can it still happen today??

[cda]

District Fire Chief John Vahey wrote a comprehensive report on the Vendome fire. Although the cause of the original fire was not known, the subsequent collapse was attributed to the failure of an overloaded seven-inch steel column whose support had been weakened when a new duct had been cut beneath it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Vendome_fire

 

[jpranch]

The answer is yes. But the good news is that there are very good inspectors out there that over their careers have prevented this sort of thing time and time again. I have seen field modified steel many times. Anytime you see the tourch a big red flag should come up.

 

[Gene Boecker]

I'm not sure what the duct cut is all about. Without more detail that doesn't make sense. The wikipedia link doesn't elaborate on how it could have been detrimental. From what I've read, the column was left standing alone on the main floor after the bearing walls surrounding it had been removed in 1890.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/06/16/the_vendome_test/

The increased load from that single column had a greater impact on the first floor slab. If there was renovation work which would have further removed the structural stability of the support system then the structural engineer in charge is liable. If, alternately, the FD was doing something as part of its overhaul that further reduced the carrying capacity of the structure that was a different type of tragedy. I just don't see enough information to get a feel for what went wrong.

 

[cda]

http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/hotel-vendome-remembering-the

GB

good point it was more then likely a combiantion of things

http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/hotel-vendome-remembering-the