Preliminary details from the ongoing National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigation into the deadly 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Florida were shared recently, revealing evidence that supports theories about the precise source of its structural failure and other prevailing factors.
Among other findings, the report released last Thursday details the exact moment of the pool deck's collapse preceding the wider structural failure that killed 98 people. The report also outlines several critical lapses in standard design practices and failures to meet building codes that were present from the time of its construction. The findings could provide some clues for those questioning the soundness of its support columns, foundation, site, and steel reinforcements as well.
“It becomes clear that the design and construction did not meet all the safety standards of its day,” local Commissioner Marianne Meischeid told CNN of her concerns. “I would be most interested in knowing if this was a very isolated defect, or was it common to a particular era of development?”
The new NIST update follows another preliminary report that was published in June of last year and precedes the release of the final report, which is expected by fall 2025.
Zaha Hadid Architects is working on a proposal for a replacement tower for developer DAMAC International, who purchased the lot for $120 million in May 2022.
“For the next six months, the major driver of our investigative activities will be substantial completion of our technical work through the analysis of failure hypotheses,” NIST team associate lead and a forensic structural engineer, Glenn Bell, told ENR of his team's remaining work on the process, which he said will be made available for public comment next May. “As we’re zeroing in on the most likely hypotheses, thoroughness and rigor demand that we sufficiently analyze all reasonable possible scenarios.”
NPR reports the investigation to have cost upwards of $30 million thus far.
2 Comments
As a retired architect who spent his entire career in Las Vegas, I was witness to what I call insufficiently qualified inspectors and inspections. One of the main problems for both the City and the adjacent county was that contracts would be let to professional firms for QC inspection services. Too often the lower end of the employment ladder would be assigned by the contracted firm who had little to no experience in field inspections. This is particularly important in steel reinforced concrete, multi-story projects. I was aware of several major inspection failures in the Las Vegas area which ultimately required entire structures to be demolished. One was a twenty-story design that got to the tenth floor before problems were noted. It went into default and eventually the entire building was demolished. Enough said.
The NIST report is a crucial step towards understanding this horrific tragedy. It's concerning to hear about the potential flaws in design and construction that may have contributed. This emphasizes the importance of preventative measures. Following the collapse, many cities implemented stricter regulations like mandatory 40-year certifications for all buildings to proactively identify potential safety hazards. Hopefully, this focus on building safety will continue to evolve based on the findings of the investigation. My thoughts are still with the families and victims of the collapse. #Surfside #BuildingSafety
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