Safety doors failed in NYC high-rise fire that killed 17

[Old Crank]

2. Amazing that more lives weren't lost.

When I was at Stanford we had a continuing battle with students who wanted to leave their dorm room doors propped open. All doors had to be on self closures and we checked, and the county checked. Hallways over a certain length needed to have fire doors located in them and placed to make the means of egress clear from smoke. Same with elevators. They have to have self closing doors hooked to the alarm system.
This structure at minimum is existing nonconforming (Grandfathered in) The city has had ample time to increase teh compliance of the old codes, which seem not to have happened in this building.
Unfortunately the codes follow the tragedy.