Federal investigators looking into the causes of the partial collapse of the 40-year-old Champlain Towers South residential condominium in Surfside, Fla., last year have developed about two-dozen hypotheses, and are working to prove or disprove each, using a growing collection of evidence. They aim to issue recommendations for changes to building codes and standards, in an effort to avoid a similar tragedy, by the end of 2024.
Members of the investigation team from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s National institute of Standards and Technology gave an update on their progress June 9 during a National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee meeting. Glenn Bell, the associate lead investigator, said it is a difficult, complex investigation that, even almost a year after the June 24 collapse that killed 98, has not identified a clear initiating event.