The
Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) today announced details of its $16 million,
24-month federal building and fire safety investigation
to study the structural failure and subsequent progressive
collapse of several World Trade Center (WTC) buildings following
the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City.
The study of WTC Buildings 1 and 2 ("The Twin Towers")
and WTC Building 7 will focus on the building construction,
the materials used and all of the technical conditions that
contributed to the outcome of the WTC disaster.
NIST
already has completed much of the planning work for the
investigation and has consulted extensively with the public
concerning its scope. Recent passage of an emergency supplemental
appropriations bill now enables NIST to move ahead with
the study.
"Many
people, including technical experts, industry leaders and
families of victims, have pressed for a broad-based federal
investigation of the building collapses at the World Trade
Center," said NIST Director Arden Bement Jr. "The
lessons to be learned from this investigation and the companion
research and development program are critical to understanding
what core reforms are needed to make tall buildings safer
nationwide, enhancing the safety of fire and emergency responders,
better protecting occupants and property, and providing
better emergency response capabilities and procedures for
future disasters."
NIST
has extensive experience and expertise in conducting disaster
investigations following structural/construction failures,
fires and natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes
and tornadoes. A fact sheet detailing this background and
listing past NIST investigations is available online at
http://wtc.nist.gov.
NIST
consulted with local authorities in New York about the agency's
plans for the WTC investigation, including the following
organizations: the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,
the Fire Department of New York, the New York City Department
of Buildings, the New York City Department of Design and
Construction, and the New York City Office of Emergency
Management. A public meeting to gather input on the scope
of the pending investigation was held in New York City on
June 24, 2002; the suggestions and comments were considered
in developing the final
investigation plan.
The
NIST investigation will involve the participation of world-class
technical experts from industry, academia and other laboratories
to complement the agency's in-house technical expertise.
NIST also will draw expertise from a private-sector coalition
that includes professionals from the Structural Engineering
Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (SEI/ASCE),
Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the American Institute
of Steel Construction (AISC), the Council on Tall Buildings
and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and the Structural Engineers
Association of New York (SEAoNY).
Additionally,
NIST will maintain liaison with other industry organizations,
standards and codes bodies, and the insurance industry during
its investigation, as well as the families of building occupants
and first responders, and organizations representing families
of victims such as the Skyscraper Safety Campaign.
NIST
will charter an advisory committee to provide advice to
the NIST Director on all aspects of the investigation and
ensure its successful completion. Members of the committee
will be recognized for distinguished professional service,
possess broad technical expertise and experience, and have
a reputation for independence, objectivity and impartiality.
NIST
expects to complete its investigation and issue a final
report within an estimated 24 months from the start of the
program. The investigation is part of a broader NIST response
plan to the WTC disaster. In addition to the investigation,
NIST is planning to conduct two related programs concurrently: