Official: Heavy ice a possible factor in Alaska gym collapse – WTOP News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage official says thick, heavy ice had accrued on the roof of a gymnasium that collapsed earlier this month, killing one particular person and trapping two others.

Ross Noffsinger, appearing constructing official for the town, stated “super” ice buildup on the roof of the Turnagain CrossFit gymnasium far exceeded the load listed by the town’s design and building requirements, the Anchorage Day by day Information reported Friday.

The collapse occurred the night of Feb. 17, throughout a health competitors. One lady was killed within the collapse and two others had been briefly trapped. Greater than 10 individuals had been contained in the gymnasium on the time.

“The roof space usually is sort of giant, and it seems to be like a considerable portion of the roof was sloping in that course,” Noffsigner stated, indicating the northeast nook of the constructing the place the gymnasium was situated.

Noffsinger stated the town remains to be ready on an engineer’s structural report and extra evaluation have to be performed earlier than officers attain a last conclusion. However he stated the load of the ice might have been greater than double the town’s design standards of 40 kilos of snow or ice per sq. foot.

A contractor employed by the constructing proprietor stated that whereas ice might have been an element, different points might have contributed to the collapse. Chuck Dunn of Dunn Contractors and Associates stated he’s working with a structural engineering firm and their evaluation will embody the constructing’s situation, historical past and constructing supplies.

“We’ve quite a bit to find out nonetheless, so it’s untimely to say what the trigger was,” Dunn stated.

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