Video Update: NIST Shares Hypotheses on Cause of Surfside Condo Collapse
As NIST reveals more findings in its investigation of the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South, the International Code Council is in the process of converting Guideline 7 (created in response to the Surfside tragedy) to ICC Standard 1500.
The National Construction Safety Team (NCST), part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has published a comprehensive video update detailing its ongoing investigation into the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, FL, which occurred in June 2021.
The video outlines the investigation’s timeline and current progress, presents early findings and explores how this complex effort may influence future building codes and standards.
Key Findings
The video explores various hypotheses as to why this collapse transpired based on initial findings. The hypothesis with the highest likelihood of occurrence was failure of one of the typical slab-column connections in the pool deck.
Key findings that lead to this hypothesis include:
- Understrength of the building’s original structural design relative to the requirements of the building code
- Steel reinforcement was not placed where it should have been
- Use of heavy planters that were not in the original design
- A rehabilitation of the pool deck decades earlier that added sand and pavers increased the load on a system that was already functionally and structurally inadequate
- Corrosion of the steel reinforcement in the pool deck concrete
Lessons From the Surfside Investigation
In parallel with NIST’s investigation, the International Code Council is advancing the creation of Standard ICC 1500 – Standard for Existing Building Safety Inspections.
This standard is derived from ICC Guideline 7, and aims to establish consistent technical criteria for routine evaluations of structural components, fire protection systems (both active and passive), egress pathways, the building envelope, as well as electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas systems. Its purpose is to help determine whether any hazardous conditions are present.
To learn more about NIST’s investigation into the Surfside Condo Collapse, click here.
To learn more about how building codes are changing post Surfside Condo Collapse, click here.
About the Author
The International Code Council is a nonprofit association that provides a wide range of building safety solutions, including product evaluation, accreditation, certification, codification and training. It develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
