Federal investigators examining the cause of the partial collapse of a Florida condominium tower three years ago, resulting in the deaths of 98 individuals, revealed on Thursday that numerous defective support columns were found in the garage beneath the building and the adjacent pool deck.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigators, tests indicated that certain steel-reinforced concrete columns at Champlain Towers South had only half the required strength and did not meet construction standards at the time of the tower’s construction in 1980. Furthermore, some of these columns exhibited moderate to severe corrosion in the steel, further compromising their structural integrity.
Moreover, investigators have authenticated reports from eyewitnesses, affirming that the pool deck descended into the garage roughly four to seven minutes before the coastal tower crumbled in the early hours of June 24, 2021, in Surfside, a Miami suburb. The meeting convened on Thursday in Maryland and was broadcasted online.
Glenn Bell, a primary investigator, underscored that these findings are preliminary and will not be official until all examinations are finalized and the conclusive report is published next year.
“The significance of our recommendations cannot be overstated, and we are under pressure to ensure accuracy,” Bell emphasized. “Implementing necessary changes based on the lessons learned may pose challenges.”
While the federal agency lacks the authority to alter state and local building codes, it can offer recommendations.
The concrete pool deck was connected to the building, and investigators speculate that its collapse likely inflicted damage and destabilized the foundation of a support beam running through the section of the tower that collapsed initially. Subsequently, the failure of that beam led to the collapse of the adjoining section, resulting in a pancake effect, as described by the investigators.
However, the lingering question revolves around whether the pool deck collapsed independently or if an internal event within the building precipitated it, the investigators noted.
Evidence bolstering the hypothesis of an independent deck failure includes photographs captured weeks before the collapse, revealing substantial cracks in concrete planters lining the pool area. This indicates that the deck was already under strain, according to the investigators.