The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (TSF) violated many New York building codes. Below are the safety regulations at the time and TSF's conditions.
NY State Labor Laws (article 6 Sec. 80) DOORS
"All doors leading in or to any such factory shall be constructed to open outwardly, here practicable, and shall not be locked, bolted or fastened during work hours."
TSF: The owners locked doors near quitting time, allowing only one exit door. Factory doors opened inwardly.
NY Law: STAIRCASE
"Buildings with more than 2,500 square feet per floor, but less that 5,000 feet per floor, needed two staircases. Each 5,000 square feet more needs an additional staircase."
TSF: The factory had 10,000 square feet of space but only had two staircases when it required three.
NY Law: FIRE ESCAPES
"At the time New York left the decision of fire escapes to the building owner."
TSF: The factory's one fire escape didn't reach the ground and collapsed during the fire.
NY Law: NON-WOOD SURFACES
"Buildings over 150 feet high must have metal trim, metal window frames, and stone or concrete floors."
TSF: The Ashe Building was 135 feet tall, one floor short of 150 feet, allowing the building to have wood surfaces.
NY Law: SPRINKLERS
"In 1911 sprinklers were not required in NYC buildings."
TSF: The Ashe Building had no sprinkler system, leaving workers with 27 buckets of water to extinguish the fire.
NY Law: FIRE DRILLS
"Fire drills were not required."
TSF: The owners never conducted a fire drill.
The TSF Fire led lawmakers to pass and enforce new safety regulations, which included sprinklers in buildings with 25+ employees above ground level, fire drills and fire escapes.
NY State Labor Laws (article 6 Sec. 80) DOORS
"All doors leading in or to any such factory shall be constructed to open outwardly, here practicable, and shall not be locked, bolted or fastened during work hours."
TSF: The owners locked doors near quitting time, allowing only one exit door. Factory doors opened inwardly.
NY Law: STAIRCASE
"Buildings with more than 2,500 square feet per floor, but less that 5,000 feet per floor, needed two staircases. Each 5,000 square feet more needs an additional staircase."
TSF: The factory had 10,000 square feet of space but only had two staircases when it required three.
NY Law: FIRE ESCAPES
"At the time New York left the decision of fire escapes to the building owner."
TSF: The factory's one fire escape didn't reach the ground and collapsed during the fire.
NY Law: NON-WOOD SURFACES
"Buildings over 150 feet high must have metal trim, metal window frames, and stone or concrete floors."
TSF: The Ashe Building was 135 feet tall, one floor short of 150 feet, allowing the building to have wood surfaces.
NY Law: SPRINKLERS
"In 1911 sprinklers were not required in NYC buildings."
TSF: The Ashe Building had no sprinkler system, leaving workers with 27 buckets of water to extinguish the fire.
NY Law: FIRE DRILLS
"Fire drills were not required."
TSF: The owners never conducted a fire drill.
The TSF Fire led lawmakers to pass and enforce new safety regulations, which included sprinklers in buildings with 25+ employees above ground level, fire drills and fire escapes.
Ninth Floor Model
1. Locked doors to the stairwell
2. Rusty fire escape that collapsed
3. Cluttered workspaces
4. Short ladders only reached the sixth floor
5. Not enough water pressure in hoses
6. Long wooden tables became obstacles
7. Wicker baskets full of scraps
8. Oily floors helped spread the fire quickly
9. Fire nets failed to catch jumpers
10. No sprinkler system, only pails of water
11. Flammable barrel of oil
12. Boxes crowding the exit
13. Lack of a required third staircase
"What Went Wrong?." Cornell University. http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/supplemental/3Dmodel.html (accessed December 23, 2013).
1. Locked doors to the stairwell
2. Rusty fire escape that collapsed
3. Cluttered workspaces
4. Short ladders only reached the sixth floor
5. Not enough water pressure in hoses
6. Long wooden tables became obstacles
7. Wicker baskets full of scraps
8. Oily floors helped spread the fire quickly
9. Fire nets failed to catch jumpers
10. No sprinkler system, only pails of water
11. Flammable barrel of oil
12. Boxes crowding the exit
13. Lack of a required third staircase
"What Went Wrong?." Cornell University. http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/supplemental/3Dmodel.html (accessed December 23, 2013).