Deformation of temporary structure at the construction site of “Volgograd Arena”

Valery Nelyubov, civil construction director of JSC STG, commented on the situation at the construction site of Volgograd Arena Stadium:

“At present the working committee is investigating the reasons of the incident at the construction site on March 23 this year. The committee members include a representative of the manufacturer of temporary metal structures, who has promptly arrived to the stadium. The thing is that temporary scaffolds were to support the cast-in-situ slab of the second floor during the time of strength development of the concrete placed into it. Unfortunately, the temporary structures deformed, so a section of the flooring of the second floor has given under. Such a case in the professional environment is characterised as a local damage on a single section, but not as collapse. 

Now the issue of avoiding such problems in future is being solved. According to production regulations, mechanical tests of temporary metal structures are not carried out by the general designer, the structures are accepted at the construction site according to a manufacturer’s certificate. However, in connection with the incident laboratory studies will be carried out, an investigation is being carried out and we will find out why the temporary structure has deformed”.

No people were injured at the construction site due to the incident. The builders will soon erect new scaffolds. The overall construction progress was not affected by this situation, the works are being carried out according to the schedule.

Construction of the stadium third floor has commenced ahead of schedule in March this year. In sectors A, B and D concreting of vertical structures of the third floor at an elevation over 16.8 m is being performed.

Simultaneously with this process the erection of the second floor is being continued, construction of the first floor will soon be completed, including both external walls and stadium internals, i.e. elevator shafts, internal stairs, etc.