DIAMOND BEACH — Rusted reinforcing bars supporting the understructure of the Crab House Restaurant gave way, causing the July 7 floor collapse that injured 18.
The N.J. Department of Community Affairs Division of Codes and Standards sent a structural engineer and an investigator to the site of the Crab House Restaurant July 11, because DCA was concerned about the cause of the V-shaped floor collapse at about 7:30 p.m. July 7 when an estimated 900 were in the restaurant, 300 in the immediate area of the cave-in.
According to Chris Donnelly, DCA spokesperson:
“They (engineer and investigator) have determined that reinforcing bars in the concrete planks, underneath the structure, rusted out due to deterioration from environmental conditions. A section of the planks broke and collapsed.
“We have instructed the local construction office to keep all buildings on that particular substructure to remain unoccupied until they are examined and deemed safe by a qualified structural engineer.
“The local (Lower Township) construction office is handling this issue and we are providing technical assistance as needed.”
