Engineers warned of "major structural damage" to the concrete of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Miami, which collapsed last week leaving 10 people dead and 150 missing.
A 2018 report on the condition of the 136-unit residential building in the town of Surfside, Florida, noted that deterioration in the concrete would "expand exponentially" unless repairs were made in a "timely fashion".
Part of the 12-storey beachfront block collapsed suddenly at 1:30 am local time on Thursday 24 June.
The Champlain Towers South condominium was built in 1981 and was coming up for its 40-year recertification.
Repair work had just begun prior to collapse
Buildings in the county of Miami-Dade must be inspected 40 years after they were first built and then every 10 years after that. This system was introduced following a building collapse in 1974. Repair work had just begun on the roof when the disaster occurred.
Surfside's building official James McGuinness was on the roof inspecting it 14 hours before the disaster ABC News reported and said there was "no inordinate amount of equipment" that could have triggered a collapse.
Structural engineers Morabito Consultants submitted a report on a field survey undertaken of Champlain Towers South on 8 October 2018.
Report warned repairs would be disruptive and expensive
"Major structural damage" was documented in the concrete slab below the pool deck.
Morabito Consultants noted in the report t...