Briefing for American Chemical S

Briefing for American Chemical S

Board of Directors Board of Directors

March 23, 2003 March 23, 2003

Dr. Arden Bement, Jr., Director Dr. Arden Bement, Jr., Director

National Institute of Standards and Tech

National Institute of Standards and Tech

U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce

Briefing for the Briefing for the 

National Construction Safety 

National Construction Safety 

Advisory Committee Advisory Committee

Dr. Arden Dr. Arden Bement, Jr.

Director Director

National Institute of Standards and Tech

National Institute of Standards and Tech

U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce

April 29, 2003 April 29, 2003
NCST Advisory Committee Charter NCST Advisory Committee Charter

The Committee will:! Advise the NIST director on carrying out investig

failures, including advice on investigation team cfunction.

Members selected based on:

! Technical expertise and experience;! Established records of distinguished professiona! Knowledge of issues affecting investigation team
Working with others... Working with others...

! Government agencies (federal, state, local)! Professional societies! Trade associations! Standards and code organizations! Public
Secretary

Deputy Secretary

Secretary

Deputy Secretary

National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric 

Administration

National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric 

Administration

Patent and 

Trademark Office

Patent and 

Trademark Office

National 

Telecomm. & Info. 

Administration

National 

Telecomm. & Info. 

Administration

Technology 

Administration

Technology 

Administration

N

o

Na

of 

Te

Tec

Na

Na

(Other bureaus) (Other bureaus)

Dr. Arden B

Direct

Phillip Bond

Under Secretary

Donald Evans

Secretary

Dr. Samuel Bodman

Deputy Secretary
NIST Assets Include:

!3,000 employees!1,600 guest researchers!$865 million operating budget!NIST Laboratories -- National 

measurement standards

!Advanced Technology Program --

R&D partnerships with industry

!Manufacturing Extension Partnership -- 400 centers na

help small manufacturers

!Baldrige National Quality Award -- promotes and recog

organizational performance excellence

NIST’s mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life.

National Institute of Standards and T

National Institute of Standards and T
NIST Laboratories NIST Laboratories

Broad technical expertise to develop measurementsand standards to enable:

! Science! Technology innovation! Trade! Public benefit

Core programs include:

! Building construction and 

fire safety standards

! Computer security! Radiation measurements! Analytical chemistry measurements! Law enforcement and first responder technologie
1904 Baltimore fire 1904 Baltimore fire

1,500 buildings ground because from outside Baattach their hosFollowing this trhelped develop standard for fire
www.bfrl.nist.gov
Prior NIST investigations Prior NIST investigations

Earthquakes

San Fernando, CA (1971)Mexico City, Mexico (1985)Loma Prieta, CA (1989)Northridge, CA (1994)Kobe, Japan (1995)Kocaeli, Turkey (1999)

Hurricanes

Camille, MS/LA (1969)Alicia, Galveston, TX (1983)Hugo, SC (1989)Andrew, FL (1992)Hurricane Mitch and Georges, LAC (1998)

Construction/Building 

Skyline Plaza Apartments, Bailey’s Crossroads, VA 

(1973)

Willow Island Cooling Tower, WV (1978)Kansas City Hyatt Regency, Kansas City, MO (1981)Riley Road Interchange, East Chicago, IN (1982)

Harbor Cay Condominium, Cocoa Beach, FL (1981)L’Ambiance Plaza, Hartford, CT (1987)Ashland Oil Tank Collapse, Floreffe, PA (1988)U.S. Embassy, Moscow, USSR (1987)Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, OK (1995)

Tornadoes

Jarrell, TX (1Spencer, SD Oklahoma Ci

Fires

DuPont Plaza First InterstaCA (1988)Loma Prieta Hillhaven NuPulaski BuildHappyland SOakland HillsHokkaido, JaWatts St, New Northridge EKobe, Japan Vandaila St, Cherry RoadKeokuk, IA (1Houston, TX Phoenix, AZ 
Prior NIST investigations (cont.) Prior NIST investigations (cont.)

Results:! Probable technical cause! Lessons learned: successes and failures! Improvements to standards, codes, and 

practices, technologies

! Establish future research prioritiesNIST Responsibility: ! Recommend changes to codes, standards, 

practices
National Construction Safety Team A

National Construction Safety Team A

PL 107

-231

Issue: No one had lead responsibility to investigate an

for the future

Proposal: An “NTSB-like” body...

! Independent, objective, fact, not fault-finding! Ability to collect, analyze, make public critical informat

National Construction Safety Team Act:

! Introduced by Boehlert in House, Clinton in Senate! Signed into law October 1, 2002! Establish Federal Advisory Committee! Applies to WTC investigation as well.

Tasks NIST Director to establish teams, develop re

! When practical, launched within 48 hours! Teams include at least one NIST employee

Authorities:

! Entry/inspection ! Subpoena, briefings, hearings, witnesses! Priority (except for criminal investigations)
Liaison...Special emphasis Liaison...Special emphasis

! Professional societies! Briefings, progress reports! Extensive web site! Liaison to victims’ families! NYC authorities
Liaison...Special emphasis Liaison...Special emphasis

! Port Authority of NY and NJ! FDNY! NYPD! more...
Cooperation Cooperation

! Large volumes of information received from desi

leaseholders, suppliers, contractors, and insurers

! More information is still needed...and we are pur! Systematic collection of information under way.
Rhode Island Nightclub Fire Investig

Rhode Island Nightclub Fire Investig

• February 20, 2003• West Warwick, R.I.• Nearly 100 deaths• NIST decided to launch investigation
Bottom line... Bottom line...

Make all buildings safer for occupants and first 
Expectations Expectations

The NCST Advisory Committee will

! Provide sound judgment and counsel in helping 

statutory responsibilities,

! Help us think outside-the-box in analyzing extrem! Keep us on track in performing our roles under th

and

! Help us assure that the public interest in constru

well served.