High-rise

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For other uses, see High Rise (disambiguation)

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A high-rise in Hong Kong

A high-rise is a tall building or structure. Normally, the function of the building is added, for example high-rise apartment building or high-rise offices.

High-rise buildings became possible with the invention of the elevator (lift) and cheaper, more abundant building materials. Buildings between 75 feet and 491 feet (23 m to 150 m) high are, by some standerds, considered high-rises. Buildings taller than 492 feet (150 m) are classified as skyscrapers. The average height of a level is around 13 feet (4 m) high, thus a 79 foot (24 m) tall building would comprise 6 floors.

The materials used for the structural system of high-rise buildings are reinforced concrete and steel. Most American style skyscrapers have a steel frame, while residential tower blocks are usually constructed out of concrete.

Although the exact definition is immaterial, various bodies have tried to define what 'high-rise' means:

The International Conference on Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings defined a high-rise as "any structure where the height can have a serious impact on evacuation"
The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines a high-rise as "a building having many stories".
Massachusetts General Laws define a high-rise as being higher than 70 feet (21 m).
Most building engineers, inspectors, architects and similar professions define a high-rise as a building that is at least 75 feet (23 m) tall.

High-rise structures pose particular design challenges for structural and geotechnical engineers, particularly if situated in a seismically active region or if the underlying soils have geotechnical risk factors such as high compressibility or bay mud. They also pose serious challenges to firefighters during emergencies in high-rise structures. New and old building design, building systems like the building standpipe system, HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning), fire sprinkler system and other things like stairwell and elevator evacuations pose significant problems.

An example of challenges posed to firefighting crews is in this real example. Fire companies were dispatched to a high-rise hotel in Lexington, Kentucky with reports of smoke in the building. When the fire companies investigated the source, they found smoke in the hallways, but not in the guest rooms. This in turn helped the fire companies determine that the problem was in the HVAC system and that a real hazard wasn't actually posed.^{[citation needed]}

High-rise buildings actually began in the time of early America during the rise of industry. Using light materials, they were able to create over 8 stories of building. The Asch Building had 10. But these buildings weren't safe and had many.