Bleachers Collapse In Karlin-Stolin

[yandmk]

Putting hundreds of people on a makeshift platform held together by zip ties without any professional construction or oversight, not to mention the entire place didn’t have a certificate of occupancy

It wasn't a makeshift platform with zip ties even if that's what some clickbait heimish media was writing. To prove it, it held a few hundred bochrim for about 15 minutes prior to the collapse. The frame was metal and it was being reinforced with additional metal twist ties used in construction, and it was unfortunately not completed on time. I don't know exactly how the miscommunication happened that allowed the boys up.

[TimT]

I walked under the bleachers about 3 minutes before it collapsed. They weren't shaking at the time. I believe it started shaking when they started dancing. I would estimate we were dancing for about 2 minutes when it collapsed.

The zip ties were to connect this new addition to the other bleachers ?

[yakov116]

To my knowledge, The zip ties were only holding the handle bars on the side.

[Abebee]

To my knowledge, The zip ties were only holding the handle bars on the side.

That makes sense, I believe the bars on the side slide into the frame and the zip ties are used as reinforcement.

[yandmk]

The zip ties were to connect this new addition to the other bleachers ?

Why are they called "zip ties"? They are steel wire ties. Very big difference. Besides, the frame was of metal, not wood as described in some of the frum media. There was even a sign (that can be seen in one of the video footage) warning about the metal beams on the floor, to walk carefully.

[TimT]

Why are they called "zip ties"? They are steel wire ties. Very big difference. Besides, the frame was of metal, not wood as described in some of the frum media. There was even a sign (that can be seen in one of the video footage) warning about the metal beams on the floor, to walk carefully.

From what you saw, what was still missing that might’ve caused it ?

[aygart]

To my knowledge, The zip ties were only holding the handle bars on the side.

It does not seem that way from this video.

https://twitter.com/hasidic_1/status/1394026204890607619

[EliJelly]

I'm no expert but it looks like these were constructed of aluminum, the bleachers I've seen were all made of heavy steel.

[CountValentine]

The wood pieces were cross braces for support. This shows they new there was a problem.

[yandmk]

I'm no expert but it looks like these were constructed of aluminum, the bleachers I've seen were all made of heavy steel.

Not that this makes it excusable, but this wasn't yet the permanent bleachers that were planned to be put up for the long term. It was still supposed to be safe to do it's job. The building was only ready to use a couple of days before Yom Tov. The back bleachers were put up Erev Yom Tov and unfortunately weren't probably finished on time. They were still working on the reinforcement when it collapsed. One of the Arab workers were also seriously hurt from the collapse.

[yandmk]

This shows they new there was a problem.

Baloney. They've been doing this for years. It wasn't miracles. It was safe. Just a couple of weeks earlier they built bleachers in Meron where thousands danced on for hours long. These were not probably completed on time from what I understand

[CountValentine]

Baloney. They've been doing this for years. It wasn't miracles. It was safe. Just a couple of weeks earlier they built bleachers in Meron where thousands danced on for hours long. These were not probably completed on time from what I understand

They been using 2x4's for cross support on metal bleachers for years?

[Abebee]

They been using 2x4's for cross support on metal bleachers for years?

This isn't the first, second, third or tenth time that stolin has had a tish with a crowd this size. For the past few years, they build more complex strutruces to hold crowds  larger in size , for example Rosh Hashana.

[TimT]

They been using 2x4's for cross support on metal bleachers for years?

Lots of places do. Its pretty thick. Not gonna crack from dancing on it.

[ckmk47]

I don't understand what failed.
The video shows the entire section dropping at the same time.  Not one tie breaking, then another etc.

That makes sense, I believe the bars on the side slide into the frame and the zip ties are used as reinforcement.

The way everyone just dropped at the same time looks like the side frames separated / widened away from the boards they were holding.  So the entire thing came down at once.
If the ties were holding reinforcing the frame in their upright position, and then they broke...

[CountValentine]

Lots of places do. Its pretty thick. Not gonna crack from dancing on it.

"Its pretty thick" is not a 2x4. Last time I checked they are 1.5in x 3.5in. 
Also using a wire-tie to anchor them is beyond crazy.

[yuneeq]

I’m not a mechanical engineering expert (yet) but from the videos it looks like it was built out of toothpicks and floss.

[aygart]

The back bleachers were put up Erev Yom Tov and unfortunately weren't probably finished on time. They were still working on the reinforcement when it collapsed.

This makes it more inexcusable.

[aygart]

The way everyone just dropped at the same time looks like the side frames separated / widened away from the boards they were holding.  So the entire thing came down at once.
If the ties were holding reinforcing the frame in their upright position, and then they broke...

Basic mechanics are that once one support collapses it puts more weight on the others and also starts to twist. This causes the rest to collapse within milliseconds. The first failure may have occurred before anything is even noticable.

[PlatinumGuy]

this wasn't yet the permanent bleachers that were planned to be put up for the long term. It was still supposed to be safe to do it's job..

A 2 year old could look at it and know it isn’t safe. You don’t get to say it was ‘supposed to be safe’ unless it met a professional objective standard.