Plan review isn’t designed to be just another hurdle for builders, developers, property owners and city officials. We must remember that plan review for code compliance is necessary to safeguard public health, safety and general welfare, and to protect emergency responders when disaster strikes.
SAFEbuilt plans examiners warn against complacency—common code deficiencies can still be overlooked or ignored. |
Sadly, loss of life is too often the result of failures in code enforcement. Two of the most tragic building fires in twentieth century America are a reminder of the importance of accurate plan review. It has been many years since the tragedies at Beverly Hills Supper Club and MGM Grand Hotel, but SAFEbuilt plans examiners warn against complacency— common code deficiencies can still be overlooked or ignored.
The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire—Southgate, Kentucky
On the evening of May 28, 1977, there were between 2,400 and 2,800 people in the club—nearly twice the capacity that the building had been designed to accommodate. A fire, possibly caused by faulty aluminum wiring, began in a reception room and smoldered undetected for half an hour.
Panic ensued as the blaze spread, and all but two of the 165 victims perished less than 30 feet from safety, piled near two exits. Code deficiencies turned the sprawling events center into a deadly trap, leaving 200 injured, 165 dead and $50,000,000 in class-action lawsuit settlements.
Primary Code Deficiencies
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Inadequate exits—number, size, and location |
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Too many building occupants—well over capacity |
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Lack of automatic sprinklers |
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Flammable wall coverings—produced toxic smoke |
The MGM Grand Hotel Fire—Las Vegas, Nevada
The 26-story MGM Grand Hotel and Casino was built between 1971 and 1973. On November 21, 1980, an electrical fire started on the ground floor. The hotel’s stairwells and HVAC system acted as chimneys, spreading smoke throughout the casino and into the upper floors.
Of approximately 5,000 guests, 84 people died and 679 were injured. Most of the victims were in guest rooms, hallways or stair enclosures on the 20th to the 25th floors, and many perished as a result of smoke and toxic fume inhalation. There was $223 million in legal settlements following this fire.
Primary Code Deficiencies
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Lack of 2-hour firerated construction in interior stair enclosures |
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Locked doors in stair enclosures—prevented occupants from escaping to other floors |
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Improper construction—allowed smoke and fire to spread to stair enclosures |
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Lack of smoke detectors and shut-down system within HVAC system—allowed smoke to spread throughout building |
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Disabled fire dampers—allowed smoke and fire to migrate to adjoining areas |
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Flammable and toxic construction materials and decorations in the casino |
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Lack of code-compliant automatic sprinkler system in the casino |
The same code deficiencies that contributed to loss of life in these two tragic building fires are still sometimes found in plan reviews today, emphasizing the need for qualified and experienced plans examiners.
