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Building Safety

All articles tagged with #building safety

Midtown Manhattan high-rise stabilizes after buckled columns prompt evacuations
usnews3 days ago

Midtown Manhattan high-rise stabilizes after buckled columns prompt evacuations

Two structural columns buckled on the 21st floor of the under‑construction former Pfizer headquarters at 219 East 42nd Street, triggering evacuations of nearby buildings. Crews installed temporary shoring and are adding steel supports to stabilize the Midtown high-rise, with more stabilization work planned in the coming days. Some blocks have reopened, but several buildings remain evacuated or partially evacuated as investigators assess causes and next steps for reinforcement.

via CNN|
#building-safety#construction#evacuations
Venezuela quakes warn California about aging concrete buildings
science16 days ago

Venezuela quakes warn California about aging concrete buildings

Two major Venezuelan quakes (m7.2 and m7.5) collapsed vulnerable non-ductile concrete buildings, leaving at least 164 dead and nearly 1,000 injured. Scientists say Caracas’s risk mirrors Los Angeles/San Francisco, underscoring California’s ongoing need to retrofit older concrete structures, fortify homes, stock emergency supplies, and plan neighborhood responses as USGS notes the potential for massive fatalities in a future large quake.

via Los Angeles Times|
#building-safety#california#earthquake
NIST flags weeks of warning signs before Florida condo collapse
us-news19 days ago

NIST flags weeks of warning signs before Florida condo collapse

A NIST investigation into the Surfside, Florida condo collapse found warning signs weeks earlier, including a long crack in a planter wall on the pool deck, water leaks in the parking garage, and corroded reinforcing steel, with the destruction unfolding as sections failed in sequence; lawmakers later enacted laws to bolster condo reserves and maintenance requirements.

via AP News|
#building-safety#condo-collapse#florida
NIST Finds Early Garage-Column Failures Triggered Champlain Towers South Collapse
science19 days ago

NIST Finds Early Garage-Column Failures Triggered Champlain Towers South Collapse

NIST's NCST technical findings attribute the Champlain Towers South collapse to punching shear failures at two garage column connections in early June 2021, which caused cracks, load redistribution, and eventual collapse; margins against failure were too narrow due to design and construction deviations from codes, ongoing loads, and corrosion, with other potential factors ruled out; a final report with recommendations will follow.

via National Institute of Standards and Technology (.gov)|
#building-safety#champlain-towers-south#nist-ncst
Hong Kong Apartment Fire Kills 159, Including Infant, Sparks Justice Calls
world7 months ago

Hong Kong Apartment Fire Kills 159, Including Infant, Sparks Justice Calls

A devastating fire in Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court has resulted in 159 deaths, including an infant and a 97-year-old, with ongoing investigations into its cause, suspected to involve substandard renovation materials. The city plans to proceed with a legislative election amid public grief and calls for accountability, while displaced residents struggle to recover from the tragedy.

via Reuters|
#building-safety#casualties#hong-kong-fire
Dominican Nightclub Owner Arrested After Roof Collapse Kills 236
world1 year ago

Dominican Nightclub Owner Arrested After Roof Collapse Kills 236

The owner of the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where a roof collapse killed 236 people, has been arrested and charged with involuntary homicide after evidence showed he was warned about the roof's danger. His sister is also charged, amid accusations of negligence and misconduct, following the tragic incident during a live concert.

via The New York Times|
#building-safety#dominican-republic#involuntary-homicide
"Faulty Support Columns in Tenant Garage Below Surfside Condo Linked to Collapse"
disaster-investigation2 years ago

"Faulty Support Columns in Tenant Garage Below Surfside Condo Linked to Collapse"

Federal investigators examining the partial collapse of a Florida condominium tower that killed 98 people have found numerous faulty support columns in the tenant garage and pool deck below the building. Tests revealed that some columns were only half the strength they should have been and were not up to construction standards when the tower was built in 1980. The pool deck collapsed minutes before the tower fell, likely damaging a support beam and causing the subsequent collapse. The investigation is ongoing, with preliminary results indicating potential structural issues and the possibility of external triggers for the collapse. Survivors and families of victims have expressed frustration over the length of the investigation and the lack of accountability.

via The Associated Press|
#building-safety#condo-collapse#disaster-investigation
"Deadly Inferno: Valencia Apartment Block Fire Claims 10 Lives"
tragedy2 years ago

"Deadly Inferno: Valencia Apartment Block Fire Claims 10 Lives"

A massive fire in an apartment block in Valencia, Spain has left at least five dead, 14 missing, and 15 injured. The blaze, possibly exacerbated by strong winds and flammable building materials, engulfed the block within half an hour. Firefighters are conducting search and rescue operations, while dental experts and police are working to identify charred bodies. The community has rallied to support those affected, with donations pouring in for residents who lost everything in the fire.

via NBC News|
#building-safety#fire#missing-persons
Anchorage's Roof Collapses Spike as Record Snowfall Hits 100 Inches
weather2 years ago

Anchorage's Roof Collapses Spike as Record Snowfall Hits 100 Inches

A second roof collapse in Anchorage occurred less than a day after over 1,000 warnings were sent to building owners about the risk of collapse due to heavy snow. No injuries were reported, but the collapses have raised concerns about the safety of buildings with wooden trusses and gang-nail plates. Municipal officials have issued snow-clearing guidance for at-risk buildings, and the collapses this season have surpassed last winter's count. The Anchorage Fire Department emphasized the importance of clearing roofs of snow and recommended consulting a structural engineer for building evaluations.

via Anchorage Daily News|
#anchorage#building-safety#maintenance
Tragedy in Henan: 13 Students Killed in School Dormitory Fire
accidents-and-disasters2 years ago

Tragedy in Henan: 13 Students Killed in School Dormitory Fire

Thirteen people have died in a fire at a school dormitory in Yanshanpu village, Henan province, China. The privately-run school for young children had the manager detained, and one person is being treated in hospital. Fatal fires in China are not uncommon due to lax enforcement of building and safety standards, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

via BBC.com|
#accidents-and-disasters#building-safety#china