Billboard Halts Bangkok Traffic

[george]

A billboard collapses on a pickup on Ratchadapisek road following heavy rain and strong wind that hit Bangkok on Thursday. Luckily, driver of the pickup had a minor injury.

Photo by Supachai Petchtewee

[leisurely]

Blimey. Lucky man but he shouldn't have parked on the red and white stripes everyone knows that

[wolfmanjack]

That is more fitting than a parking ticket if he was parked.

May have just been driving by since he is so far away from the curb.

Then again this is how my wife parked during her drivers license test and i have seen many other thais park this way.

[simon43]

On that same evening, I was standing near the Asoke junction when a whole load of scaffolding on the True building came tumbling down! I took refuge in a nearby shop, rather than be speared by the flying scaffolding poles!

This windy squall lasted only about 10 minutes, but it certainly did some localised damage...

Simon

[donna]

i drove past that billboard not long after the storm. its a mess. i will drive past again on the way to the airport in the next few days and try to get a pic. its very lucky that a lot of people didnt lose their lives.

[Jared]

Yeah I was getting a taxi from MBK to the Bus station this morning and we saw one of the giant advertising boards had completely come down and flatterned a shop, there must of been some serious casualties in that one

[Mid]

Woman flattened by billboard in Thailand

BANGKOK, June 29 (UPI) -- A woman was killed in Bang Kapi, Thailand, after a giant metal billboard crashed down on the noodle stand where she was eating.

All of the other patrons of the stand managed to escape after the owner warned them that strong winds were making the board's supports rattle violently, the Bangkok Post reported Friday.

ScienceDaily.com

just the most recent of many ....................

[Jai Dee]

BKK Governor orders all shaky ad billboards removed

Bangkok Governor has instructed all districts to remove all standing billboards if tests reveal that these structures cannot withstand the concrete and its weight.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน)’s order to remove all unsafe billboards in the capital is in response to a recent collapse of a giant billboard, killing one passerby. Today he inspected three giant advertising billboards in Bueng Kum (บึงกุ่ม) District and have orderd all three to be demolished.

After speaking to building owners with shaky billboards on top of their bulding roofs, Mr Pirak said the building owners have showed signs of cooperation by allowing authorities to remove them. The removal is expected to take three-seven days per billboard.

Bangkok Governor has invited advertising billboard owners, the Advertising Association of Thailand, and the Engineering Institute of Thailand to attend a meeting to call on stricter enforcement of a building control law. The meeting is a move seen to curb illegal advertising billboards and prevent possible collapse of billboards.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 July 2007

[Mid]

After speaking to building owners with shaky billboards on top of their bulding roofs, Mr Pirak said the building owners have showed signs of cooperation by allowing authorities to remove them.

at tax payers expense no doubt ..........................

[PhilHarries]

Bangkok Governor has instructed all districts to remove all standing billboards if tests reveal that these structures cannot withstand the concrete and its weight.

I hope he allows a qualified structural engineer to make assessments of the design rather than performing tests. The only meaningful test is to simulate something like 150% of the design wind load for the area. Those that stand up pass and those that fall down fail. This type of destructive testing is not generally preferred as collapsing structures have a nasty habit of doing damage to property, and people if the area isn't correctly evacuated.

The reference to concrete is, I hope, due to the translation as there should be no concrete supported by the structure. The only concrete should be the foundations supporting the structure and they should be large enough to support the weight and resist the wind overturning load.

[Jai Dee]

BKK Governor expedite measures to ensure billboard structural safety

The Governor of Bangkok is expediting measures to ensure that Bangkok's advertisement billboards meet safety standards.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) reports that he has assigned the Department of Public Works to conduct discussions with billboard owner and operators throughout the city in order to establish safety regulations following the collapse of several billboard signs during severe storms last week. Mr. Apirak said that there are currently more than 500 large billboards in Bangkok which failed to meet safety standards.

Bangkok district offices have been assigned to coordinate with the Department of Public Works in handling the matter before more severe rainstorms and subsequent billboard collapses occur.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will be meeting with representatives of the Advertisement Billboard Association and the Engineering Institute of Thailand early next week to derive a solution.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 July 2007

[Mid]

before more severe rainstorms and subsequent billboard collapses occur.

comment , nope not me ....................

[Mid]

Ten injured in billboard collapse

July 25, 2007 : Last updated 05:58 pm

Ten people were injured - two seriously - Wednesday afternoon, after a billboard at the mouth of Soi Sukhumvit 70/4 collapsed during a rainstorm. Uprooted trees and power poles in other areas were also reported.

Bang Na district chief Krit Watcharasiritham said the 4 metre x 24 metre billboard at the mouth of Soi Sukhumvit 70/4 collapsed in gusty winds onto a motorcycle taxi stand and passersby, causing 10 injuries - two were seriously wounded - and the injured were rushed to Bang Na Hospital.

The Nation