Just days after it was installed, prompting speculation from curious locals around Port Adelaide, a giant inflatable dome has burst.
Erected on January 25 at the Hallett cement distribution centre, the dome was to be the nation’s first DomeSilo, reinforced on the inside with foam and steel to store some 55k tonnes of cement.
But it wasn’t to be.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Berth 25 on Thursday afternoon after the 42m, or 15 storey high, structure popped.
Workers were inside the dome at the time, but a spokesperson for Hallett Group said no-one was hurt.
The company is now working with the dome skin manufacturer to investigate the fault.
The foam that was being installed inside the silo at the time was strewn across the area.
“I was actually looking at it when it went boom … bits went everywhere,” witness Ben told Nine News.
“It looked like someone smashed a polystyrene box and it went off in the wind.”
“I‘d have a guess and say maybe the wind got it, because I would say there was no product in there at the time,” said witness Geoff, also to Nine.
A statement on Hallett’s website said the DomeSilo “suffered a setback following damage to the inflatable skin.”
“The construction technique of using an inflatable dome skin followed by an internal concrete structure has been successfully performed over two thousand times around the globe.
“While the structure’s collapse is a step backwards, Hallett will complete the investigation, correct the issues and proceed with the project as soon as practical.”
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