The
National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National
Institute of Standards and Technology
Minutes
of June 22-23, 2004, Meeting - Gaithersburg, Maryland
The
slides from the presentations are embedded as links to PDF files
within this document and, thus, are summarized in these minutes.
Each presentation was followed by a discussion period. “Q”
indicates a question, “A” the corresponding answer,
and “C” a comment. All questions and comments, unless
otherwise noted, were made by Advisory Committee members. All
answers, unless otherwise noted, were by NIST personnel.
The
minutes summarize the main points of each discussion; they are
not intended to be a verbatim transcript of the meeting.
June
22, 2004
Opening
Remarks
Mr. Paul M. Fitzgerald, Committee Chair
Mr. Paul
Fitzgerald, chairman of the National Construction Safety Team
(NCST) Advisory Committee, opened the meeting at 8 a.m. with
a welcome to the Committee members, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) staff, the media, and the public.
Mr. Fitzgerald noted that John Bryan had elected not to renew
his term as a member of the Advisory Committee. He thanked Mr.
Bryan for his contributions to the NCST Advisory Committee.
Mr. Fitzgerald
then turned the floor over to Dr. Hratch Semerjian, Acting Director
of NIST, for his opening remarks.
Dr.
Hratch Semerjian, Acting Director, National Institute of Standards
and Technology
Welcome
to this, your fourth two-day meeting of the NCST Advisory Committee
in just a little over one year.
I, Arden
Bement, and all of NIST appreciate your commitment to the concept
embodied in the National Construction Safety Team Act; that
of technical investigations of major building disasters so that
building practices, standards, and codes can be improved to
make even safer buildings in the future.
In addition
to these meetings, I know all of you have spent countless hours
reviewing material developed during the course of our two current
investigations, including the 1,000-page progress report on
the WTC Investigation we sent you within the past 2 weeks. In
addition, many of you have traveled to NIST between Committee
meetings to attend project review meetings with our staff and
contractors.
Your role
is very important to me. These are the first two investigations
that will have been conducted under our new authority. They
must be done in the best tradition of NIST; thorough, impartial,
objective, and with meaningful findings and recommendations
that will be embraced by the building profession, standards,
and codes bodies. You are each recognized authorities in your
field. I am counting on you to help guide us to the very best
recommendations we can make. I am also counting on you to support
our findings and recommendations once the final investigation
reports are issued.
Thank you
also for your excellent report to Congress completed after your
last meeting and submitted early this year. You clearly stated
that we have much to do to be ready for our next investigations:
1. Get
procedures in place that will readily enable us to launch our
Teams,
2. Seek relief from federal regulations that could impact this
early launch,
3. Develop “first call” teams who are prepared on
a moment’s notice, and
4. Develop cooperation with local authorities.
I would
like to tell you we have completed all this and more, but
unfortunately
we have made only slight progress in these directions. The
primary reason is the total commitment of our current staff
to the completion
of the current two investigations and the lack of any additional
funds to implement
the NCST Act.
We do appreciate
your support in the annual report through your statements that
we need annual funding of $2 million and an additional $2 million
reserve fund to initiate major investigations. We do not have
expectations that this will occur anytime soon. This coming
fiscal year could be the tightest budget year we have seen in
decades due to the rising federal deficit and the commitment
we as a nation have made to the war on terrorism. Even under
these tight fiscal conditions, the President has requested an
increase of $4 million in his FY 2005 budget to Congress for
the R&D and dissemination and technical assistance components
of the overall WTC response plan. We hope the Congress will
appropriate these funds for NIST to address important standards,
technology, and practice issues related to first responders
and buildings in partnership with private sector stakeholders.
I can report
to you that we signed an MOU with the Chemical Safety Board
in a ceremony here at NIST on April 30. The MOU commits both
organizations to work together, share resources, and cooperate
on investigations where we both may have jurisdiction. Jim Hill
is already in contact with them about training courses they
offer that would be valuable for our staff.
Once again,
I appreciate your support and commitment to NIST and the NCST
and hope you have a very successful meeting today and tomorrow.
Back
to agenda
NCST
Advisory Committee Business
Mr. Paul M. Fitzgerald, Committee Chair
Mr. Fitzgerald
then announced that the committee had some old business to address
with respect to the 2003 Annual Report to Congress. Mr. Fitzgerald
turned the floor over to Dr. Forman Williams to discuss his
concerns about the Report to Congress.
C:
In general, the report to Congress is fine. I propose deleting
the one sentence that has no important bearing on the report.
On page six, section 2.4, the report reads, “The NCSTAC
notes that in 2002 and 2003 there were no major natural catastrophes…”
In my opinion, the southern California fires constitute a major
natural catastrophe. (Dr. Williams then read the paragraph without
the sentence.) I think the paragraph as I read it without the
sentence makes the point, and the sentence is superfluous.
Q:
Any comments on his suggestion?
C:
I’m sympathetic to the intent. The question is the mechanics
of correcting the report. One approach would be to make a statement
in our 2004 Report to Congress.
C
(NIST): The most appropriate approach is to address
the concern in the 2004 report. It is very difficult to pull
back the report once it has gone to Congress.
C:
I agree in taking the sentence out, but it could cause a break
in thought sequence. The intent was that there were no investigations
that NIST needed to start in 2002 or 2003. The sentence maybe
could be rewritten.
C:
The term “natural catastrophe” is not normally used
for wildfires or urban interface. It is widely used for earthquakes,
hurricanes, and floods. I don’t believe that the sentence
is an error.
C:
This brings focus to the issue that Glenn Corbett raised previously
on how and when we identify an investigation that needs to be
done. For example, would the DeGaulle Airport collapse fall
under the law [NCST act] if it occurred in this country and
trigger an investigation?
C:
I don’t think there is a particular reason to debate the
words. The Arizona fire would be called a catastrophe. The important
thing is how the final report is put together. The Committee
members should have the opportunity to read the entire report
before it is submitted to the Secretary of Commerce. We should
change the procedure of how it is prepared.
C:
There’s a motion to find a way to address the sentence
in the subject paragraph.
C:
I suggest deleting it. Mr. DiNenno suggests addressing it in
the 2004 report.
C:
Options are to address in 2004, or do an addendum.
C:
I don’t know if we can delete it.
C
(NIST): It is awkward, but not impossible.
C:
Dr. Williams is calling for motion to delete. Is there a second?
There is no second so the motion is denied. There is a motion
to look at the process for preparation of the Report to Congress.
Is there a second? All in favor? The motion is carried to look
at the process for preparing the Report to Congress.
*RECOMMENDATION:
The Committee Chair will develop a calendar and issue it to
all members for agreement on how to process the 2004 Annual
Report to Congress, including full review by all members before
issue.
Mr. Fitzgerald
introduced Dr. S. Shyam Sunder, the Lead Investigator of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology World Trade Center
Investigation.
Status
of the World Trade Center Investigation and Discussion
Dr. S. Shyam Sunder, Acting Deputy Director, Building and
Fire Research Laboratory
PRESENTATION (.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Sunder,
the Lead Investigator, gave a brief summary of the June 18 press
and public briefings held in New York City on the World Trade
Center (WTC) Investigation. He then presented an update on the
WTC Investigation. He said that good solid technical progress
continues to be made on the investigation drawing on talent
from NIST, outside experts, and contractors. A second technical
progress report was released on June 18, 2004, and is available
on the investigation Web site http://wtc.nist.gov.
The report contains 17 appendixes with detailed interim reports
on specific technical tasks within the eight investigation projects
where significant progress has been made. The report also presents
interim findings. Dr. Sunder said that the current findings
may be revised and additional findings will be presented in
the final report. He emphasized that NIST is not making any
recommendations at this time; all recommendations will be made
in the final report.
The NIST-led
investigation team has developed a working hypothesis for the
collapse of the WTC towers. Dr. Sunder described the chronological
sequence of major events that may have led to the eventual collapse
of the WTC towers. He stated that specific load redistribution
paths and damage scenarios for each building are under analysis
to determine the most probable collapse sequence for each building.
Photographs were shown to illustrate evidence of column bowing,
column instability, and collapse initiation. Dr. Sunder explained
the innovative systems of the WTC towers, including the structural
system, the elevator and skylobby system, and the use of composite
floors with spray-on fireproofing. He also stated that wind
loads were a major factor in the design of the components that
made up the structures, especially the perimeter frame-tube
system.
NIST is
examining the relative role of aircraft impact and fire. The
robustness of the structural system and the large size of the
towers helped the buildings withstand the aircraft impact. Dr.
Sunder showed a video to illustrate that WTC 2, which collapsed
first and in about half the time as WTC 1, vibrated for over
4 minutes at an oscillation period nearly equal to that measured
for the undamaged building. He briefly reviewed results from
the preliminary aircraft impact damage analysis.
From the
analysis of visual images in its collection, NIST has determined
the exact times for the aircraft impact and building collapse
initiation. NIST has also developed detailed mappings for the
fire, smoke, and condition of windows at several specific times
for each tower; work is nearing completion for WTC 7.
NIST has
developed a rigorous technical approach to evaluate the role
of the post-impact condition of the fireproofing, including
its thickness, on the collapse of the towers. In general, the
affected floor systems in WTC 1 had upgraded or thicker fireproofing
(1.5 inches specified); while the affected floors in WTC 2 had
the original fireproofing (0.5 inch specified). NIST is using
models and experiments to determine the acceleration of structural
members that would be required to dislodge 1 inch of fireproofing
and to estimate regions where fireproofing was dislodged.
Dr. Sunder
provided an update on the analysis of recovered WTC steel and
stated that, based on stampings on steel and mechanical tests,
the correct specified materials were provided for specified
elements. In addition, tests indicate that the strength and
quality of the steel used in the towers were adequate, typical
of the era, and likely met all qualifying test requirements.
Work is ongoing to analyze the performance of the steel building
components under impact and fire conditions up to initiation
of global building collapse.
For WTC
7, NIST investigators have been reviewing visual images and
interviewing witnesses to gain further information on the collapse.
Dr. Sunder showed photographs and videos while describing the
observed structural damage and sequence of failures and fires;
witnesses reported structural damage to WTC 7 on its south face
and southwest corner from WTC 1 debris. NIST is continuing to
investigate the possibility that the fuel system for emergency
power in WTC 7 may have contributed to fire initiation on Floor
5.
In his
update of evacuation and emergency response, Dr. Sunder said
that NIST has completed first-person interviews of nearly 1,200
WTC occupants and first responders to collect data on occupant
behavior, evacuation, and emergency response. From these interviews,
it is estimated that about 17,400 occupants were present in
the WTC towers on the morning of September 11, 2001. Dr. Sunder
presented information on evacuation rates in the towers based
on the interviews. During the last 20 minutes before each building
collapsed, the evacuation rate in both buildings had slowed
to about one-fifth the immediately prior evacuation rate. This
suggests that for those seeking and able to reach and use undamaged
exits and stairways, the egress capacity (number and width of
exits and stairways) was adequate to accommodate survivors.
Dr. Sunder said that based on use of existing egress models
and actual evacuation time on September 11, it is estimated
that a full capacity evacuation of each tower with 25,000 people
(three times the number present) would have required 4 hours.
Dr. Sunder
also discussed the issue of roof evacuation, stating that considering
the capacity of typical helicopters and travel times, it is
not clear what fraction of the large number of occupants could
have been evacuated from the WTC towers prior to collapse had
roof rescue been possible on September 11, 2001. He reviewed
the work that has been done at NIST with the emergency communication
recordings and discussed the results from the preliminary analysis.
NIST has reviewed audio tapes recorded by the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey, including a recording of the New
York City Fire Department’s (FDNY) city-wide high-rise
Channel 7 (Port Authority Policy Department’s [PAPD] Channel
30) radio repeater located at the WTC; New York Police Department;
and interviews with FDNY personnel. A surge in communications
traffic volume made it more difficult to handle the flow of
communications and delivery of information. Dr. Sunder explained
that although the FDNY radio repeater was operating, several
FDNY personnel at the incident did not think that it was working.
NIST continues to evaluate the repeater system and its operation,
as well as the handheld radios. Based on face-to-face interviews,
NIST has determined that first responders did not have adequate
information on, nor an overall perspective of, the conditions
in the WTC buildings and what was happening elsewhere at the
WTC site.
Dr. Sunder
also gave an update on the active fire protection systems and
the analysis of building and fire codes and practices. The smoke
management systems in the WTC towers were not activated during
the fires; and it was determined that the likelihood of these
systems being functional was very low due to the damage from
aircraft impact. He stated that the use of fiber optic cable,
instead of copper lines, for the fire alarm system could have
enhanced communications. Fiber optic cable is not susceptible
to electric short circuits to the point where the cable is severed.
During the initial design of the system, the PANYNJ requested,
but did not receive, approval of the City of New York for use
of fiber optic communication cable in the system. The code required
copper wiring.
Q:
How are you sure that that’s a floor slab and not a ceiling
[referring to the slide with the photographic evidence of a
hanging floor slab]?
A:
The floor is 4 inches thick. The ceiling is composed of tiles.
Q:
The ceiling is not a T-Bar system?
A:
Yes, it was a T-bar system.
Q:
What is the feature on the corner of the building?
A: The feature is a fin on the corner of the
building.
Q:
Is that outward bowing at about 8 inches [referring to the photograph
in the slide] from the damaged corner?
A: That appears to be façade damage.
C:
I am a little concerned about the strict interpretation of the
structural frame concept. On the West Coast, structural frame
generally refers to moment frame. And later on, they developed
what they call a special moment frame. But in this particular
case, those floor trusses were not moment connections to the
exterior columns. They were providing lateral support to the
columns to contain their effective lengths, but I don’t
think people would call them frames. And so you’re trying
to extend your definition of frame a little bit beyond what
I think most structural engineers at that time would have called
a structural frame.
A:
I was reading from the definition in IBC, “structural
frames shall be considered to be the columns and the girders,
beams, trusses and spandrels having direct connections to the
columns and bracing members designed to carry gravity loads.”
We discussed this quite a bit. I’m putting this out for
future discussion in the community. There is some room for debate.
Q:
Has there been any testing to show if there is a difference
in spalling properties of a 2 inch thick coating versus ½
inch if impacted by pieces from the airplane? Would you have
had the same deterioration if it were ½ inch, 1 inch,
2 inches?
A: We have not yet done that, but it’s
something we could consider.
C:
The reason I point that out is that I would hate to have us
go and say that for our conclusion from this WTC experience
is that a 2 inches would have done a better job of longer life
in the fire or anything like that, because if the damage were
the same it would have collapsed regardless.
A: I’ll address that momentarily.
Q:
In your previous slide, you state that there is a June 2001
evaluation recommendation for a 2 fire rating for the floor?
A: Yes
Q:
And the others were based on that same 2 hr fire rating?
A: Yes
Q:
In Glanz and Lipton’s book, there is a reference to correspondence
from the architect-of-record saying that the WTC buildings were
okay as Class 1B. Whereas had it been 1A, I believe the ratings
would have been higher. Are you going to include any of that?
A:
Yes, in fact when we did our code comparison study, and I’ll
show later, it went from 1A to 1B when they moved from the 1938
code to the 1968 code. Theoretically, you could have had a floor
with a 4 hour rating if you had assumed the frame approach with
1A, or there is a whole range. We can play a lot of what-if
games, and I think it’s entirely appropriate.
Q:
Is the fire load used based on interviews with tenants? How
did you arrive at the pounds per square foot number?
A: We had detailed plans of the North Tower
as well as input from the WTC 1 tenants. The Port Authority
also had a clean desk policy.
Q:
Will you be talking more about the mass of the aircraft?
A: We will cover that in a later presentation.
Q:
Debris may have knocked off fireproofing?
A: We are tracking that and making estimates
of fireproofing damage.
Q:
In a CBS news report, there is a statement that says you’ve
taken samples of the steel and shot them through an air cannon
to precisely calculate the damage done by the highjacked jet.
I haven’t heard that before. What have you done?
A: They are referring to the Kolsky bar tests,
which are written up in different ways.
Q:
How did you arrive at 2,592 persons being inside the buildings?
A: The number does not include passengers on
the airplanes, bystanders, etc.
Q:
The stair towers had a 2 hour fire rating, but little structural
integrity?
A: It was not like a concrete core. We’re
not sure whether they would have passed the hose stream test
in ASTM E 119.
Q:
During the full evacuations, were elevators used?
A: In the first event (1977), yes. Probably
yes in 1993. It took about 3 hours to evacuate the bulk of the
occupants. Stragglers exited later.
Q:
Is there evidence that the Port Authority told people not to
go up?
A: We have no evidence to support that.
Q:
Recently in the New Yorker, the Fire Commissioner had a letter
response to an article about the repeater. Yes, it was working,
but officers on scene concluded it wasn’t. The move to
the handie-talkie was probably a good one; the repeater was
lost anyway. Are we going to know why information did not get
to emergency responders?
A: Responders in Tower 2 were on a repeater
channel. That was not so in Tower 1. Randy Lawson is analyzing
this and he will discuss this later. We will also look at the
handheld radios.
Q:
Highlight the importance of your findings on interagency coordination.
They may be in the 9/11 Commission findings as well, but these
are important. New York City elected not to conduct a study
of its own. Was the raw data reviewed for the McKinsey studies?
A: We have reviewed the 911 tapes as well as
the McKinsey report and the supporting data.
Q:
Is the stair pressurization analysis based on current standards?
A: There was no pressurization system in the
towers. We looked at how a pressurization system would have
performed if it had been present in the buildings on September
11, 2001.
Q:
Did your analysis consider damage?
A: Yes. We also considered the effect of opening
doors on performance.
Q:
What do you mean by early installation of sprinklers?
A: We could delete the word “early.”
We want to express the value of installing sprinkler systems
sooner rather than later.
Q:
Do you see this list of issues on standards as forming
the basis for recommendations? Some are in the codes already.
What is the point of this?
A: We’re putting these out because they
seem to merit further study as the investigation moves toward
completion.
C:
There are more than what is on this list.
A: We will have a closed session tomorrow to
address recommendations. We’re open to input and suggestions.
Q:
What were the criteria for making this list of issues and interim
findings? Is it relevant to the outcomes of 9/11 or relevant
to general building safety questions?
A: We’re trying to document the design,
construction, operation, and maintenance of these buildings
over their life. As we’ve gone through and reviewed documents
and we’ve held public meetings where we’ve received
public input on issues that are in the fronts of different people’s
minds, we’ve had to consider those inputs along with what
we’re finding. This is a cut at where our current thinking
is. You’ll see when I finish this presentation, we’ll
have to figure out which of these relate directly to the events
of 9/11, which of these relate to communities and buildings
that face greater risk, and which of these relate to the more
general building and fire safety concerns. So we’ll have
to bracket them and, ultimately, as you know we don’t
set codes and standards; we make recommendations and we will
assume that the public sector will be able to sort this out.
Q:
So, let me try to push it out a little bit. These are the sort
of issues that you’ve identified. You’ve identified
many, many more issues than are on these three pages [referring
to the Executive Summary of the June 2004 Progress Report].
And I was just curious as to why some made the list and some
didn’t.
A: No. These are pretty much what we have identified
as far as the issues related to standards, codes, and regulations.
We’ve then identified some other issues related to fire
safety, design, and egress, which I’ll talk about later.
At this point, these are a first cut and, as you know, a work
in progress. There might be others which are missing, which
I’ve stated, that you think should be there. We’ll
get your input, that’s what we want.
Q:
How long is the useful life of a building? How long should records
be retained?
A: Records should be retained for the service
life, which is approximately 50 to 70 years.
Q:
Who will be responsible for keeping the records?
A: There are regulatory authorities and there
are owners. I don’t know if it will be designers because
sometimes the design firms don’t last that long, and it’s
probably too much information for them to keep. Lots of issues
need to be considered. However, the information can be stored
efficiently by electronic means.
C:
First responders will be particularly interested in holding
on to those plans until the building is no longer there.
C: If you’re going to look at the history,
these records will have to be updated every time something is
done to the building. It will be a full-time task to keep track
of these and make sure it gets to the appropriate group who
is keeping that record. It’s been a big problem for bridges,
which are designed for a 30 year life, but then some last for
100 years. And they have been changed all over the map, and
it is very difficult to keep those records. It’s going
to take a lot of work to figure out how to do it for buildings.
Back
to agenda
Project
2: Baseline Structural Performance and Aircraft Impact Damage
Analysis
Dr. Fahim Sadek, WTC Investigation, Project 2 Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Sadek
presented an update on Project 2 of the WTC Investigation, which
is an analysis of baseline structural performance and the extent
of damage from aircraft impact. The project has two primary
objectives: (1) to develop reference structural models of the
WTC towers and establish baseline performance under gravity
loads and wind loads and (2) to simulate aircraft impacts into
the towers to estimate probable damage to structural, mechanical,
and architectural systems and determine the response of the
towers immediately after impact (to answer the question—how
close to collapse were the towers immediately after impact?).
He reported
that the reference structural models have been completed, reviewed,
and approved by NIST; the baseline performance analysis is ongoing.
Dr. Sadek illustrated the floor and tower structural models,
and described the rigorous review process to check model accuracy.
In addition, NIST completed the estimation of wind-induced forces
and moments on the towers, based on the state-of-the-art in
wind engineering. He reviewed the results thus far and stated
that more elaborate tests would be desirable. Wind load calculations
should be reported in a standard and transparent manner that
can readily be scrutinized and might lead to more comprehensive
and precise results.
For the
progress on the aircraft impact analysis, Dr. Sadek summarized
the work accomplished, including the development of material
constitutive and failure modeling from test data of recovered
steel. The development of the aircraft model is based on documentary
aircraft structural information and data from measurement on
a Boeing 767 aircraft. The WTC tower model includes an automated
mesh generation for structural systems using the electronic
structural database. He showed several graphics from the models
with explanation of some of the details.
Dr. Sadek
explained that the first type of analysis is the component-level
analysis, which involves the impact of an exterior column with
an aircraft engine and a segment of a wing, or an interior column
with an engine. The object is to study the interactive failure
phenomena of the structure and aircraft components, to study
fuel tank breakup, and to develop reduced models to be used
for the global models. The analysis includes highly detailed
finite element models developed with emphasis on constitutive
modeling and failure criteria. NIST will also look at coarser
finite element modes meshed to be used in the global analysis
and to ensure that the results are correlated. He showed details
and animations of the model impacts.
The aircraft
fuel dispersion is difficult to model so NIST is using special
analytical techniques to capture the primary inertial effects
of the fuel impacting structural members and the secondary fuel
dispersion. The wing segments are modeled with and without fuel
and using different methodologies; Dr. Sadek stated that a consideration
is the treatment of debris cloud calculations. The subassembly
and global modeling were described.
Dr. Sadek
discussed the preliminary stability analysis of the towers.
This ongoing analysis examines the overall stability of the
towers when floors are removed; studies the load redistribution
mechanisms when core columns are destroyed by aircraft impact;
and studies the response of WTC 1 when columns and spandrels
in the exterior walls and columns in the core are destroyed
by impact, and columns in the exterior are damaged due to the
subsequent fires, as observed in images.
C:
It is not obvious that differences in wind tunnel results point
to a need to standardize.
A: When you use a number in design, it represents
a minimum standard. It is important to know what that is. The
owner has the option to use higher loads.
A: I agree that standardization for its own
sake is undesirable, except as Shyam stated. Reporting of results
should be open to scrutiny. Some methods used are mathematically
incorrect and should be open to scrutiny and further analysis.
C:
The major difference is the integration of loads with climatological
data.
C: Dynamic and nonlinear analysis is permitted
for earthquakes. This is similar to wind. Design by ASCE 7 with
80 percent of static analysis results should be acceptable.
Q:
What do constitutive relationships mean?
A: This refers to the material properties.
In particular, the stress-strain relationship, including strain
rate effects and failure criteria.
Q:
Is deformation axial or out-of-plane?
A: Axial shortening.
Q:
What is the significance of the selection of 8 or 15 core columns?
A: These were initial rough estimates. We expect
that fewer than eight core columns were damaged. We’re
still running analyses.
Q:
Was an analysis done of the fuselage?
A: Yes. It is done as a part of the global
analysis.
Q:
Two questions. How random is what happens on a given floor after
aircraft impact?
A: We’re tracking debris inside the towers
and capturing contact until there is insufficient momentum to
cause damage.
Q: How many runs does that take? You could
run out of time.
A: Statistical analysis helps us define critical
variables.
C: The outcome of the impact analysis affects
other projects. Perhaps the other presenters can address.
Q:
Are any of the impact columns C-80 or C-88?
A: C-88 is in the impact zone. C-80 looks like
it might be outside of the impact zone.
C: You could look at the steel after the modeling
is complete.
Q:
There was a considerable fireball outside of the building.
The analysis shows fuel carried into the building. Is this a
problem?
A: Approximately 10 percent of the fuel was
dispersed outside of the building based on the modeling.
Q: But how accurate is the model if it does
not show dispersion outside of the tower?
A: The ignition pushes fuel outside the building.
C:
I have comments on the Progress Report. I have reviewed the
work on the aircraft impact. There are issues that need to be
resolved on the failure models.
Q:
Are the splice calculations for Tower 1 only?
A: We’re working on the calculations
for Tower 2. It is likely in Tower 2 that the hat truss was
not engaged.
Q:
I am impressed with the detail. More detail and more parameters
will lead to greater corresponding uncertainty. How large, qualitatively,
are the uncertainties?
A: That’s not yet known.
C
(NIST): The point about failure model issues by John
Barsom is important, and NIST will follow-up on that.
Back
to agenda
Project
3: Mechanical and Metallurgical Analysis of Structural Steel
Dr. Richard Fields, WTC Investigation, Project 3 Technical
Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Fields
presented an update on Project 3 of the WTC Investigation, the
mechanical and metallurgical analysis of structural steel recovered
from the WTC towers. As reported previously, the 236 pieces
of steel from WTC 1 and 2 have been catalogued and identified;
NIST has samples of all 14 grades that were used in the towers.
Detailed information on the steel inventory at NIST and the
contemporaneous structural steel specifications are included
in the June 2004 Progress Report available at http://wtc.nist.gov.
NIST has
completed its extensive analysis of failure mechanisms and damage.
The photographic evidence was enhanced and compared with the
recovered steel to gain a better understanding of fracture and
energy absorption. Dr. Fields discussed the trends, including
that the collapse did not significantly damage many impacted
panels and that weld unzipping was common in the impacted panels.
NIST analyzed metallurgical and mechanical properties by conducting
tests for room temperature tensile properties, high strain rate
properties, and high-temperature properties. Material properties
have been determined for all structural steels (29 steels),
bolts, and welds; strength and modulus as a function of temperature;
strength as a function of strain rate for impacted steels; and
thermal expansion, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity as
a function of temperature. In many instances, the room-temperature
strength exceeded the requirements by 5 to 10 percent.
Dr. Fields
described the work done to characterize the thermal excursions
of steel. Photographs of recovered panels were mapped for pre-collapse
exposure to fire. The paint condition of painted steel was used
to map upper limits to temperature exposure, and few perimeter
panels (3 of 160 locations were mapped) saw temperatures greater
than 250 °C. The area protected by the floor slab stayed
under 250 °C.
The interim
findings were presented by Dr. Fields and included NIST’s
conclusion that the strength and quality of the steel used for
the towers was adequate for the era.
Q:
We’ve seen a lot of reports from the other projects. You
have done a great deal of work. We’ve only seen two reports,
and they don’t deal much with the material properties. What
is the delay? Why aren’t these results available for review?
A: There are quite a few tests, for instance,
creep tests require a fair amount of analysis, Kolsky tests require
a fair amount of analysis, and we are just in the process of putting
it all together. It’s a lot of testing, and I’m not
so sure anyone else had to do this many tests, and each of those
had to have machine samples, and you had to measure them and test
them.
Q: I agree with you, there is a lot of work that
you people have done. But a lot of this work has been done for
quite a while. And I’m just wondering why the reporting
of that information hasn’t really been coming, even interim
reports, to just see what you have done.
A: I would just say we have lots of draft reports,
but they have to go through the system, and there has been a lot
of back and forth on that.
Q: This is the first time
for mentioning the contractor who did the visual analysis. You’ve
had a draft report from them since October. When will we see
it?
A: We will issue their report as an appendix
to our report. The report is still at the project-level review.
We decided to do our own analysis. We will supplement our analysis
of the failure mechanisms. We wanted them to tell us if we were
missing something.
A: We were not as happy with the report that
we got from the contractor as we hoped and so decided to do
our own analysis and integrate it into our reports, as opposed
to releasing the contractor report separately.
Q: I knew that NIST did not like something
about that report. It is a very important element of your work.
It is a very important step you took and I give you credit.
I personally would have liked to have seen the report right
away, and worked with your people to try to come up with what
tests might have needed to be done to complement that work and
to feed into the analysis group and that opportunity was not
there.
A: I’m sorry about that, and we’ll
try to get it to you as soon as possible
Q: [For the analysis with
painted steel], you mentioned in the maximum temperature, you
had a dividing line of 250 °C for where most of the samples,
say for three, were below that and three were above it. For
the three that were above it, were you able to estimate what
the maximum temperatures might have been in the samples?
A: The techniques that
we used for estimating the maximum temperature included looking
at residual stresses and transformations in welds, softening
of super hard fasteners, such as washers, etc.; they always
needed to be calibrated massively to account for lot variations
from different suppliers, so none of those things really worked
out. For paint, at 250 °C, because of the difference in
thermal expansion, between the paint, which is essentially a
ceramic coating and the metal, you got this mud crack pattern
that has a certain characteristic scale and characteristic look.
You had to be careful that you weren’t interpreting cracking
that was due to plastic deformation or due to corrosion. So,
what we found is that paint had a mudcrack pattern at 250 °C,
and at 600 °C to 700 °C, we see wholesale spalling.
Q:
You used the phrase that the “welds unzipped.”
Was it weld metal or heat affected zone of the weld?
A: It usually went into the heat affected zone.
In some cases, it went over into the weld metal.
Back
to agenda
Project
5: Reconstruction of Thermal and Tenability Environment
Dr. Richard G. Gann, WTC Investigation, Project 5 Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Gann
presented the status of the reconstruction of the thermal and
tenability environment for the WTC towers and WTC 7, Project
5 of the WTC Investigation. The project purpose is to reconstruct,
with assessed uncertainty limits, the time-evolving temperature,
thermal radiation, and smoke fields in WTC 1, 2, and 7 for use
in evaluating the behavior and fate of occupants and responders
and the structural performance of the buildings. In this effort,
NIST is relying on computer simulations, fire insight, experiments,
photographic evidence, and eyewitness accounts. The reconstruction
of fires in this manner has never been done before.
NIST has
completed shake table tests of ceilings and fire tests of furnishings
and fire irradiance and is in the process of preparing reports.
Current technical activity includes the execution of the Fire
Dynamics Simulator (FDS) runs of model fires in all three buildings,
execution of Fire Structure Interface (FSI) models for bare
and coated assemblies in all three buildings, and further analysis
and interpretation of the collection of visual images. Dr. Gann
stated the interim findings and summarized the results of the
fire experiments. NIST found that the loading of building combustibles
was on the light side of typical. FDS and FSI can be used with
confidence to recreate the thermal effect of a given WTC fire
event.
Q:
What do you mean by “typical” [referring to slide
“Loading of building combustibles was on the light side
of typical”].
A: Teens of pounds per square foot.
Q: Teens per square foot is based on what?
A: It’s based on 10, 13 pounds per square
foot and different loadings, and the typical data are based
on studies that are about 10 years old. The Maryland study of
two office buildings is nearly a decade old.
Q:
How are you dealing with the debris pile scenarios? Are all
the combustibles being loaded into a pile? What are you using
as a baseline for the energy release curve; how are you doing
it?
A: In the simulation, we have a hot upper layer,
plus radiation from any fires that are present and its radiating
down onto the surface elements.
Q:
How do you assemble the debris pile?
A: We disassembled the furniture in different
ways. Totally collapsed, sort of partially assembled so some
air could get in and let the modeling do what it wanted. We
were particularly sensitive to that.
Q:
The floors and work areas in the buildings appear very homogeneous.
What empirical evidence do you have that this is the case?
A: In the towers, people reported that you
could see all the way across to the windows on the other side.
There was relatively little break-up, with only a few conference
rooms. Building managers confirmed that it was typical to have
cubicles across the entire one acre floors. The floors were
very uniform.
C:
When you discuss these results in the final report, discuss
them quantitatively rather than qualitatively. For example,
if you can, rather than saying, “light,” qualify
it by using some measurement like what the heat release rate
might be at a maximum on the floor assuming that they weren’t
knocked over or something of that nature.
A: In our case, we have fairly good documentation.
In the case of prior surveys, we’ll certainly be able
to report what they did.
Back
to agenda
Simulation
of the Fires in WTC 1, 2, and 7
Dr. Kevin B. McGrattan, WTC Investigation, Project 5, Mathematician
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. McGrattan
provided a briefing on the simulation of fires in WTC 1, 2,
and 7 using the Fire Dynamics Simulator. Numerical simulations
of fires are ongoing using the latest information provided by
the airplane impact and visual analysis teams. A set of “standard
fires” has been developed to bound possible outcomes of
the calculations. He pointed out that the goal of the simulation
is to numerically simulate the fires in WTC 1, 2, and 7 so that
the uncertainty in the calculations is less than the uncertainty
in the initial and boundary conditions. Dr. McGrattan described
the model layout of a typical floor and model inputs, and then
showed examples of fire growth and spread. It matched well with
the analysis of fire and smoke growth and spread shown in the
visual images (photographs and videos). The simulations will
be re-run using results of the airplane impact study.
Q:
Are you assuming that the shafts are compromised?
A: Yes, in this simulation. We also ran the
model without damage to test sensitivity.
Q:
What insight you do have on piling of debris?
A: We’re handling it by disassembling
furniture and piling ceiling tiles on top. Same amount of fuel,
but the burning rate is lower (about half that of virgin furnishings).
We are querying our contractor, Applied Research Associates,
to get a sense of furnishing movement due to impact.
C: Reduced burning rate of rubble pile plus
additional mass of combustible furnishings.
Q:
Are you trying to back out from the simulation to justify the
combustible loading?
A: The simulations are burning the floor out
in roughly the right amount of time—1 hour—that
the contents were consumed—4 pounds per square foot. That
matches the evidence we have collected from the responders.
There is a fair amount of uncertainty though.
Q:
The BPAT study concluded that WTC 7 collapsed due to fire alone.
This morning we saw NIST saying that there was some structural
damage. Will you be able to say at the end of the investigation
that WTC 7 collapsed from structural damage and fire?
A: The 7 to 8 hour duration suggest that fires
had a role. The question is what role damage played. We’re
looking at how large a fire was needed to initiate failure.
Q:
What was the quantity of combustibles on the plane? How is it
distributed?
A: We have estimates of contents from the airlines.
Contents were distributed along the path in the model. There
was approximately 10,000 pounds.
Q:
Are there any assumptions on the loss of fuel from the plane
hitting, some mention of the paper flurry?
A: We have made an estimate of how much fuel
was consumed in the fireball and we start our calculation after
the fireball. We distribute the remaining fuel over the floors.
Q:
The loading was increased to 10 pounds per square foot—why?
A: Ten pounds per square foot is a what-if
scenario for the undamaged tower.
Q:
I have a question about standard fires. It’s a good idea,
but there are a large number of variables. How many runs are
needed to bound the behavior?
A: We will do as many runs as possible. After
2 years, I’m not seeing as much variation. As the runs
are refined, and we’re getting better information and
data, we’re starting to see similarities and more consistent
results.
Q:
Fires are ventilation limited. Is the total energy release rate
of a floor increasing step-wise with the number of windows breaking
out?
A: Yes. We made rough estimates. The heat release
rate is in the right ballpark.
Q: As you get to the end/tail, you should have
more windows open than fuel coming in. Do you have a sense of
the duration of that, 1 hour and 15 minutes or 1 hour?
A: Typically for floors, we’re peaking
at 200 to 300 megawatts and the peak is halfway along. Halfway
along, 30 minutes to 45 minutes you’re peaking at 200,
300 megawatts per floor, and then it starts ramping down after
that.
Back
to agenda
Coupled
Fire Dynamics and Thermal Response Analysis of WTC 1, 2, and
7
Dr. Kuldeep R. Prasad, WTC Investigation, Project 5, Engineer
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Prasad
gave a presentation on the coupled fire dynamics and thermal
response analysis of WTC 1, 2, and 7. The objectives include
the reconstruction of the time-evolving and spatially evolving
temperature fields in the steel and concrete in WTC 1, 2, and
7. The role of variability in fireproofing thickness and damage
caused by aircraft on steel temperature is being evaluated.
Dr. Prasad stated that the Fire Structure Interface, sensitivity
to model parameters, and thermal analysis of wall model efforts
are completed, and he summarized results. Standard cases for
evaluating collapse hypotheses are underway; these include FDS-generated
fires with varied fireproofing thicknesses.
C:
It’s interesting the fireproofing has load-carrying capacity.
A: We’re not plotting exactly at time
equals zero. This data point is not equal to zero, it’s
a very small time, probably a few seconds since these columns
are there even in the few seconds some of the columns have heated
up a little bit. The problem is we’re plotting it at 5,
10 seconds.
C:
You took out 13 columns rather than the 8.
A: Yes, 13 of the core columns. This is a simplistic
analysis based on a simplistic yield strength analysis, and
a more complete analysis will be presented later by others.
The goal is to present a fire-structure interface for a 9x9
wall panel and a full floor.
Back
to agenda
Visual
Data Collection and Analysis
Dr. William M. Pitts, WTC Investigation, Project 5, Research
Chemist
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Pitts
presented updated information on the visual data collection
and analysis for the WTC Investigation. NIST is using photographs,
videos, and other relevant information to develop detailed timelines
for the spread and growth of fires at the peripheries of WTC
1, 2, and 7 and to organize the information such that it can
be used by other investigation team members. More than 6,900
photographs have been catalogued with more than 3,060 timed
with an accuracy of 3 seconds or better, and approximately 150
hours of videotape have been digitized and clipped (6,882 clips)
with 2,674 clips timed with an accuracy of 3 seconds or better.
NIST believes that the visual material in its possession is
sufficient for the purposes of the Investigation.
Timelines
for window openings, smoke, and fire have been completed for
WTC 1 and WTC 2. Dr. Pitts explained that although the visual
material for WTC 7 is insufficient to develop a detailed timeline,
it does provide an adequate description of fire movement and
location up to building collapse, and analysis of WTC 7 fires
is continuing. Data provided to other WTC Investigation projects
includes photographs and videos, estimates of aircraft speeds,
characterization of exterior damage, and WTC 2 motion analysis.
There were
no questions or comments at the end of Dr. Pitts’ presentation.
Back
to agenda
Project
6: Structural Fire Response and Collapse Analysis
Dr. John L. Gross, WTC Investigation, Project 6 Co-Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Gross
presented information on Project 6 of the WTC Investigation,
which is an analysis of the structural fire response and collapse
scenarios. The objectives are to determine the structural response
of the WTC towers to internal fires—with and without aircraft
impact damage—and to identify the most probable structural
collapse mechanisms for the towers. He reported on the status
of the project, pointing out that Project 6 relies heavily on
information provided by other projects of the investigation.
Several detailed nonlinear structural models have been developed.
A truss model has been developed, with knuckle and seat components,
which includes all potential failure modes that may occur under
loading and thermal conditions. It was noted that the actual
sequence of failure may differ from that shown in the example
under other loading and fire conditions. The exterior wall model
that was developed consists of three-by-three exterior wall
panels (nine columns by nine spandrel beams) and includes all
potential failure modes (columns and splices) that may occur
under loading and thermal conditions. The full floor model,
which consists of all steel trusses, truss connections, perimeter
and core columns, core framing beams, and concrete floor slab,
also includes all potential failure modes that may occur under
loading and thermal conditions.
To determine
the structural response to large fires with and without aircraft
impact damage, global models of towers have been developed based
on the reference models developed in Project 2. Conditions include
impact damage to structure, impact damage to fireproofing, debris
distribution on floors, and structural time-temperature histories.
Dr. Gross provided further description of the models, including
a probabilistic approach to evaluate changes in global capacity.
NIST has
developed a working hypothesis that identifies the chronological
sequence of major events related to the collapse of WTC 1 and
WTC 2. Specific load redistribution paths and damage scenarios
are under analysis for the collapse of each tower. NIST is in
the process of developing the timeline of fire and structural
observations from photographic, video, and interview records.
This information will be used to validate the calculations.
Dr. Gross
reviewed in detail the progress of the work on the exterior
wall model and the full floor model. The steps included development
and validation of ANSYS models, evaluation of the structural
responses of these subsystems under dead and live loads and
elevated structural temperatures, identification of failure
modes and failure sequences and associated temperatures and
times-to-failure, and identification of simplifications for
the global models and analyses.
Q:
On slide 52, Thermal Response Continued, at 500 °C, you’re
still pushing out on exterior columns, and at 650 °C pulling
in. What is pulling in? What is the mechanism?
A: The floors are still carrying self-weight
and live load and sagging. They have deflected about 32 inches.
C: The seat would begin coming down by itself.
A: The seats have significant capacity though
eroded by temperature.
C: John Barsom is bringing up a point that
there is not a lot of difference between 500 degrees and 650
degrees—pushing in at 500 and pushing out at 650. There
is lots of work in between there.
Back
to agenda
Public
Comment Period
Mr. Fitzgerald,
the Committee chair, stated the ground rules for public comments.
Each speaker had 5 minutes to address the Committee. Members
of the public may submit their comments in writing at the meeting
or at any time. Mr. Fitzgerald called the first speaker to the
podium, Mr. David Lau.
David
Lau, Continental Container, Ltd., Hong Kong, China
Mr. Lau
had questions on why WTC 7 collapsed and asked if it was because
its design was different. He suggested that vibration could
explain why WTC 7 would collapse because the fires were not
hot enough to cause the collapse. He also wanted to know why
the center portions of WTC 1 and WTC 2 were still standing after
they collapsed. He asked about the shearing effects of the impact.
He said that he came to the meeting because he doesn’t
like to see too many lives lost in a disaster. He suggested
a need for a better safety path for escape from tall buildings
in an emergency.
Mr. Fitzgerald
called the next speaker, Jake Pauls.
Jake
Pauls, Consulting Services in Building Use and Safety
Jake Pauls said that NIST and the Advisory Committee need
to do a better job of scheduling meetings; for example, he
was not able to attend the session on June 23 due to a schedule
conflict. He stated that the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) committees meet the last weeks of October. This is an
opportunity for NIST to affect the upcoming editions of the
code. Therefore, he suggested that the NCST Advisory Committee
schedule a meeting in October before the NFPA meeting, but
not the first week of October because of another schedule conflict.
Mr. Pauls stated that, generally, the occupant behavior and
egress results that he has seen thus far are superficial and
biased. He feels that the people who are responsible for that
work do not have much background in the real world of code
or standards development or with things like fire safety directors
and that affects the results. He said that the surveys did
not include some detailed questions that should have been dealt
with explicitly, for example:
- Minimum
stair width, which is one of the hardest issues in the
code field now.
- Preference/deference
behavior, which is the strongest factor in the evacuation
process, generally,
and a big factor in terms
of total evacuation versus phased evacuation.
- The nature of the movement of disruption from
counter flow, which is a huge factor in terms
of the first responder use
of the exit stairs and whether they should have
separate stairs or use separate routes.
He expressed disappointment
that his techniques were not used for the graphical output
of the results of the study; the results
would be presented in a more meaningful fashion. On the first-person
accounts, Mr. Pauls said the term “first-person account” is
somewhat misleading to him, and suggested that a better term
might be chosen. On the issue of exit remoteness, he felt that
it was not dealt with well by NIST in terms of possible code
violations. He thinks that the remoteness of the exits was
a major factor in life loss.
Mr. Pauls suggested that NIST be careful in using the 25,000
population figure and the 4 hour evacuation time. It could
be a two-edged sword. He said that the realistic population
is maximally about 20,000 per tower, a number that he has been
publishing for years based on Port Authority figures and other
data. He said there is good progress on the population estimates
in the towers on September 11. He stated that NIST should explain
why the population estimate is low, and he feels that it was
a major factor in the low loss of life.
He mentioned that the NFPA high-rise safety advisory committee
was formed, and it is a mechanism for NIST to present results
to the NFPA system. Mr. Pauls concluded by saying that he has
characterized some of what NIST has done over the last couple
of decades as opportunities missed and, to some extent, findings
misconstrued, particularly relative to code implications. Mr.
Pauls urged NIST to put some effort into that area.
Mr. Fitzgerald
called the next speaker, Mr. Robert Polk.
Robert
Polk, National Association of State Fire Marshals
STATEMENT
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Mr. Fitzgerald
called the next speaker, Dr. Zia Razzaq.
Zia
Razzaq, Old Dominion University
STATEMENT
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
He presented
a paper to illustrate the need for a load-path dependent design
to account for nonproportional effects.
Back
to agenda
Standard
Fire Tests of WTC Tower Typical Floor Construction
Dr. John L. Gross, WTC Investigation, Project 6 Co-Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Gross
gave a briefing on the ASTM E 119 standard fire tests that are
planned. In October 1969, the Port Authority stated that certain
tower components would have a ½ inch coating of spray-on
fireproofing to maintain the Class 1A fire rating of the New
York City Building Code. The ASTM E 119 prescribes a standard
exposing fire of controlled extent and severity. Tests will
be conducted on 17 foot and 35 foot steel trusses with as-specified
and as-applied thicknesses of sprayed-on fireproofing. The tests
will be conducted by Underwriters Laboratories with monitoring
and inspection by NIST. The design of the tests, fabrication
of steel trusses, assembly of all four test specimens, and curing
and drying of concrete are completed. The instrumentation has
been installed on all specimens, and the fireproofing application
is in progress. Testing is expected to begin in August.
Q:
Are you spray insulating the bridging trusses?
A: We analyzed photographs and a report by
Les Robertson after the 1975 fire. The report suggests that
fireproofing was not required on bridging trusses. Analysis
of photographs indicated that roughly one half of the specified
thickness for floor trusses was applied to bridging trusses.
As specified, no fireproofing was required on bridging trusses.
C:
Go back to the first slide. The reference in the Linn letter
to 1A; what is the timing to the Emory Roth letter stating 1A?
A: Three or 4 years after adoption of the 1968
code allowing 1B.
Q: The codes got very prescriptive on fireproofing.
Was it in place in 1968? No basis for ½ inch.
A: We haven’t seen anything in the codes.
C: There is confusion over reductions from
1A to 1B; allowed to build to 1B and treat as 1A.
A: The only thing found was the specification
for ½ inch on beams, not on trusses.
Q:
Tests with ½ inch and ¾ inch—is the procedure
designed to reproduce the installation procedures?
A: No, just the thickness. Quality of application
is always better in the lab than in the field due to tighter
control.
Back
to agenda
June 23, 2004
The second day of the NCST Advisory Committee meeting opened
with a presentation on the WTC Investigation.
WTC
7 Structural Fire Response and Collapse Analysis
Dr. Therese P. McAllister, WTC Investigation, Project 6
Co-Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. McAllister presented
information on the WTC structural fire response and collapse
analysis. The objectives are to determine the structural response
of WTC 7 to debris damage and internal fires and to identify
the most probable structural collapse mechanism. She described
the progress to date, which includes the development of a nonlinear
global structural model of WTC 7. NIST has evaluated the model’s
performance under design gravity loads and is identifying credible
failure sequences using the model to analyze the effect of component
failures on the structural system stability.
The WTC 7 structure,
Con Edison Substation, floor plans, and roof layout were described
as well as debris damage from WTC 1 and WTC 2. Dr. McAllister
provided information on the observed fire locations and a fire
sequence timeline.
Dr. McAllister stated
that NIST is analyzing a working collapse hypothesis for WTC
7 which suggests that it was a classic progressive collapse.
An initial local failure initiated at the lower floors, below
Floor 13, due to fire or debris induced structural damage of
a critical column (the initiating event), which supported a
large span floor bay with an area of about 2,000 square feet.
There was a vertical progression of the initial local failure
up to the east penthouse, as large floor bays were unable to
redistribute the loads, bringing down the interior structure
below the east penthouse. It appeared that there was a subsequent
horizontal progression from the east to the west side, with
the events resulting in a disproportionate collapse of the entire
structure. Dr. McAllister explained possible modes of the column
failure, including squashing of the column, weld failure, and
column splice failure. Comprehensive analysis is ongoing.
Q:
Give a sense of heating time needed for un-fireproofed column
exposed to 700 ºC to 800 ºC gas temperature for it
to reach 550 ºC.
A: We used a gas temperature of 1,100 ºC
for the analysis, and it required 30 minutes. With fireproofing
in place, it would take hours.
C: Buildings like WTC 7 are quite typical.
Close exterior columns are common to resist lateral loads. If
you make them highly redundant, cost gets huge. There are lessons
to be learned. All buildings had single lateral load resisting
systems with no redundancy. In California, buildings would have
redundancy—one primary system and a secondary system that
would carry up to 25 percent of the lateral load. Progressive
collapse, earthquakes, terrorist considerations lead to dual
systems. The profession is concerned about overreaction. Had
the core resisted lateral loads, this might not have happened.
The core should have shared load transfer capability.
Q:
What do we know about the splices?
A: I would have to look that up to give you
the details.
C: The welds are just an erection device. The
ends are milled to bear in compression, regardless of the connection.
C: That’s what I would expect, but it
would be nice to know for the report.
C:
I’m concerned about tearing of the weld due to thermal
conductivity and expansion.
C (NIST): I agree. We are looking at such scenarios.
C:
Thank you. I share the Committee’s feelings that this
is excellent work.
Back
to agenda
Condition
of Thermal Insulation: Methodology
Dr. Nicholas J. Carino, WTC Investigation, Project 6, Research
Structural Engineer
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Carino reviewed
the methodology for assessing the condition of the sprayed-on
fireproofing. The variability of the fireproofing thickness
is taken into account by the use of equivalent thickness, and
he described the available data used to obtain rational thickness
values. Temperature dependence of thermal properties of fireproofing
materials has been established (thermal conductivity, specific
heat capacity, density, and coefficient of thermal expansion).
NIST will use a tensile pull-off test to measure the adhesive
or cohesive strength of fireproofing applied to steel plates.
The extent of dislodgement of fireproofing will be estimated
based on tests and the aircraft impact analyses from Project
2.
Q:
You zero in on data for upper floors, assuming data for WTC
1 and WTC 2 for impact areas. Are these data based solely on
tenant alteration audit reports?
A: Yes, for the upgraded fireproofing.
C:
You mention that this is not consistent with photo evidence.
I have a problem with that.
Q: I thought the upper floors of WTC 1 had
been upgraded, not WTC 2.
A: The data show that those floors in WTC 2
included in the alteration audit reports were upgraded.
A: Most of the fire-affected floors in WTC
2 were not upgraded.
Q:
I had heard that the last diagonal was not sprayed to avoid
spraying the dampers.
A: We did see photos showing some fireproofing
on the struts. That led to the assumption of ½ inch thickness
on the end diagonals.
C:
Equivalent thickness is a good idea. You need to look at other
ways to define equivalent response of a steel member with fireproofing.
C (NIST): We agree and we are working on that.
We will examine the behavior under restrained conditions.
Q:
My comment is on the variability of the performance
of the fireproofing in the manner in which it is applied. It
is a sloppy liquid and how does it evaporate? How may it fall
off? Do you have information in-place?
A: No. This type of fireproofing was applied
with an excess amount of water. From observations during recent
specimen fabrication, we estimate that as much as 60 percent
of the weight is evaporable water. This water is not chemically
bound and does not affect properties. We will never know the
in-place properties.
Q:
I have a mental image of debris impact rather than acceleration.
A: We will use the debris field generated by
Project 2 and assume that the fireproofing within the debris
field is dislodged. We will also try to estimate loss of fireproofing
due to vibration of structural elements near the impact zone.
C:
Damage to fireproofing is not unusual. Did you take into account
the percentage of area that would normally be damaged?
A: We’re not aware of anyone coming up
with estimates of “normal” damage. In the absence
of such information, our analyses will not attempt to account
for missing fireproofing.
Q:
To make it more generally applicable, have you looked at how
the numbers compare to square root mean or modal point distribution?
A: No. The lognormal distribution appears to
be a good descriptor of the thickness distribution. The average
thickness and standard deviation were transformed into the parameters
for the lognormal distribution by the usual equations. The mean
of the lognormal distribution is the median of the thickness
values, and the standard deviation of the lognormal distribution
is approximately the coefficient of variation of the thickness
values.
Back
to agenda
Project
7: Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications
Mr. Jason D. Averill, WTC Investigation, Project 7 Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Mr.
Averill presented an update on Project 7 of the WTC Investigation,
occupant behavior, egress, and emergency communications on September
11, 2001. He reported that NIST is now substantially complete
with all first-person data collection. To date, NIST has conducted
over 225 face-to-face interviews, 803 telephone interviews,
and 6 focus groups. NIST continues to analyze 911 emergency
calls logged between 8:46 a.m. and 10:28 a.m. on September 11.
The initial analysis of published accounts is completed and
is being integrated with other sources of information. Written
communications, protocols, and procedures from the design and
operation of the WTC are also being analyzed to better understand
how the buildings were supposed to operate in an emergency.
Mr. Averill said that the causal modeling using the telephone
interview data set is almost completed, and the egress modeling
is in progress. In addition, valuable eyewitness observations
are shared with other projects in the Investigation.
Data was
presented on the occupants. NIST estimates that on the morning
of September 11, 2001, 17,400 (+/- 1,200) were present in the
towers: 8,900 in WTC 1 and 8,500 in WTC 2. The average survivor
was in their mid-forties, with survivors ranging in age from
the early 20s to the 70s. Sixty-seven percent of WTC 1 survivors
had started working in the building within the last 4 years,
while 51 percent began working in WTC 2 during the last 4 years.
From interview questions about emergency preparedness, it was
found that two-thirds of the survivors had participated in at
least one fire drill, which was good about pointing out the
closest stairwell. About half of the survivors, however, had
never used a stairwell prior to September 11. Local Law 5 prohibits
requiring people to use stairwells during the fire drills.
Mr. Averill
shared details of the results of the evacuation analysis illustrated
with interview quotes. He pointed out the similarities and differences
between evacuations of the two towers. For example, WTC 2 had
a greater rate of evacuation when both stairs and elevators
were available for use, and many chose to self evacuate. For
the last 20 minutes in each building, the evacuation rate dropped
to approximately one-fifth the previous rate. This suggests
that for those seeking and able to reach and use the undamaged
exits and stairways, the egress capacity was adequate to accommodate
survivors. Mr. Averill discussed what the interviewees reported
as the aids and constraints to their evacuation. The results
of the NIST analysis show that approximately 87 percent of WTC
occupants, and over 99 percent of those below the floors of
impact, were able to successfully evacuate.
Q:
I have a question on the graph of Time Until Out of Building.
Is this initiating egress?
A: It refers to the time they exited the building?
Q: Elaborate—are you talking about WTC
2 when it has not yet been struck?
A: Yes, for most people. For 90 percent of
occupants, this was the case.
Q:
Are voice instructions considered environmental cues?
A: Voice instructions are considered as obtained
data. Red lines are the primary processes.
Q:
The decrease in the last 20 minutes—why doesn’t
that continue?
A: The stairwells were not full at that time.
Q:
You don’t talk about the efficiency of using elevators?
A: The first finding suggests this.
Q: Why not include elevators in other findings?
C: Generalization about the last 20 minutes
is unclear as written. The sentence that follows the initial
sentence is not logical. One could infer that crowding in stairwells
resulted in slowing.
A: The capacity was adequate based upon previous
egress rates. This suggests that for those who were able to
evacuate, there was sufficient capacity.
A: There might be damage above the impact or
mobility challenged individuals.
C: Rate might be confused with velocity.
Q:
You did 800 telephone and 225 unimpeded narratives. Are you
comparing the data on the slides?
A: The percentages are generalized from the
telephone survey data.
Q:
Unimpeded interviews are large and expensive. What is the plan?
A: Each interview has been entered into Atlas
Ti. Then we can analyze the content. In the telephone surveys,
we were locked into a question set. The value of face-to-face
interviews is that they added context and allowed us to pursue
threads.
Q:
What is the plan for writing up the data?
A: What you see here is a bit of a preview
of one of the phases of how we are planning on writing our final
report. One of the phases that we want to look at is describing
the events so that everybody who then looks at our interpretation
has the same understanding of what happened inside WTC 1 and
WTC 2. We want to describe what the average occupant saw, but
also those perturbations that may have had a very significant
effect on the buildings, such as fireballs in the lobbies, which
were observed by very few people, but would definitely need
to be described.
A: This is very preliminary reporting. We hope
to see a much more detailed report soon.
C:
There is very interesting information on the psychological and
emotional state of people prior to and during the evacuation
that has a real bearing on testing hypotheses about so-called
panic, i.e., it did not occur. We see that a lot of lives were
saved due to the initiative of individuals and not because anybody
told anyone what to do. In multivariate analysis, these R2 values
in the causal models are incredible and demonstrate the robustness
of the models. Throughout this whole process, I’ve been
skeptical that NIST could pull this off, particularly in light
of the human subject, legal, liability, confidentiality, and
timeframe issues. I’m getting a very good comfort level.
It is remarkable that you have been able to pull this off. You
haven’t gone into the whole process of the badges and
getting that sampling frame here today, but that in itself was
a monumental accomplishment.
Q:
Do you have an estimate of the people alive after impact that
couldn’t get to an exit path?
A: Mostly people above the impact. At this
point, Dennis Cauchon’s work is a good starting point.
We are working on that.
C: There are implications for remoteness and
redundancy of exit paths.
Q:
The break out by tower—how many were alive? About 1,500
people in WTC 2 used elevators. Fifteen minutes per person?
What number of elevators were being used for that?
A: Yes. We are working on the number of elevators.
Q:
The number 2,592 that includes all the people in the tower—does
it include first responders? What does the number include?
A: Volume 6, Appendix O, page O-10 gives that
information.
Q:
Specifically with regard to using stairs and hindrances to people
moving down the stairwells—would you include the impediments
of slower travelers? Could you give me a sense of passing behavior
and people going around other people?
A: We do have a lot of people mentioning that
in the face-to-face interviews. We are still analyzing and pulling
together our basic conclusions. For lack of a better word, we’ve
called what you’ve just described “superflow,”
people going faster, as opposed to counter flow. That wasn’t
mentioned in the telephone interviews as one of the predominant
variables.
Q:
How do your numbers stack up to Columbia?
A: We haven’t yet compared the basic
findings. Their survey data just came out.
Q:
Kathleen, can you suggest a way to present the data?
A: I think they are already doing that with
showing quotes with the data. You have the code book for the
telephone survey and you’ll have one for the other interviews.
You’re already doing it by connecting to variables or
concepts for coding.
Q:
What do you think the implications of findings will be for modeling?
A: It’s too early to say yet about state-of-the-art.
A: There is considerable room for improvement
in the models.
C:
Demographic data is interesting in that people, on average,
had been there only 4 years. There is a need for continuous
education on egress. The NIST dissemination and technical assistance
program might need to include strategy to educate public and
building owners.
C (NIST): Also, people travel a lot and miss
the training.
C: Paul’s comment is important. Industries
have a high turnover. This is probably not unusual. It needs
to be taken into account.
C: A continuous education program is needed.
Back
to agenda
Project
8: Fire Service Technologies and Guidelines
Mr. J. R. Lawson, WTC Investigation, Project 8 Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Mr. Lawson presented
an update on Project 8 of the WTC Investigation, which includes
an analysis of fire service technologies and guidelines. The
tasks of this project include data collection, field interviews,
and re-creation and analysis.
Mr. Lawson listed
the sources of communications, including the PANYNJ radio and
telephone communication recordings related to emergency response,
New York City recordings of telephone calls made to 911 emergency
operators and FDNY fire dispatchers, and first-person accounts
of experiences with radio and telephone communications. Mr.
Lawson and the NIST team also conducted interviews with more
than 100 FDNY, NYPD, and PANYNJ police officers, safety staff,
and other personnel. From these sources, it was found that moments
after the first aircraft impacted WTC 1, the telephone systems
were stressed by increased caller volume. Although there was
impact damage and fires were burning in the two towers, some
landline telephones were working in the buildings. After the
collapse of WTC 2, a number of cellular phone systems were not
functioning in lower Manhattan, and there were still some landline
telephones working within the city block areas adjacent to the
WTC.
Mr. Lawson
described the methodology for the analysis of radio communications.
He reviewed the findings from the analysis, among them that
roughly one-third to one-half of the radio messages during surge
conditions were not complete or understandable. He presented
the preliminary chronology of emergency communications on September
11—dispatch and arrival of emergency responders, evacuation,
emergency response operations, emergency response communications,
and conditions—and highlighted noteworthy communications.
Q:
Regarding the quality of communication—do you have any
context for another large incident?
A: The 1993 bombing showed similar conditions.
Q:
Also, what about the command and control issue?
A: We are looking at that.
Q:
Can you assess if commanders had a grasp of the global situation?
A: We tried to assess situational awareness
through the interviews and other information. This was a problem,
but we’re not ready to state a finding.
Q: Maybe it’s an unreasonable expectation
for emergency response.
Q:
Do you have a baseline on quality of communications in a nonemergency?
A: Prior to the incident, where you don’t
have surge conditions, if you don’t understand a message
you ask to have it repeated. With the volume of communications,
it’s difficult to get back and ask for a repeat.
Q: Is that typical in the area of the WTC to
have interference?
A: Quality will vary based on location. I couldn’t
say if things were much better.
Q:
Did we look at other baselines, other large emergencies, such
as an earthquake?
A: I’ve worked in this area for many
years. This is typical. It’s not just New York City.
Q:
We need to look at command, control, and operations. The 9/11
Commission has done a lot of work in this area. When you talked
to the NYPD Aviation Units and FDNY, was there any thought given
to putting people in the building through the roof?
A: Probably a combination of the two.
Q:
There were frenetic conditions in the PATH area and many people
went toward PATH. Can you connect this with communications?
A: We are still trying to better understand
that.
Q:
The 22nd floor command center controlled the locked roof doors.
Have you found that?
A: We haven’t found that yet. The average
person could not access the roof.
Q:
Context is needed for these observations. It would be important
to include readability of messages during normal times in New
York City.
A: We have that already for the Port Authority
Police Department. We haven’t reported it yet. We do not
have information for the NYPD or the FDNY citywide channels.
It’s difficult to do that under our agreement with New
York City.
C:
That’s a shame. I’d like to point out that hearing
a message doesn’t mean that you understand or act on a
message. I read the book Last Man Standing. The person in the
book [who was under the collapsed tower] was describing that
he heard a message that “the tower just fell.” He
thought it meant a communications tower. He was under the tower
and didn’t know it. Interpretation of messages varies.
Mass convergence to the site was a factor. I would observe that
running does not infer panic. Also “I have people going
crazy,” is not a good example—it is not good to
put a label on—it’s better to describe what the
conditions were.
A: There were conditions that could have been
more orderly.
Q:
On operating elevator, where did it get stuck?
A: We don’t know. A firefighter was operating
it. He reported that he was using an ax to try to get out.
Q:
Is there anything on the tapes about WTC 7 or WTC 3?
A: We are most focused on the towers. There
is some information about ESU triage unit locations; some to
direct people away from the towers. There is very little on
WTC 7.
C:
As we move forward, there is a need for a narrative
format. A format that connects the dots for the reader will
be important.
A: We tried in the last few slides to add value
to the information and to do what you are suggesting.
C: I’m not talking about the presentation,
but I’m talking about the future and all projects.
A: Yes, we will be doing that.
C:
I want to reinforce that the data from New York City is not
in your possession, and therefore, in the future researchers
can’t have access to it. That’s a shame.
Back
to agenda
Project
4: Investigation of Active Fire Protection Systems
Dr. David D. Evans, WTC Investigation, Project 4 Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Evans
provided an update on Project 4, which is investigating three
systems: the fire sprinkler system, including the fire standpipes
and pre-connected hoses; the fire alarm system; and the smoke
management system. Also under this project, NIST assembled a
history of significant fires in WTC 1, 2, and 7. Dr. Evans provided
NIST’s working definition of a “significant”
fire, and a finding that 47 fires fell within that definition.
Of those fires studies, two involved evacuation of WTC 1 in
1980 and 1981: 300 people and 1,500 people, respectively. Neither
incident had reported injuries or casualties. He referred to
the June 2004 Progress Report, Appendix G, for details.
Dr. Evans
explained the sprinkler and standpipe system and reviewed preliminary
findings for the undamaged and fully operational systems. He
illustrated that, in general, sprinkler risers provided single
points of supply at each floor level, which causes the potential
for single point failures. In specific cases, the lack of interconnections
for adjacent standpipe zones resulted in the potential for single
point failures of the standpipe systems.
The WTC
1 and WTC 2 fire alarm systems consisted of multiple panels
distributed within each tower. The distributed panels shared
intelligence, information, control, and communication through
system signal communication paths. Dr. Evans provided diagrams
of the global and local communication paths to the fire alarm
panels and discussed the audio/voice system and the firefighter
and warden telephone systems. The potential performance differences
had fiber optic communications cable been used instead of copper
in the system are being studied. Particular attention is being
paid to performance under dead electrical short possible in
the copper wiring system.
In the
analysis of the smoke management system, NIST found that the
smoke purge systems in WTC 1 and 2 were not initiated on September
11, 2001. Dr. Evans said that if the smoke purge sequence had
been initiated, it is unlikely the system would have functioned
as designed due to loss of electrical power and damage to the
heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning shafts and other
structural elements.
Q:
Is there an indication or data about responder efforts to connect
to standpipes and the pressures?
A:
The Fire Department did connect to several outside the building.
There was some water pressure early on.
Q: There was mop up?
A: There was some water below the impact zone.
There was water pressure and head to it.
A:
Impression was that around the 77 and 78 floors, it
was indicated that there was water there.
C: The Chief on floor 78 indicated that they
were trying to extinguish fires in the staircase, but there
was no indication of volume or head.
Q:
I heard that sprinklers were operating in the lobby. Have you
tied that to the fireball?
A: We have not analyzed that.
C: PAPD indicated that the fireball did activate
the sprinklers.
A: The sprinkler system in the lower levels
of the towers could have functioned normally using the water
supply from the tanks in the building.
Q:
Have you worked with Randy to analyze the 911 tapes? Did you
get any information on alarm performance, particularly in WTC
1?
A: We are trying to reconcile those pieces.
Q:
Regarding the monitoring of alarm coordination devices and records
of that—are they monitored?
A: The system was monitored by the Port Authority
and recorded on computer hard drives and printouts at the fire
command station in the lobby of the towers. We did not have
any opportunity to search for surviving hard drives or printouts
that would have contained valuable information. There was no
remote monitoring of the alarm systems for the towers. WTC 7
was monitored offsite. We have talked about a possible recommendation.
Q: There is an opportunity here for a great
deal of “what-if” work, but resources are limited.
What if it were a different type of system, and how would it
had worked?
A: There is the multiyear R&D program to
study these issues.
Back
to agenda
Project 1: Analysis of Building and Fire Codes and Practices
Dr. H.S. Lew, WTC Investigation, Project 1 Co-Leader
Mr. Richard Bukowski, WTC Investigation, Project 1 Co-Leader
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Lew
presented information on Project 1, specifically the building
codes and practices. He explained the building codes used in
the initial and final designs of WTC 1, 2, and 7 and the code
conformance agreement between the Port Authority and the New
York City Building Department. The structural requirements included
dead loads, live loads, live load reduction, and lateral loads;
live load reductions were taken for WTC 1 and WTC 2. He also
presented design wind load information. The standards used for
the structural system design were listed for WTC 1, 2, and 7,
and Dr. Lew discussed the tests performed to support the design,
as well as documented modifications to the systems.
Dr. Lew
pointed out that innovative systems, technologies, and materials
were used in the towers. These included the frame-tube system,
the steel floor truss, the uniform exterior column geometry
of 14 different grades of steel, the application of viscoelastic
dampers to control building motion, wind tunnel testing to establish
design wind values for super tall buildings, and the use of
three-story prefabricated exterior steel-column panels.
Mr. Bukowski
presented information on the fire codes and practices for WTC
1, 2, and 7. The fire resistance rating for WTC 1 and WTC 2
was Construction Class 1B (3 hour protected); they are business
occupancy buildings (Group E). He explained the details of this
classification. The rating for WTC 7 was 1C (2 hour sprinklered)
per Fire Safety Plan filed for the building in 1990, and 1B
(3 hour protected) per the Port Authority. He also reviewed
the requirements for the means of egress and described the elevator
systems. Each tower had 99 elevators (WTC 7 had 38), and by
code, were not to be used for fire service access nor for occupant
egress during an emergency. He mentioned that the elevators
were used for occupant egress in WTC 2 after WTC 1 was hit and
before WTC 2 was hit. Requirements for fire suppression and
fire alarm systems were also described. Modifications to the
codes had major impacts on WTC 1 and WTC 2; Mr. Bukowski provided
the details of the code changes.
Mr. Bukowski
discussed the interim findings. NIST found that while not subject
to the building and fire regulations of New York City, the Port
Authority generally followed these at the design stage and as
they evolved over the life of the buildings through the adoption
of Local Laws. The fire and life safety systems in WTC 1, 2,
and 7 were generally consistent with the requirements of national
codes, standards, and accepted practices. The Port Authority
developed tenant manuals and alteration procedures, and conducted
regular condition surveys. The Port Authority also addressed
some problems over an extended period of time, including fireproofing,
tenant separation walls, sprinkler retrofits, and inspection
by independent third parties.
Q:
Regarding independent third-party inspection—what is your
concern?
A: Determination of code compliance is difficult.
A lot of judgment goes into checking compliance, and I get concerned
when it goes off to a third party who is paid by the builder.
Maybe it is a philosophical issue.
Q: Are the New York City people certified to
do such work? Are they licensed engineers?
A: I don’t know.
A (Committee Member): The certification he’s
talking about is architects and engineers.
C:
The code compliance issue is essential. You use the words “generally
follow” and “generally consistent.” You need
to say one way or another. I propose the need to state more
clearly.
A: NIST does not have any regulatory authority.
We will not say whether something is code compliant; we won’t
make a general statement.
A: We have noted cases where there were discrepancies.
Q:
Need to know what elevators were operational on 9/11. We need
to look at records and see what were moving in the South tower
for egress. Also, we need to look at door restrictors, hatch
locks, etc. Have occupancy loads and egress width for Windows
on the World been looked at? Did the tenant construction review
manuals contain anything on fireproofing maintenance?
A: I don’t recall anything. I believe
that the Port Authority did the maintenance on the fireproofing
and that it was not part of the tenant responsibility.
C: I wondered if there was guidance to tenants
not to damage fireproofing.
Back
to agenda
The
Station Nightclub Investigation Overview and Egress Study
Dr. William L. Grosshandler, Chief, Fire Research Division
PRESENTATIONS
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Dr. Grosshandler
is leading the NCST investigation of the fires at The Station
nightclub that occurred in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on February
20, 2003. He presented an overview on the status of the investigation.
Dr. Grosshandler
went on to present the status of the egress study and a review
of the model building and fire codes for the Station Nightclub
Investigation. The purpose of the egress study is to evaluate
limitations to egress through doorways in emergencies. Dr. Grosshandler
reviewed the detailed timeline that was developed for the event
based on the WPRI-TV video and other published accounts. In-place
life safety features have been identified, and an extensive
review of previous evacuation incidents is under way.
NIST has determined
the dates of major construction and changes of use of the Station
Nightclub from 1946 to 2001. Dr. Grosshandler described the
model fire codes that were applicable during the various modifications
of the nightclub. NIST is reviewing the life safety features
of these codes.
Q:
References are to the fire codes, but not the building codes.
A: Those were omitted for brevity, but we have
them and they will be in the report.
Q:
Are these the model fire codes that were governing in Rhode
Island?
A: We do not have a record of what was governing
at the time in terms of codes.
Q: Someone issued a license, they must have
followed a code. Aren’t there records of what codes were
applicable.
A: The permits are incomplete, we have reviewed
as many records as are available.
Back
to agenda
Emergency
Response
Mr. Kenneth Kuntz, The Station Nightclub Investigation,
U.S. Fire Administration
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Mr. Kuntz,
from the U.S. Fire Administration, briefed the Committee on
the assessment of the emergency response. Audio video tapes,
dispatch logs and photographs were independently acquired by
the NCST team from state and local agencies and officials. Other
information was detailed in after-action reports obtained from
various participant interviews, news accounts, existing records,
etc. This information was reviewed and analyzed. Mr. Kuntz discussed
the magnitude of life loss and injury, the type and scope of
the incident, and the West Warwick Fire Department and their
rescue and fire suppression efforts.
Q:
I visited the site and was surprised to see a street alarm box
in front of the building. Was that there at the time?
A: I don’t know if it was still operational.
But a policeman was there at the time and called in the incident.
Q: How did they get the alarm?
A: In today’s world, with cell phone’s,
the Regional 911 call center was flooded with calls.
Q: Was 11:10 p.m. when the call was received
at the station; 11:14 p.m. is when Engine 4 arrived at the scene?
A: Yes. We’re trying to track all seconds.
The police officer call went out 3 minutes after ignition.
Q:
Did ODP (Office of Disaster Planning) do interviews?
A: ODP contracted Titan to study the event—response
to mass casualty events.
Q: They interviewed responders, not survivors?
A: Yes. There was no access to the Fire Department.
The interviews were with the mutual aid responders and mutual
aid providers. There was no post-incident critique.
Q:
When did the survivor at the bottom of the pile get out?
A: We don’t know exactly. We’re
still trying to work that out.
Q:
Do you have a good breakdown of injuries, such as the
nature, severity, disposition, treatment at the site?
A: There was an urgency to move casualties.
Density at the site made vehicle movement chaotic; not orderly.
Sorting of casualties went on at the hospitals. We don’t
have materials from the Health Department to quantify.
Q:
Staffing—did this have a bearing on the outcome?
A: The bulk of the casualties occurred before
arrival of responders. Staffing would probably not have affected
the outcome.
C: Staffing could have affected the outcome
given the casualties.
A: Don’t know—we don’t have
enough details.
Back
to agenda
Materials
Testing: Testing and Validation Experiments to Support Simulation
Mr. Nelson P. Bryner, The Station Nightclub Investigation
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Mr. Bryner
presented information on the testing and validation experiments
conducted to support the fire simulations of the nightclub fire.
Computer fire simulations require input data such as building
geometry, ventilation, and material properties. He explained
that although data for common materials are available in reference
libraries, additional testing is required for less common materials.
NIST conducted cone calorimeter lab tests to collect data on
polyurethane foam and ceiling. Large fire facility experiments
were performed to collect data on pyrotechnics (gerbs) and fire
spread. A full-scale mockup of the stage area was created at
NIST for these experiments.
Mr. Bryner reported
that the experiment without sprinklers led to flashover conditions
within the alcove in approximately 60 seconds. The resulting
high-temperatures, low oxygen, high carbon monoxide, and high
hydrogen cyanide concentrations suggest that conditions in the
unsprinklered test became untenable in less than 90 seconds.
With sprinklers, near-ambient temperature and oxygen levels
were maintained 1.4 meters above the floor.
C:
Inferring from heat flux measurements for pyrotechnics—they
are so low that they look unimportant.
A: In general, I agree with you. The 2 gerb
configuration produces higher heat flux and is closer to the
foam. The energy from the plume may not have been inconsequential.
Q:
The heat flux in your mockup is 25 kilowatts. Do we have film
of the floor ignition at that distance?
A: Once the camera operator left the club,
we have no data. If you look at the video, at 54 seconds, we
can still see people moving. They’re not falling even
though it’s bad inside. Once the thermal wave hits the
fire wall, things behave differently.
C:
Conditions became untenable quickly. There was a delay in evacuation.
People went out the way they came in. Crowd crush and delay
are important issues. A major contributor to fatalities is crowd
crush. There doesn’t seem to be any effort to systematically
interview the survivors. We need to find ways for NIST to conduct
interviews quickly and operate in a litigious environment.
A: We were asked not to contact occupants for
several months. We are working with the Office of the NIST Counsel
to develop questions for future investigations.
A: We did have access to the Providence Journal
interviews. The information may not be there. We need to have
a better way to get information, and I appreciate your point.
C:
We don’t know how many people were there who could have
information to share, for example, on emergency responders.
The film shows people who went back to help others.
A: Bill Grosshandler and NIST are working with
the National Association of State Fire Marshals to develop an
approach for responding to events. It’s difficult to rely
on other than public information gathered by trained investigators.
A: We reached a point with the WTC experience
that interviews are not viewed as research. Protocols are being
developed to conduct interviews shortly after an event. Scope
is limited by resources, and we currently do not have resources
to conduct an extensive set of interviews of survivors.
Q:
Did the foam extend across the ceiling?
A: The foam did not extend across the ceiling.
The back wall had foam down to the restroom entrance.
Q:
When did the sprinklers activate in the test?
A: The first activated at 23 seconds, the second
at 24 seconds.
Back
to agenda
Simulation of Fire and Smoke Movement in Laboratory
Reconstruction
Mr. Daniel Madrzykowski, The Station Nightclub Investigation
PRESENTATION
(.pdf;
download Acrobat Reader)
Mr. Madrzykowski presented the status of the simulation of fire
and smoke movement in the laboratory reconstruction. Draft models
have been completed for the experiment, and the nightclub model
is currently being revised to incorporate revised dimensions,
thermal properties, and modifications to the Fire Dynamics Simulator.
He described the details of the model and real-scale laboratory
recreation, including the measurement instrument locations.
He pointed out that FDS provides the opportunity to compare
computer model results with a known fire condition, prior to
applying the model to the actual nightclub geometry. Mr. Madrzykowski
discussed some of the results, and stated that the model trends
are in qualitative agreement with measurements. FDS will be
used to predict fire and smoke spread throughout the nightclub
and results will be compared to the available video recording.
C:
When you look at the heat release rates in FDS versus tests,
the heat release hits a peak higher and drops faster.
A: The one-dimensional algorithm grid size
is too coarse. We had to revise the model based on experimental
observations.
Q
(NIST): What spatial resolution was used?
A: 10 centimeters.
Q:
Are you trying to complete this by the end of the year?
C: Our goal is to finish the technical work
soon. We hope to have a draft report to share by the end of
the summer.
Q: Can we get copies of the contractor reports
for Rhode Island?
A: Yes, we’ll send those to you.
NCST
Advisory Committee Business
Mr. Paul M. Fitzgerald, Committee Chair
Copies
of rules have been inserted in the committee notebooks under
tab 21. Contact Jim Hill if there are any questions.
Tab 22 shows the
recommendations of the NCST Advisory Committee from the December
2-3, 2003, meeting and NIST’s response to those recommendations.
Most recommendations made by the NCST Advisory Committee have
been accepted by NIST.
The next item is
future committee meetings.
Suggested dates are
October 26-27, 2004, January 18-19, 2005, and March 22-23, 2005.
Contact Steve Cauffman with your availability for those dates.
C:
January 17, 2005 is the 10th anniversary of the Kobe earthquake.
C:
October 26 and 27, 2004, also poses a conflict. Can the meeting
be moved to October 5 and 6 as originally discussed?
C:
We need time at the October meeting to discuss the Report to
Congress.
Motion to adjourn
the meeting was agreed to.
The open
session of the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Advisory
Committee
Barsom, John
DiNenno, Philip
Collins, David
Corbett, Glenn
Fitzgerald, Paul (chair)
Hanson, Robert
Thornton, Charles
Tierney, Kathleen
Williams, Forman
Hill, James, Acting Designated Federal Official
NIST
Management
Semerjian, Hratch
Office
of the General Counsel
Burkhardt,
Craig
Rubin, Michael
Lieberman, Melissa
BFRL
WTC Disaster Study Secretariat
Heyman, Matthew
Lieberman, Melissa
Newman, Michael
Rubin, Michael |
WTC
Investigation
Averill, Jason
Banovic, Stephen
Baum, Howard
Bukowski, Richard
Carino, Nicholas
Dols,
Stuart
Evans, David
Fields, Richard
Filliben, James
Foecke,
Tim
Fritz, William
Gann, Richard
Gross, John
Kuligowski, Erica
Lawson, James R.
Luecke, William
Lew, H.S.
McAllister, Therese
McGrattan, Kevin
Nelson, Harold
Peacock, Richard
Pitts, William
Prasad, Kuldeep
Rehm, Ronald
Sadek, Fahim
Simiu, Emil
Starnes, Monica
Sunder, Shyam
The
Station Nightclub Investigation
Bryner, Nelson
Grosshandler, William
Madrzykowski, Daniel
Kuntz, Ken
U.S. Fire Administration
|
WTC
Administrative Support
Cauffman, Stephen
Cavanaugh, Sydel
Eichner, John
Sawyer, Cheri
Soverow, Walter
Public
Commentors
Lau, David, Continental Container, Ltd.
Pauls, Jake, Consulting Services in Building Use and
Safety
Polk, Robert, National Association of State Fire Marshals
Razzaq, Zia, Old Dominion University
|
World
Trade Center homepage
Construction
Safety Investigation homepage
Created:
07/22/2004
Updated:
04/02/2007
Comments: inquiries@nist.gov
|