EDWARDSVILLE, IL (KMOX) = A report on the Edwardsville tornado that killed six when the Amazon warehouse they were in collapsed, raises new questions about the building's construction.
The report by West County Fire and EMS shows several support columns in the area that collapsed were not bolted or welded to the floor -- but instead were resting in mount holes with calking around the base.
Here is a portion of that narrative from West County Fire emailed to KMOX News:
"In each case of the failed columns, there was a clear line of demarcation on the bottom of the column just below the yellow band that showed an area of unpainted column with light brown surface oxidation that had been the area of the column that sat below the finished grade of the concrete floor. I became concerned when I noticed that none of the columns appeared to be ripped or torn from the base. This was especially concerning to me knowing that the International Building Code (IBC) requires structural members to be secured against uplift from wind loads, among other things. (2021 IBC Section 1604.8.1) Looking at the base of the columns more closely, I could find no weld or bolted connection at the base of any column, but only a bead of what appeared to be some sort of caulk around the column at the finished floor line. An examination of several of the empty pockets were columns once stood also did not reveal any indication of positive securement of the columns at or below the finished floor level."
Attorney Jack Casciato represents the family of one of the individuals killed. "I think we all know that support columns that weigh thousands of pounds are not going to stay in the ground by simple caulk. They need to be anchored."
Casciato says the oversight is "a grave violation" of the building code.
Related
Amazon has said the building was safe and met all building codes. The wrongful death lawsuit names Amazon, the construction company and the developer of the site.
A final report on the December 10th collapse is still being worked on by federal instigators with OSHA.
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