Enriquez, Jess Pher B.

CE-5B

CASE III

The Reinforcements

Engr. Magaling D. Papalitan, also known as Engr. Magz, is an Engineer Inspector on an

ongoing project in Tacloban City. This project is part of the renovation of the city after a strong
earthquake happened last time. The project is a 5-storey school building that was scheduled to be
finished before the upcoming enrollment. But in any case, that the project ever finished late, it
might affect the academic schedule of the school. Unexpectedly, the steel reinforcement for the
structure was shortened when the construction was already on its second floor. According to the
planned design, the column should have 8 pcs of 25mm diameter of steel reinforcement, but the
contractor told that the 25mm diameter steel is no longer available at the current time. So,
they’ve thought of replacing it with the 12pcs of 20mm diameter steel bars, which having the
same area of steel as the previous one. But before they had the permission to do that, they need
Engr. Papalitan's permission. If you we’re in Engr. Papalitan’s shoes, would you consider
implementing these kinds of changes?

Answer:

If I am Engr. Papalitan, I wouldn’t change the reinforcements and would stick to as it is

in the plan. The specifications are computed the way it is and changing it up would deviate to the
planned design. Especially, the project is a school building, it is more important to make it last
for longer than to be constructed faster.