Question

On a late May afternoon in 1984, a fire broke out in the “Haunted Castle” attraction at the Great Adventure Park in Jackson Township, New Jersey (Figure 4-1). Eight teenagers became trapped in the haunted house and subsequently died in the blaze. The maze-like “building” was actually a set of 17 interconnected truck trailers; guests walked from one trailer into the next. The dark walk-through haunted house included a variety of fright-provoking scenes, live actors, and a “strobe room.” Plastic polyurethane foam was used in decorations in various areas of the attraction. Plywood partitions were also present throughout. The structure did not have a fire alarm system or a fire sprinkler system. There were no specific regulations for “haunted houses” in the building and fire codes of New Jersey or the rest of the nation at the time of the fire. In the wake of this incident, action on the part of the state of New Jersey was swift. The state’s building and fire codes were changed to include fire alarm systems and sprinklers. These regulations were quickly adopted nationally. Today, these “special amusement” buildings require a fire alarm and detection system, full sprinkler protection, a public address system, low-level exit signs, and a Class A rating for all interior finishes. 1. Why does it often take a tragedy to change our building and fire codes? 2. What are some other fires in the past that have led to changes in our fire safety regulations?

Answer 1

1)The loss of even one life due to the improper functioning of system/non availability of codes or regulations are unacceptable. This is why tragedies lead to change in building code/fire norms. Any fire accident is completely avoidable problem and for this reason the Government/the regulatory body continually works to update the safety code.

2)Following are some of the fires in the past that have led to change in fire safety regulations

a)Iroquois theatre fire in Chicago in 1903 leading to death of 605 people and the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist fire in New York City leading to the death of 147 people.These two incidents have led to the creation of Safety to Life Committee in 1913.This committee published a number of materials that would form the foundation for today’s life safety code.

b)492 People died in the 1942 fire accident in the Cocoanut grove nightclub in Boston,Massachusetts.This is due to the installation of ineffective doors to handle the fire accident.This led to major updation in the fire safety code.

c)Over 100 people died in the fire accident in The station night club in warwick ,Rhode Island.Following this accident the NFPA enacted strict new code provisions for fire sprinklers and crowd management.