Technical and Administrative Assessment of Plasco Building Incident

Abstract

In this study, the fire-induced progressive collapse of Plasco building incident is briefly assessed from different perspectives including: (1) the most probable building collapse scenario, (2) the structural deficiencies causing the progressive collapse, (3) the key problems in the electrical and mechanical installations leading to the fire outbreak, (4) the problems in building maintenance and up keeping procedures according to the Iranian requirements, (5) the simulation of the fire and smoke propagation during the incident, and (6) the strengths and weaknesses of the crisis management procedure. The results showed that the start of the fire and its spread was the consequence of two combined sources: the non-standard maintenance of the building and its installations throughout the entire service life of the building and the lack of a fire safety system in the building in accordance with the requirements of Iranian national building codes. Finally, to reduce such catastrophic risks in the high-risk buildings in Tehran and to reduce losses in probable similar events, a risk-reduction program is proposed. The program is intended to be used in the present rules, regulations, and standards implementation and also in resolving imperfections of the existing regulations in the field of rehabilitation and maintenance of old buildings.