William Grosshandler

Building and Fire Research Labo

National Institute of Standards and Tec

U.S. Department of Commerce

William.Grosshandler@NIST.gov

National Construction Safety Team Inve

National Construction Safety Team Inve

The Station Nightclub Fi

The Station Nightclub Fi

Federal Advisory Committee

December 3, 2003
Rationale to form Investigative Team Rationale to form Investigative Tea

The Director of NIST is authorized by the NCST Ato establish the likely technical causes of the buto evaluate the technical aspects of emergency revacuation procedures in the wake of the buildinresults in substantial loss of life:

• Rapid spread of fire and smoke requires techn

determine how life safety features of building m

evacuation process, leading to 100 fatalities.

• Depending upon findings, potential exists to m

building failures like this with changes in buildibuilding standards, codes, and regulations.

• Technical competencies required for successf

available at NIST and its community of collaboor state investigation with equivalent analytical 

• Funds on hand are sufficient to conduct an inv
1. Establishment of initial conditions

2. Materials testing3. Reconstruction of thermal and tenability environ4. Examination of possible impact of sprinklers5. Determination of evacuation process6. Documentation of emergency response7. Recommendations for specific improvements to standards, codes and practices

Elements of NIST Technical Invest

Elements of NIST Technical Invest
1. Establishment of Initial Conditio

1. Establishment of Initial Conditio

Geometry (3/4 established)• Dimensioned floor plan • Vent locations, doors, windows• Ceiling height above stage and in sunroom Materials and Building Contents (1/3 established)• Ceiling Tiles – wood fiber based or non-combustible?• Wall Lining – fraction covered by wood panel and fraction • Sample of an acoustic foam for small scale tests on heat • Was more than one type of “foam” used; i.e. rigid foam as 

flexible “egg crate” foam?

• Was foam painted or treated in any way?Useful Documentation • Construction drawings of building and renovations• Fire alarm system plan with types and location of detector• Recent photographs or videos of inside and outside of the 
2. Materials Testing 2. Materials Testing

Objectives:• Develop source term data for modeling• Assess material burning behavior to determine a 

materials in the nightclub

Pyrotechnic “Gerbs:”

• White color, 15 second duration, 15 foot throw• Examine ignition properties• Plan to measure heat flux to surface
Cone Calorimeter 

Experiments

3 types of convoluted foam tested

2 – ether based polyurethane 1 – ester based FR PU foam

incident heat flux: 35 & 70 kW/m2

Panel 

• small flam• inside and 

configurati

• measuring 

and heat f
Preliminary Simulation of Fire Envi

Preliminary Simulation of Fire Envi
3. Reconstruction of Thermal and 

3. Reconstruction of Thermal and 

Environment Environment

Construction• Similar dimensions to stage area of nightclub (~ 36 ft x 2• Convoluted non-fire retarded polyurethane foam, plywoo• Carpeted stage & drummer’s platform, gypsum ceiling ovMeasurements: Temperature, CO, CO

2, O

2, HCN, heat fl
Full-scale Recreation of Stage Area 

scale Recreation of Stage Area 
4. Examination of Possible Impact 

4. Examination of Possible Impact 

Impact on environment being examined had sprinkleinstalled, all other conditions being the same. Sprinkler system installed in test room (same geomecommercial supplier according to current NFPA 13 s

• spacing – 12 ft X 12 ft (144 ft2 coverage per spr

• total number of heads - 5• design flow rate – 0.10 gpm/ft

2 (14.4 gpm)

• activation temperature - 165 

o

F

Measurements: Temperature, CO, CO

2, O

2, HCN, heat 

activation time 
Full-scale Recreation, Stage Area F

scale Recreation, Stage Area F
Objective: to better understand impediments to safe 

encountered by occupants

5. Documentation of Evacuation P

5. Documentation of Evacuation P

Preliminary evacuation calculations• Simulex• CRISP• EVACNET4

CRISP model

• Hypothetical occupancy rates and evacuation sce

404 people w/all four exits available for use in 

with 90% of occupants using most familiar fro

• Results: 4 minutes 30 seconds for complete evac

prediction of doorway pile-up

List of survivors compiled by Providence Journal
Ove Arup & Partners of Massachusetts: evaluati

egress through doorways in emergency situation

• help document egress events (including buildin

video and photographic records, field data, inte

by the media, and other oral and written accou

occupants, emergency responders, and other w

• help document role of life safety features in the 

assisting safe egress; and

• compare/contrast egress process and outcome 

similar events.

Contract to assist in egress st
• Collect emergency response data in cooperation wit

department to document procedures and operation o

• Review West Warwick Police Department dispatch r• Identify successful operations and technical difficulti

6. Documentation of Emergency Re

6. Documentation of Emergency Re
Contract let to Koeffel Associates, Inc., of Maryla

model building/fire codes and practices applicablike The Station nightclub:

• review national model building and fire codes t

governed the building design, construction, and 

structural and fire safety systems; 

• identify substantive and relevant differences, if 

these historical requirements and provisions of model building and fire codes; and 

• document practices and procedures used for th

maintenance of and modifications to structural protection systems.

Team to recommend specific areas for improvembuilding and fire codes, standards and practices based upon technical findings from all tasks.

7. Recommendations for specific improv

7. Recommendations for specific improv

building standards, codes and practices building standards, codes and practices
Press Briefing in Providence, RI, No

Press Briefing in Providence, RI, No

Provided update on investigation: 5 newspapersradio stationsRequested information from public: • details of building geometry, materials and finishes• description and location of furniture• positions of windows and doors prior to and during • observations of fire and smoke spread, and operat

• number and location of employees and patrons pre• difficulties encountered during evacuation • casualty reports• number and type of emergency response units and 

timeline of activities

Requested format: photographs, videos, recordingdocuments, samples, recollections
Contact Information for NIST Inves

Contact Information for NIST Inves

Anonymous (toll free) tip lines: (877) 451-8001Facsimile: (301) 975-6122E-mail: NCST@nist.govMail address: NCST Rhode Island Investigation

National Institute of Standards and T100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8660

Responses to date

tip line: 15 e-mail: 6