So far a total of nine columns have fallen including one incident where a column crashed
through the roof of a school gymnasium.
All of the affected columns were manufactured by Texas company Whitco during
a six year period from 2000 to 2006.
Inspections carried out on columns that are still standing have so far found over
fifty that
have cracks adjacent to the weld that joins the column to its base plate.
The columns are constructed of steel with a galvanized coating, and can range
from about 70 to 135 feet tall, and weigh from about 1 to 4 tons.
Local authorities and schools are being recommended to use NDT companies
to carry out the
checks as visual inspections are unlikely to reveal the defects.
To date there have been no reports of anyone being injured by the falling
columns.
Whitco was declared bankrupt in 2006 and is no longer trading.
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