Dateline 04/09/02

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking input from individuals and representatives of organizations who have technical information that could be helpful in its proposed building and fire safety investigation of the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

NIST hopes the information gathered and the subsequent investigation will result in recommendations for new building codes and techniques leading to safer, more collapse-resistant structures.

How to Submit Information

The Department of Commerce and NIST will hold a public meeting on April 22, 2002, in New York City to gather information. The meeting will be held at the New York Marriott Hotel Financial Center, located at 85 West St. in New York City from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. (Hotel Phone: 1-212-385-4900 Fax: 1-212-227-8136)

Individuals and representatives of organizations who have technical information that could be helpful to the investigation are invited to request a place on the agenda. The total number of speakers and organizations, and the time available for each, will be determined by the number of requests, but the time is likely to be five to 10 minutes each, according to NIST.

Specific technical issues of interest to NIST are the following:

• the probable technical causal factors for the collapse of the World Trade Center towers following the airplane impacts; 
• the factors that led to the injuries and fatalities, including all technical aspects of fire protection, response, evacuation, and occupant behavior and emergency response; 
• the procedures and practices used in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the World Trade Center towers; new technologies and procedures emerging that might be employed in the future to reduce the potential risks of such a collapse; and 
• building and fire codes, standards and practices that might warrant revision. 

To request an opportunity to speak, NIST must receive the following information via e-mail (wtc@nist.gov) or fax (301-975-4052) no later than 5 p.m. on April 17, 2002:

• the name and contact information (including phone number, fax number and/or e-mail address) of the individual who will be speaking; 
• the name and complete address of the organization(s) that the speaker represents; and 
• the specific technical issue that will be discussed (see previous list). 

Those requesting an opportunity to speak are encouraged to submit a 150 to 200 word summary of their key points to assist in the selection of speakers. Selected speakers will be contacted by noon on April 19, 2002. Speakers who wish to expand upon their oral statements, those who cannot be accommodated on the agenda due to the constraints of time, and those who are unable to attend are invited to submit written statements and supporting material to:

Regular Mail: 
The WTC Technical Information Repository Building and Fire Research Laboratory 
NIST MS 8610 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8610

Electronic Mail: wtc@nist.gov

Fax: (301) 975-4052

Statements made at the meeting and/or submitted to NIST will be recorded, transcribed and made available to the public at a later date. The meeting may be Webcast and linked to the NIST Web site, http://www.nist.gov. Details will be available on that Web site before the meeting.