Why do many buildings in the world have no thirteenth floor?

Baloo55th

Triskaidekaphobia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia [Added reference link - McG] Mar 20 05, 1:58 PM

Arpeggionist

Some buildings do indeed have a 13th floor. These are mostly newer buildings which did away with the old superstition. I lived on the 13th floor of the dorm building in New York. Mar 20 05, 2:16 PM

elizabethmc

Here is an interesting site: http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20020913_13thfloor.htm Mar 20 05, 3:24 PM

chivo

As an elevator constructor, it is because in the old days deaths on construction sites were low, that is, buildings under 13 floors averaged 1-3 deaths a job, over 13 floors jumped to 9-11 deaths per job, all except the Chrysler building, which only had one death. Yes, it is true most of the newer elevators are once again having a 13th floor, although the building contractors are not too fond on the idea. Oct 16 07, 7:17 AM

McGruff

FRIDAY THE 13TH - how is fear of the number thirteen demonstarted? More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor. Many airports skip the 13th gate. Airplanes have no 13th aisle. Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13. Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery. On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half. Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate. Many triskaidekaphobes, as those who fear the unlucky integer are known, point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck. Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names. http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/scary.html Oct 16 07, 9:40 AM