"Key Insights from Preliminary Investigation into Surfside Condo Collapse"

The preliminary report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on the Surfside condo collapse points to design defects in construction and a lack of meeting safety standards, including those in effect back in 1979 when the building was first constructed. Investigators have identified the pool deck as the likely starting point of the collapse, with moderate strength deficiencies in several columns and compromised concrete leading to corrosion. The collapse of the pool deck preceded the building's collapse by more than four minutes, but the exact initiation point is still under investigation. The goal of the investigation is to bring about improvements in building codes and practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future.