Farm Construction
Section I, Nov. 7, 2019
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LEEANNE BULMAN PHOTOS/FOR AGRI-VIEW
A collapsed building shows the problems from this past winter’s multiple snow events. Aaron Halberg says excessive snow, condensation, deteriorated fasteners, and inadequate initial strength can cause failures.
Avoid building collapse, consider insurance LEEANNE BULMAN For AgriView
Aaron Halgren says, “When I see a collapse it’s usually one or two details that were missing.”
Carl Duley, University of Wisconsin-Extension agent in Buffalo County, talks about insurance issues and assessing building use. Risk is much greater if people are in a building such as a dairy compared to a machine shed.
GILMANTON, Wis. – Excessive snow and blowing wind create a nasty combination – a danger that caused a record number of farm buildings to collapse this past winter. Weather events can’t be controlled so farmers need to do what they can to prevent damage. That starts with building design, says Aaron LEEANNE Halberg, resident profesBULMAN sional engineer at Halberg Engineering. “We should avoid all possible loss,” he said at a presentation sponsored by University of Wisconsin-Extension in Buffalo County. Carl Duley, UW-extension agent, said collapsed buildings aren’t a new issue but buildings are becoming bigger, which Please see COLLAPSE, Page 2