-
Extinguishing the flames after the CTV building collapsed. - Source: ONE News -
Related
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes has seen another tense day of evidence, with the man whose engineering firm designed the Canterbury Television (CTV) building continuing to give evidence this morning.
Dr Alan Reay, director of Alan Reay Consultants, gave evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing into the collapse of the CTV building.
Reay was responsible for assigning the job
Reay told the hearing that in today's environment the man who worked on the design of the CTV building, David Harding, may not have been appointed.
He said that different processes are now in place for assigning workers, and more peer reviews are undertaken on designs.
This system means that any issues are less likely to go unnoticed, Reay said.
Harding, who had prepared the detailed design of the six-storey building while employed by Alan Reay Consultants in 1985, gave evidence at the hearing yesterday.
He said the building was designed to meet the necessary code, although later conceded there were many faults.
Also, he admitted that was not adequately qualified to undertake the CTV design.
"That's the reason why I considered the review, as I've said before, I would not have taken this job on if I was acting on my own behalf," he said.
Harding told the commission yesterday that Reay would not allow anything in a building design that was not absolutely necessary.
"Alan gained his reputation by making buildings no stronger or no more expensive than they had to be," Harding said.
Tempers flared between Counsel and the Commission after it was suggested that Reay was leaving open a threat to take action against former employee who was yet to give evidence.
Reay's counsel objected to the question, igniting a verbal argument.
One hundred and fifteen people died when the CTV building collapsed after the February 2011 Christchurch quake.
More than 80 witnesses will be called during the course of the CTV hearing, which covers the initial building consent issued by Christchurch City Council, the construction and design, identification of a structural weakness in 1990, and the assessment after Boxing Day quakes in 2010.
The hearing continues.