Investigation of a Sheffield Structural Tile Floor Failure Indicates a Dangerous Design/Development Oversight

Abstract

The Sheffield Brick and Tile Company produced a series of structural tile units that were used to construct floor and roof decks. The tiles were used as integral components in composite concrete, tile, and reinforcing bar deck systems. After roughly 40 years of service, the Sheffield Tile Deck System (STDS) in a school building failed. Investigation of the failure provided a clear indication that the design/development process overlooked a potentially critical feature of these systems. The investigation also revealed a mechanism whereby an STDS could provide adequate service, then fail in a rather abrupt fashion. During the investigation, reports of other STDS failures were discovered, including some referenced in Sheffield Brick and Tile Company correspondence to an owner of a STDS, suggesting he have it checked out by a qualified engineer.