Email sent – 22/02/2017 06:04
Attn the London Assembly
Ladies and Gentlemen of the
London Assembly
I wish to inform the London
Assembly (LA) that the New Olympic Stadium (NOS) is unsafe and unfit for purpose
because it has not been provisioned with adequate Lightning Protection System
Safety (LPSS) and is non-compliant to the BS-EN 62305/2008.
Over the past 2/3 year period I
have alerted all the oversight authorities on the stadium including the Mayor’s
Office, London Legacy Authority (LLA)and UK Sports Stadium Safety Authority and
to date all of these have turned a willful blind eye.
The principle contractor, Balfour Beatty, is fully aware of
this serious safety matter, but has also turned a willful blind eye and claimed
they have bonafide Lightning Protection Certificates (LPC) for the stadium. I
can confirm I have had sight of such LPC’s but I can also confirm such
LPC are fraudulent.
My allegations can be be
verified by a simple 10 minute ocular inspection of the roofing materials which
are non-metallic, hence, of zero electrical conductivity value for the
dissipation of lightning strikes/charges. In order for the lightning
protection to work effectively on this stadium all the roof material shall be
metallic to conform with BS-EN 62305.
A simple, 5 minute ocular inspection of the project Lightning Risk Assessment document will confirm the playing area, track and a large percentage of the stadium area was not protected with any Lightning Protection System.
Balfour Beatty claim that the Stadium has a Farraday Cage principle
Lightning Protection System in place. More like a birdcage.
The worst case scenario if the stadium is struck by lightning during an event is several hundred or thousands could be seriously injured or killed. The roof design and manufacture would not withstand a heavy snowfall either.
To compound matters further, the crowd capacity for this stadium stands at
35.000 at this juncture, which is regularly surpassed. See the Crowd Capacity
Certificate issued by Newham Council. The Lightning Protection has been
willfully and knowingly compromised by Balfour Beatty as a cost cutting exercise
to limit the Roof Steel Design. Most second grade school children will confirm
that Roofing Material can be used in Lieu of Lightning Finnial but they must be metallic. A quick perusal of the all the roofing material will confirm they are
PVC /Polycarbon which has zero electrical conductivity.
It is, therefore, hardly surprising the stadium budget has
gone through the roof. So will the lightning because there is nothing to arrest
it. My synopsis of these LPS failures and irregularities are supported
by one of the World’s finest lightning experts in the US, and I can forward
his contact details if you so wish.
I call upon the London Assembly
to alert HM The Queen and to ensure HM the Queen and other royal member resist
attending any function at the New Olympic Stadium. I have also serious concerns
for the remaining structure in the Olympic Park. Balfour Beatty are
notorious scoundrels for cheating on Lightning Protection Measures. I have
included the Balfour Beatty National Safety Manager Mr conductivity valves of PVC/Polycarbon.
In short, the Olympic Stadium is a lightning catastrophe timebomb and public safety has been knowingly and willfully compromised.
For your information, action and
files
Yours sincerely
Alan M Dransfield
