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1- Firefighter Technician from Tehran Fire Department 5, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of English Language, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar Branch, Garmsar, Iran.
2- Department of English Language, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar Branch, Garmsar, Iran.
Abstract: (14 Views)
Background: On January 19, 2017, the Plasco Tower, a 17-storey commercial building in Tehran, Iran, caught fire and collapsed, leading to 36 fatalities, including 16 firefighters. This tragic event exposed severe deficiencies in Iran’s building safety regulations and emergency response systems.
Case Report: This case report presents a detailed analysis based on official investigation documents, eyewitness accounts, fire department records, and structural engineering assessments. The analysis identifies three core contributors to the disaster: the use of flammable polyethylene cladding, unregulated structural alterations, and failure of emergency response systems. A comparative regulatory review highlights significant gaps between Iran’s National Building Regulations (2019) and international standards, including those from NFPA, the European Union, and Japan. These shortcomings include the absence of fire performance requirements for facade materials, weak inspection protocols, and poor public preparedness.
Conclusion: The Plasco Tower incident serves as a sentinel case for understanding systemic vulnerabilities in urban fire safety governance. The findings support the urgent need for reforms in material certification, enforcement practices, and inter-agency coordination. The report offers practical, phased recommendations for retrofitting, safety verification, and emergency planning tailored to high-risk urban environments in Iran and comparable contexts.
Case Report: This case report presents a detailed analysis based on official investigation documents, eyewitness accounts, fire department records, and structural engineering assessments. The analysis identifies three core contributors to the disaster: the use of flammable polyethylene cladding, unregulated structural alterations, and failure of emergency response systems. A comparative regulatory review highlights significant gaps between Iran’s National Building Regulations (2019) and international standards, including those from NFPA, the European Union, and Japan. These shortcomings include the absence of fire performance requirements for facade materials, weak inspection protocols, and poor public preparedness.
Conclusion: The Plasco Tower incident serves as a sentinel case for understanding systemic vulnerabilities in urban fire safety governance. The findings support the urgent need for reforms in material certification, enforcement practices, and inter-agency coordination. The report offers practical, phased recommendations for retrofitting, safety verification, and emergency planning tailored to high-risk urban environments in Iran and comparable contexts.
Type of Study: Case Report Reviewers |
Subject:
Occupational and Industrial Health
Received: 2025/04/11 | Accepted: 2025/08/27
Received: 2025/04/11 | Accepted: 2025/08/27
References
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