The search for victims of the tragic Surfside, Florida building collapse may have ended, but the search for answers to how this happened and lessons to prevent it from happening again is only just beginning.

This catastrophe justifies a closer look at how building materials are tested for strength and durability – especially in light of two urgent pressing concerns: whether or not to return to offices as the economy emerges from the pandemic; and how building for climate resilience and reduced carbon footprint affect building safety.

Those testing protocols are established by ASTM International, structural engineer Frances Yang of the global engineering, architecture, design and consulting firm Arup, told me, and that “ASTMs work with many other building and building systems codes and standards to give us a way to manage risks up and down the construction supply chain.” ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials, is “an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.” These materials can range from sealants to insulation systems, and from roofs to doors, and address potential hazards during the manufacturing or installation processes, according to the ASTM website.

Yang said there are multiple levels of testing during every stage from the research and development stage to the actual project at the job site, based on different constraints and requirements. Every project has unique characteristics, including whether it’s exposed to the elements or underground or how many floors, and unique climate and geological issues to protect from, such as hurricanes or earthquakes. And, how the materials need to interact with other building materials and components in the project assembly.  They are tested with specific protocols, usually by a third party.

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