National Construction Saf

National Construction Saf

Technical Investigation 

Technical Investigation 

The Station Nightclub, W. W

The Station Nightclub, W. W

William Grosshandler 

Lead Technical Investigator

Building and Fire Research Laborator

Presented to the NCST Federal Advisory Co

April 29, 2003
The NCST Act requires that we relinqui

investigative priority in the event of a cinvestigation. We are assessing how ththe Rhode Island investigation and its sThe information in the following slides our best present thinking but is subject 
The Station Nightclub 

The Station Nightclub 

When: February 20, 2003Where: West Warwick, RIWhat: 

• pyrotechnics ignited wall covering on stage• rapid spread of flames and smoke• captured on WPRI-TV video• main entrance became blocked by people try• 99 fatalities 

Courtesy 

WPRI-TV

NIST team on site 

within 36 hrs.
Purpose of W. Warwick Inve

Purpose of W. Warwick Inve

To establish the likely technical cause or building failure that led to a high number • Document all technical aspects of event.• Recommend, as necessary, specific impro

building standards, codes and practices ba

findings. 

• Recommend any research and other appro

needed to improve the structural fire safety evacuation procedures.
• Independent, objective, and within limits of availabl

• Consideration of concerns and issues of all interest• Ensuring that evidence is preserved• Coordinated with Federal, State and local entities• Investigative priority relinquished to law enforceme

conducting ongoing criminal investigations 

• No findings of fault nor negligence will be assigned 

individual or organization

Guiding Principles for Inves

Guiding Principles for Inves
NCST Pa NCST Participation and/or 

cipation and/or 

NIST members• W. Grosshandler (lead)• N. Bryner• D. MadrzykowskiState/local Agencies• I. Owens, RI State Fire Marshal’s 

Office

• C. Hall, West Warwick Fire Dept.• P. Nolan, RI Dept. of Public Health• E. LaPosta, RI Office of the

Medical Examiner

• RI Attorney General’s office (to be 

established)

• RI Office of Emergency

Management (to be established)

Primary Federa

• K. Kuntz, DHS/

Fire Administra

• C. Porreca, Bur

Tobacco and F

Secondary Fede• P. Makak, DHS 

Domestic Prepa

• K. Hartmann, D

Safety and Hea

• L. Doll, Centers 

Control and Pre
Identification of technical 

issues, major hypotheses

General Approach General Approach

Data collection

Examination of 

and practices; 

used in opera

emergen

Analysis of physical evidence

Simulation of 

phenomena

Testing to pro

additional data an

simulation pred

Final report

Recommende

stds, cod
1. Establishment of initial conditions

2. Materials testing3. Reconstruction of thermal and tenability env4. Determination of occupant behavior and egr5. Documentation of emergency response6. Examination of the impact of sprinklers on s7. Identification of building and fire codes that 

revision

Specific Tasks Specific Tasks
Information sought:

• Materials of construction and contents• Location, size and conditions of doors, windows, an• Installed fire protection systems • Number of occupants and their approximate locatioSources:• Construction plans, maintenance records, building 

• Videos, photographs, news articles• Measurements/observations of site after the fact• Interviews with contractors, building owner, employ

witnesses familiar with the operation of building on 

1. Establishment of Initial C

1. Establishment of Initial C
Experiments conducted to provide data o

construction and contents that affect gro• Convoluted foam, wall paneling, ceiling tiles, carpet

materials identified as contributing to fuel load inside 

• Heat release rate, minimum ignition temperature, sm

over range of incident heat fluxes

• Wall and corner fire tests with convoluted-foam-cove

walls to develop heat release rate time histories

• Standard tests for flammability of plastic materials a

surface burning characteristics of building materials materials

• Thermal response experiments on exemplar heat de

2. Materials Testing 2. Materials Testing
• Develop computer-based reconstruction of 

dimensioned drawings, video, and still phot

• Examine impact of varying properties of int

smoke and fire spread.

• Examine impact of ventilation from change

doors and windows.

• Compare simulation to WPRI-TV videotape 

testimony.

• Seek information on location/cause of fatal

victim (from ME’s report) to establish consissimulation.

3. Reconstruction of Therm

3. Reconstruction of Therm

Tenability Environme

Tenability Environme
Example Previous Reconstru

Example Previous Reconstr

Keokuk, Iowa, 12/22/99 Keokuk, Iowa, 12/22/99

Conducted for NIOSH, 6 fatalities (3 children, 3 firefighters)
Objective: to better understand impedim

egress encountered by occupants• Comparison of life safety features in structure with r

the Life Safety Code.

• Egress of occupants calculation using simple hydra

well as more complex behavior-based models to com

predictions from FDS.

• Examination of parameters that affected egress, inc

recognition and response (1st, 2nd, 3rd actions), staff 

alcohol levels of victims, age and sex of occupants, identification of exits, condition of exits, and changin

structure (i.e. smoke and heat build-up, loss of lighti

• Comparison to similar incidents (e.g., Arundel Park 

nightclub; Fine Line Music Café, MN)

4. Determination of 4. Determination of 

Occupant Behavior and E

Occupant Behavior and E
Collect emergency response data in coop

local fire department to document procedoperation of equipment; identify successand technical difficulties.• Records of interest: dispatch logs, recorded radio co

logs, 911 records, data recorded by Fire DepartmenPolice Department, and fire ground positioning of em

• Operations and function of communications systems

information systems, fire alarm panels, standpipes aother emergency equipment

• Data collected from witnesses, those in control of em

operations, and first responders

5. Documentation of Eme

5. Documentation of Eme

Response (USFA lead

Response (USFA lead
Impact on survivability will be examined h

system been installed, all other conditionsame.• Determine sprinkler design criteria that comply with 

occupancy.

• Identify recreation from task 3 that provides best ma

developed from WPRI-TV video and witness statem

• Add sprinkler system to model, and conduct parame

how tenability conditions might have been altered fo

conditions and ignition sequence. 

6. Impact of Sprinklers 

6. Impact of Sprinklers 

Survivability Survivability
Review building/fire codes and practices

practices used in operation of building.Recommend specific areas for improvemand fire codes, standards and practices technical findings from the other tasks, icovered by Tentative Interim AmendmenNFPA 101-2003

• sprinklers in clubs with occupant loads > 300• crowd managers and staff training for occupan• prohibit festival seating without approved life s

7. Building and Fire Code

7. Building and Fire Code

Warrant Revision Warrant Revision
Questions? Questions?

william.grosshandler@nist.gov

(301) 975-2310