The objective for the structural safety assessment is to quickly inspect and evaluate the concrete structure and determine if the damaged structure is unsafe for personnel within the building and rescue personnel accessing the building. Two primary concerns need to be considered when performing this assessment of the structure that has sustained structural damage. This includes a quick evaluation of the building "structural" components (e.g., beams, columns, decking, etc.) and of the building "nonstructural" components "(e.g., structural debris, partitions, ceilings, glass, pipe anchoring, electricaUmechanical equipment anchoring, etc.). If there are any visual signs of structural and/or nonstructural damage, then the specific building area needs to be isolated, secured, and marked as UNSAFE. The on-scene commander should be informed and the area remained in this UNSAFE condition, until a structural engineer proves otherwise.
The rapid structural damage assessment would note the major failures within the structure including the major structural elements of beams, columns, roof and floor decks. Typical failures would be found at the connections of the major structural elements, or at elements that no longer have adequate vertical support (e.g., unsupported roof and floor decks that are now cantilever elements.) Indications would include cracking, spalling (i.e., loss of concrete from an
