Two additional
building and fire experts have been appointed by Arden
Bement Jr., director of the
Commerce Department’s
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to
serve on the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Advisory
Committee. The 10-member committee will advise the NIST director
on carrying out investigations of building failures conducted
under the authorities of the NCST Act that became law in
October 2002. That includes advice on the composition and
function of investigation teams and other responsibilities
under the Act.
The two newest committee members are David
S. Collins,
president, The Preview Group Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio;
and Charles
Thornton,
chairman and principal, Thornton-Tomasetti Inc., New York,
N.Y. Members
were selected based on their technical expertise and
experience, established records of distinguished professional
service, and their knowledge of issues
affecting teams established under the NCST Act.
The NCST Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting
on April 29, 2003, at NIST in Gaithersburg, Md., http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/ncstac.htm.
Another eight members were appointed by NIST Director Bement
in March. They are:
- John
M. Barsom, president, Barsom Consulting, Ltd., Pittsburgh,
Pa.;
- John
L. Bryan, University of Maryland, professor emeritus,
and consultant, fire protection and life safety, Frederick,
Md.;
- Glenn
P. Corbett, professor, public management-fire science,
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, N.Y.;
- Philip
J. DiNenno, president, Hughes Associates, Inc., Baltimore,
Md.;
- Paul
M. Fitzgerald, formerly with FM Global, Johnston, R.I.,
Holliston, Mass.;
- Robert
D. Hanson, University of Michigan, professor emeritus,
Walnut Creek, Calif.;
- Kathleen
J. Tierney, professor, department of sociology and
criminal justice, and director, Disaster Research Center,
University of Delaware, Newark, Del.; and
- Forman
A. Williams, professor, mechanical and aerospace engineering,
and director, Center for Energy Research, University of California
at San Diego.
More information about the NCST may be found
online at www.nist.gov/ncst. For background on NIST’s
more than 30 years of experience investigating building
fire and structural failures, go to
www.nist.gov/public_affairs/factsheet/bfrlinvestigations.htm.
As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department
of Commerce’s
Technology Administration, NIST develops and promotes measurement,
standards and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate
trade and improve the quality of life.
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