After six months and nearly $4 million, New York City’s Dept. of Buildings on Feb. 3 recommended 41 measures to increase regulations for crane, concrete and excavation work. But industry experts say the standards, if implemented, may create more headaches and unnecessary costs. The city assembled a team of more than 30 engineers, including experts from Skokie, Ill.-based forensic consultant CTL Group. The measures chiefly focus on crane and hoisting operations. At the top is a need “to track critical components of tower cranes,” an idea that area experts casually call “CraneFax,” referring to a similar service for cars. Photo:

The Office of Metropolitan Architecture, Rotterdam, and multidisciplinary engineer Arup, designers of the $733-million Television Cultural Center in Beijing, are declining to comment on the damage to the primarily concrete-framed building as a result of a dramatic Feb. 9 blaze that engulfed all 31 stories and killed one firefighter. But a city official says the basic structure is intact and most of the damage from the five-and-a-half-hour fire is affected only the exterior surface of the walls. Slide Show Photo: AP/Wideworld Observers speculate titanium-zinc alloy may have fueled fire on outside of tower. The fire at the 159-meter-tall TVCC tower,

A New Jersey transport and rigging firm orchestrated the Jan. 31 move of the fuselage of the Airbus 320 airplane that was US Airways Flight 1549, which made a successful emergency landing in the Hudson River on Jan. 15. It was moved from a temporary berth along the river to a new resting place several miles inland at the 23-acre Kearny, N.J., yard of J. Supor & Son Trucking & Rigging Inc. The plane, minus its wings, had to be rerouted through Jersey City streets when it could not clear a low overpass, says Tony Polizzi, J. Supor operations manager.

Six subcontractors have been sued by the developer of a six-story parking garage in Jacksonville, Fla., that collapsed in December 2007 , killing one worker and injuring 23 others. Atlanta-based developer Berkman Plaza 2 LLC filed the suit Jan. 12 in circuit court in Duval County, Fla., seeking damages "well in excess of" $36 million and demanding a jury trial. Photo: John T. Bell Two-thirds of Berkman Plaza 2 garage collapsed as the sixth floor slab was being poured. Named as defendants in the suit are Southern Pan Services, Co., Davie, Fla.; Universal Engineering Sciences Inc., Orlando, Fla.; Infinity Reinforcing

Foul-smelling and discoloring Chinese-made drywall, apparently imported after Hurricane Katrina, has been the subject of more than 50 complaints in Florida, say state officials. “We don’t know whether this is strictly a material issue or if climate also is involved,” says Vincent M. Daliessio, industrial hygiene project manager for EMSL Analytical, Inc., Westmont, N.J., a materials consultant that is examining the problem after getting calls from building inspectors and builders. “We don’t know why it is appearing just in Florida. It could be just the tip of the iceberg or the distribution model for the vendor.” Drywall woes have plagued

Six subcontractors have been sued by the developer of a six-story parking garage in Jacksonville, Fla., that collapsed in December 2007, killing one worker and injuring 23 others. Atlanta-based developer Berkman Plaza 2 LLC named Southern Pan Services, Co., Davie, Fla.; Universal Engineering Sciences Inc., Orlando, Fla.; Infinity Reinforcing Inc., Palm Coast, Fla.; P.T.E. Strand Co. Inc., Hialeah, Fla.; A.A. Pittman & Son Concrete Co., Mandarin, Fla., and Harsco Corp. d/b/a Patent Construction Systems, Paramus, N.J., as defendants in a lawsuit seeking damages “well in excess of” $36 million. Choate Construction Co., Atlanta, is general contractor and is named in

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued eight citations to Baton Rouge-based Deep South Crane & Rigging Co. for the July 18 tipover of a 2,500-ton-capacity crane that killed four workers at a Houston refinery. Investigators say the machine’s boom was elevated to an unsafe angle, breaking the boom stops and causing it to collapse backward. Six violations are “serious,” and one is a repeat offense for allegedly not training the operator. A spokeswoman for Deep South says the company plans to contest the fines, which total $71,500. Photo: AP/Wideworld

More charges flew on Jan. 5 and 6 against construction officials at the center of two of Manhattan’s highest-profile jobsite accidents in the last 18 months. On Jan. 5, a master rigger was indicted for his alleged actions involving a 200-ft-high tower crane that destabilized and collapsed at a Midtown high-rise site last March, killing six workers and a civilian. William Rapetti, 48, was indicted on multiple charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and reckless endangerment. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau also said Rapetti and his firm Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., Massapequa Park, N.Y., failed to file tax returns

Seven construction workers remained hospitalized nearly two weeks after a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge being constructed at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens collapsed on Dec. 19. Crews were pouring 125 cu yd of concrete for the 600-ft-long, 40-ft-tall pedestrian bridge when a 400-ft deck section came down, killing one and injuring 18. Approximately 100 linear ft of concrete had been poured when the incident occurred, according to general contractor Hardin Construction Co., Atlanta. The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration is investigating. The structure was being supported by temporary shoring. The bridge was designed by Jova/Daniels/ Busby, Atlanta. Halvorson and Partners of

Three New York City construction officials indicted and arraigned on Dec. 22 in connection with a fatal fire at a vacant Ground Zero high-rise being cleaned of asbestos and demolished posted bail and will reappear in court in Manhattan on Jan. 7. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau charged the officials, including the site safety manager for project contractor Bovis Lend Lease LLC, with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. The charges relate to their alleged roles in the August 2007 fire at the Deutsche Bank building that killed two city firefighters. Photo: AP/Wideworld Bovis manager Melofchik (center) charged with