Historical Fires and Code Change

[bphgravity]

Here are few historical fire events that have changed fire and building codes (source U.S. Fire Administration):

Fire - Date - Lives Lost - Code Changes

Iroquois Theater, Chicago, IL - 12/30/1903 - 602 - Outward door swing in places of assembly.

Cocoanut Grove, Boston, MA - 11/28/1942 - 492 - Egress distribution and regulation of combustible interior finishes.

Winecoff Hotel, Atlanta, GA - 12/07/1946 - 119 - Enclosed stairs for egress

Marting Arms, Richmond, IN - 04/05/1968 - 41 - Limits on gunpowder storage in retail sales occupancies.

Barnum and Bailey Circus, Hartford, CT - 07/06/1944 - 168 - Flame retardant treatments for tents.

Great Adventure Amusement Park, Jackson Township, NJ - 5/11/1984 - 8 - Fire and life safety improvements for “amusement buildings.”

One Meridian Plaza, Philadelphia, PA - 02/23/1991 - 3 - Improvements in fire standpipe system design.

Station Nightclub, West Warwick, RI - 02/19/2003 - 100 - Sprinklers in places of assembly.

 

[celtic]

Great Adventure Amusement Park, Jackson Township, NJ - 5/11/1984 - 8 - Fire and life safety improvements for ?amusement buildings.?

Interesting...I never heard about that.

Any more info?

 

[ryan_618]

Thanks Bryan.

It should be noted that The Station fire changed the code in Rhode Island only. The change in the 2006 IBC (from the 2003) is decreasing the threshold from 300 to 100 occupants before an NFPA 13 system is required.

It may also have change the NFPA 5000, but that doesn't matter since nobody adopts it.

 

[Bob NH]

It should be noted that The Station fire changed the code in Rhode Island only.

The problem with The Station fire was that they weren't enforcing the code requirement that people operating and working in those facilities had to have at least half a brain. Shooting off pyrotechnic flamethrowers on a stage that is lined with flamable foam should have qualified them for the Darwin Award. However, the owners and all but one of the group failed to qualify.