Building failures: lessons from forensic investigations and how to prevent the next one

Tuesday 6 October 2026 | Vernon Collis, structural engineer and architect

Master Builders Association, Belmont Square, Rondebosch. Doors open at 17:30 and the talk starts at 18:00.

Drawing on more than 150 forensic investigations over 35 years, Vernon Collis looks at what really lies behind building failures, from cracked plaster and failed damp-proofing to differential settlement, seismic damage and outright collapse. He will cover how defects begin, how they are diagnosed and what designers and builders can do to prevent the next one, with time for questions from the floor.

Members attend free, guests pay R150 and students are free with a student card. Please RSVP by Friday 2 October.