The Collapse at the Jet Set Club and What It Means for the Construction Industry

The roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic has been a massive tragedy. We express our deepest condolences for the irreparable loss of life and extend our solidarity to the victims, their families, and the Dominican people at this time of profound grief.

This event highlights the significance of cases such as the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis in 2007. At the time, many people immediately pinned the blame on an assumed lack of inspection. However, the investigation revealed that the collapse had been caused by a flaw in the original design. This precedent reminds us that, in order to determine a cause, rigorous technical analysis is required, including an analysis of the remaining structural elements, its original design, any modifications made, previous inspections, and the quality of the materials, among other factors. Before drawing conclusions, it is crucial to wait for these studies to be completed.

Witness testimonies can provide valuable information but should be assessed with caution, since it is common for inaccurate accounts to emerge. At this preliminary stage, we can only speculate on possible causes and identify factors that contribute to the vulnerability of structures, such as the age of a building, the type of construction, cumulative modifications, overloads from additional equipment, persistent leaks, and failure to conduct routine structural inspections.

Cases such as the Jet Set incident or the collapse of the Surfside condo in Miami in 2021 demonstrate that, in order to protect the community, it is essential to:

• Make sure that every building has its inspections and maintenance up to code. Buildings are subject to deterioration over time and require regular attention. This is especially relevant in Puerto Rico, where we are vulnerable to extreme events (hurricanes and earthquakes) and unfavorable environmental conditions (high temperatures and humidity, along with salt damage) that contribute to this deterioration.
• Inspect multi-story buildings periodically, such as every 10 years, as these house a larger number of people.
• Inspect high occupancy facilities, such as nightclubs or stadiums, more frequently, e.g., every 2 to 5 years.
• Maintain well-defined evacuation plans and conduct regular drills; as well as train personnel to deploy these plans in case of emergency.
• Support any structural modifications with an analysis of their impact on building behavior and any applicable reinforcement or rehabilitation measures.
• Ensure that all construction, repair, and maintenance work is performed by qualified personnel in order to avoid adding unexpected loads. If an overload occurs, a structural engineer must intervene.
• Establish an accreditation system for contractors, including training requirements and licensing exams, as is done with other professionals in the construction industry.

Ultimately, we wish to reassure the community that our current building regulations (2018 PR Building Code) are well founded, and updates are expected in the near future. As such, Puerto Rico’s structural designs follow state-of-the-art standards. Our efforts to improve should focus on ensuring the quality of the construction processes and on performing building inspections and maintenance on a regular basis.

By:

Gustavo E. Pacheco-Crosetti, PhD, PE

Héctor J. Cruzado, PhD, PE