Edouard-Pailleron college

The THESE Edouard Pailleron was a Collège of secondary education of XIX ème district of Paris which was destroyed by a case of arson the February 6th 1973. The assessment was particularly heavy (20 died including 16 children) because of the propagation velocity of the flames.

The design of the establishment was blamed: the Histoire retained in particular the use of the structures Métal lic, fireproof but becoming " molles" after a certain duration to fire.

In this case it should not be neglected the fact that they were not protected from the direct exposure to heat, contrary to constructions associating steel and concrete, or heat-resisting steel and materials (such as the Amiante). The presence of horizontal and vertical vacuums, associated with insulating materials such as the Wood of Fir tree and the Polystyrene, also largely accelerated the propagation of the flames and toxic smoke.

These Edouard-Pailleron was far from being the only building of this type: more than 1.061 THESE and some colleges were with metal structure, including 57 of “Pailleron type”. During more than twenty years, one will systematically shave this type of building by replacing them by protected buildings (for example the Saint-Éxupéry college, with Hautmont, in the North, rebuilt in 1995). Several other establishment of the " type; Pailleron" burned since, the last in 2001 with Bavay (Northern), without however making victims.

In 2007, it still remains of the colleges of the Pailleron type; an example: the college Jean Bouin in the Vaucluse with Isle-on-the-Sorgue which accommodates more than 900 pupils. Work is planned for the year 2008.

External bonds

a rather complete site (legal report, technical details.)

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