina that may tell us what we should have done?
See recapitulation here: www.future.bugge.com.