The gas explosion in the 18th floor flat took out 2 of the corner load bearing walls. Of course the result was the flats above this point collapsed with the weight of the falling masonry taking out the flats below them in much the same way as the (alleged)twin towers fell.
As a consequence and following the investigation building regulations were strengthened quite considerably.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronan_PointQuote:
Effect on legislation
The partial collapse of Ronan Point led to major changes in the building regulations. The first of these came with the 5th Amendment to the Building Regulations in 1970. These are now embodied in Part A of the Building Regulations and cover Disproportionate Collapse.
Immediately after the publication of the report the Government brought out interim measures to ensure the safety and integrity of buildings in the event of an explosion. All new buildings constructed after November 1968 and over 5 storeys were required to be able to resist an explosive force of 3.4×104 Pa (5psi). Existing buildings were allowed to resist an explosive force of 1.7×104 Pa (2.5psi), provided that the gas supply was removed and flats were refitted for electric cooking and heating. The gas supply was removed from Ronan Point and the other eight blocks on the estate.
Funny enough I served in the army with a chap who lived in one of the flats below the explosion which collapsed. His wife was away visiting her mother and he had departed for work early that morning so missed it all.
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