Terin Hopkins
NFSA Manager of Public Fire Protection

Few structures in the world capture the imagination quite like the Empire State Building. Rising 1,454 feet above the streets of Manhattan, it has been a symbol of New York City’s ambition and resilience since its completion in 1931. While its art-deco architecture and status as a cultural icon are celebrated worldwide, the building’s history is also deeply tied to advancements in fire safety and protection elements that have ensured it remains both a marvel of engineering and a safe haven for millions of occupants over the decades.

Building a Giant in the Great Depression

The Empire State Building’s story begins during one of America’s most challenging periods, the Great Depression. Construction started in March 1930 and was completed in May 1931, a staggering achievement considering it took just over a year to erect what would become the tallest building in the world. At the time, New York City was in the middle of a skyscraper race: the Chrysler Building had just claimed the height record in 1930, and developers sought to outdo one another with structures that pierced the clouds. The Empire State Building eclipsed them all, topping out at 1,250 feet (not counting the spire).

It wasn’t just tallest by a small margin, it soared hundreds of feet above its nearest competitors, instantly redefining the skyline. For nearly 40 years, from 1931 until the completion of the World Trade Center’s North Tower in 1970, the Empire State Building held the title of tallest building in the world. This reign was unprecedented and remains one of the longest in skyscraper history. It stood as the global benchmark for height and modernity through the mid-20th century, a beacon of both American engineering and resilience during turbulent decades.

At the peak of the project, more than 3,400 workers, many of them immigrants, labored with speed and precision, averaging over four floors completed per week. Designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, the tower embodied art-deco elegance while also prioritizing efficiency. Its developers wanted not just height, but a building that could support thousands of tenants, visitors, and employees daily. From the very beginning, fire safety was part of the conversation. New York had already endured several catastrophic fires in tall buildings during the early 20th century, shaping both public demand and code requirements.

Early Fire Protection Measures

When the Empire State Building opened, it represented one of the most advanced high-rise fire protection strategies of its time. It incorporated a steel frame protected by fire-resistant materials, enclosed stairwells, and an early form of compartmentation designed to prevent fire from spreading rapidly from floor to floor. These measures reflected lessons learned from tragedies such as the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which had spurred sweeping changes in fire safety regulation and directly influenced high-rise design in New York City.

In addition, the building was equipped with standpipe systems, giving the fire department the ability to deliver water to upper floors. For the 1930s, this was cutting-edge fire protection, ensuring that New York firefighters, already facing challenges with limited hose reach and pump capacity, had a means to combat blazes hundreds of feet in the air. This technology made the Empire State Building not just a world’s tallest skyscraper, but also one of the safest of its era.

Lessons from the 1945 Plane Crash

The Empire State Building’s fire protection systems faced their ultimate test on July 28, 1945, when a U.S. Army B-25 bomber became lost in fog and crashed into the north side of the building between the 79th and 80th floors. The impact killed 14 people and ignited a massive fire that blazed through multiple floors.

Remarkably, the fire was extinguished in just 40 minutes. Firefighters credited the building’s robust standpipe system and compartmentation with preventing further catastrophe. Despite a gaping hole in its façade, the structural integrity remained sound, and only a small portion of the building was closed temporarily. At a time when high-rise fire protection was still evolving, the Empire State Building became a textbook case of how proper design and preparedness could contain even extraordinary disasters. It was a turning point for confidence in skyscraper safety.

Modernization and Upgrades

As building codes evolved, so too did the Empire State Building’s fire safety systems. By the latter half of the 20th century, automatic sprinkler systems had become the gold standard in high-rise protection. Although sprinklers were not required when the building was first constructed, retrofitting became essential to meet modern expectations. Today, the Empire State Building is fully sprinklered, offering automatic fire suppression coverage throughout its 102 stories.

The building’s modernization project in the 2000’s, a $550 million initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency, also included extensive life-safety upgrades. Fire alarms were replaced with modern addressable systems that allow pinpoint accuracy in identifying smoke or fire conditions. Pressurized stairwells were installed to provide safe egress routes, ensuring that occupants could escape without being overcome by smoke. Fire command centers were also upgraded to allow building staff and first responders to monitor every system in real time.

Meeting Today’s High-Rise Fire Challenges

High-rise buildings pose unique challenges in fire protection: long travel distances, thousands of occupants, and limited fire department access beyond certain heights. The Empire State Building demonstrates how layered systems, structural fire resistance, detection and alarm, sprinklers, and standpipes, work together to create redundancy. Its upgrades align with modern NFPA codes and New York City fire safety regulations, which demand multiple safeguards to protect both occupants and first responders.

Importantly, the Empire State Building has also embraced regular fire drills and tenant training programs, recognizing that fire protection is not only about hardware, but also about preparedness. Occupant awareness remains a critical part of the fire safety puzzle, particularly in a building that welcomes millions of visitors each year.

An Enduring Legacy

Nearly a century after its completion, the Empire State Building continues to inspire and awe. Tourists flock to its observation decks, filmmakers use it as a backdrop, and engineers study it as a case study in durability and safety. Its history is one of ambition, built taller and faster than anyone thought possible and its survival through crises, from economic hardship to a wartime accident, underscores its place as a true American landmark.

What makes the building especially remarkable is how fire protection has been interwoven into its legacy. From early compartmentation and standpipes to today’s modern sprinklers and command centers, the Empire State Building reflects the story of fire safety itself: constantly evolving, adapting, and rising to meet new challenges.

For nearly four decades it reigned as the tallest building on Earth, a record that stood until the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers reshaped Lower Manhattan in 1970. Even after taller buildings claimed the crown, the Empire State Building never lost its symbolic power. Its enduring presence reminds us that while architecture and engineering define a skyline, it is fire protection that ensures those structures endure, protecting lives, preserving history, and securing the future.

More about the Author:

Terin Hopkins brings over four decades of fire service and public safety experience to his current role as Manager of Public Fire Protection for the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA). Beginning his career in 1981 as a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT, Terin went on to serve 25 years with the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire/EMS Department, retiring as station officer in 2010. He then continued his commitment to protecting communities with the Howard County Department of Fire Rescue Services, Office of the Fire Marshal. In 2018, Terin joined NFSA and now serves as a national resource for fire departments, code officials, and policymakers. He represents NFSA on several key NFPA and UL committees, including NFPA 1, NFPA 14, UL 47, and NFPA 13E, shaping the standards firefighters depend on. Terin remains dedicated to bridging the gap between the fireground and the codebook. His mission is to ensure that the voices of firefighters are heard in the standards-making process, while advancing fire protection systems that improve both firefighter safety and civilian survivability.

Have Questions: Just ask Chat EOD!