NIST WTC Workshop

Maintaining Structural Maintaining Structural IntegrityIntegrity

Stephen S. Szoke, P.E.Stephen S. Szoke, P.E.Director of Codes and StandardsDirector of Codes and StandardsPortland Cement AssociationPortland Cement Association5420 Old Orchard Road5420 Old Orchard RoadSkokie, IL 60077Skokie, IL 60077847847--972972--90789078

NIST WTC Workshop

Maintaining Structural Maintaining Structural IntegrityIntegrity

Strengthening or providing Strengthening or providing redundancies in structural framesredundancies in structural framesCombining performance of Combining performance of various building elementsvarious building elementsExperience total burnout without Experience total burnout without collapse collapse 

NIST WTC Workshop

Structural Design LoadsStructural Design Loads

Dead + Live Dead + Live + Earthquake+ Earthquake+ Wind+ Wind+ Snow+ Snow+ Ice+ Ice+Flood+Flood++ FireFire

NIST WTC Workshop

Structural FrameStructural Frame

Design the Structural Frame to Design the Structural Frame to Resist Collapse (ASCE 7)Resist Collapse (ASCE 7)–– Indirect Method Indirect Method -- minimum levels of minimum levels of 

strength, continuity, and ductility strength, continuity, and ductility throughout the structurethroughout the structure

–– Direct Method Direct Method –– Alternative Path Alternative Path MethodMethod

–– Direct Method Direct Method –– Specific Local Specific Local Resistance MethodResistance Method

NIST WTC Workshop

Construction with InfillConstruction with Infill

Concrete and masonry fire protectionConcrete and masonry fire protection–– Minimize deflectionsMinimize deflections–– Transfer loadsTransfer loads–– Additional fire protection Additional fire protection 

Fire protection needs to resist shocks Fire protection needs to resist shocks and vibrations due to fire exposure of and vibrations due to fire exposure of –– Protected elementsProtected elements–– Elements integrally attached to Elements integrally attached to 

protected elementsprotected elements

NIST WTC Workshop

Loadbearing Walls or Loadbearing Walls or Frame with Infill Frame with Infill 

InvestigationInvestigation–– Limited resources and defined Limited resources and defined 

objectivesobjectives–– Did not consider successful Did not consider successful 

performing buildingsperforming buildingsRecommendationsRecommendations–– Analysis of very tall highAnalysis of very tall high--rise rise 

buildingbuilding–– Applications to 15 to 20 or moreApplications to 15 to 20 or more

NIST WTC Workshop

FEMA/ASCE on 130 CedarFEMA/ASCE on 130 Cedar

"...is a 12"...is a 12--story reinforced concrete frame story reinforced concrete frame structure with setbacks at... Perimeter spandrel structure with setbacks at... Perimeter spandrel beams beneath the windows and interior infill beams beneath the windows and interior infill walls of brick, terracotta, or concrete masonry walls of brick, terracotta, or concrete masonry provide additional lateral stiffness... A column provide additional lateral stiffness... A column section from WTC 2 penetrated the 10th floor section from WTC 2 penetrated the 10th floor roof slab... Fire damage was evident on the roof slab... Fire damage was evident on the 11th and 12th floors... fire temperatures of 11th and 12th floors... fire temperatures of between 600between 600ooF and 1,100F and 1,100ooF."F."

NIST WTC Workshop

Combining Building Combining Building ElementsElements

90 West

NIST WTC Workshop

FEMA/ASCE on 90 WestFEMA/ASCE on 90 West

"Older, early century fireproofing methods of "Older, early century fireproofing methods of concreteconcrete--, brick, brick--, and terra cotta tile, and terra cotta tile--encased encased steel frame performed well, even after 90+ steel frame performed well, even after 90+ years, and protected the 90 West Street building years, and protected the 90 West Street building from extensive structural damage."  "This type from extensive structural damage."  "This type of construction, with terra cotta tiles providing of construction, with terra cotta tiles providing fire protection...resulted in highly fire protection...resulted in highly compartmentalized building, which may have compartmentalized building, which may have helped slow the spread of fire..."helped slow the spread of fire..."

NIST WTC Workshop

30 West Broadway30 West Broadway

NIST WTC Workshop

VerizonVerizon

NIST WTC Workshop

FEMA/ASCE on FEMA/ASCE on VerizonVerizon

"In general, the "In general, the VerizonVerizon building performed building performed well, especially given its close proximity to WTC well, especially given its close proximity to WTC 7...  Several factors may have contributed to 7...  Several factors may have contributed to the performance of the the performance of the VerizonVerizon building.  The building.  The thick masonry walls, brickthick masonry walls, brick--encased columns, encased columns, cindercinder--concrete encased beams and girders concrete encased beams and girders probably absorbed much of the energy of the probably absorbed much of the energy of the impacts while also providing additional stiffness impacts while also providing additional stiffness and strength to the building frame."and strength to the building frame."

NIST WTC Workshop

90 West

Verizon

NIST WTC Workshop

Major Burnout Without Major Burnout Without Structural CollapseStructural Collapse

2004 LaSalle Bank Building, 2004 LaSalle Bank Building, Chicago (1930s)Chicago (1930s)1993 New York City Bank, New 1993 New York City Bank, New York (1960s)York (1960s)1991 One Meridian Plaza, 1991 One Meridian Plaza, Philadelphia (1973)Philadelphia (1973)1988 Interstate Bank Building, 1988 Interstate Bank Building, Los Angeles (1973)Los Angeles (1973)

NIST WTC Workshop

Interstate BankInterstate Bank

62 stories62 storiesBuilt in 1973Built in 1973Fire on 12Fire on 12thth floor and spread to 16floor and spread to 16thth

Fire burned for 4Fire burned for 4--1/2 hours1/2 hours

NIST WTC Workshop

USFA onUSFA onInterstate BankInterstate Bank

“In spite of the total burnout of four and a “In spite of the total burnout of four and a half floors, there was no damage to the half floors, there was no damage to the main structural members and only minor main structural members and only minor damage to one secondary beam and smaller damage to one secondary beam and smaller number of floor spans.”number of floor spans.”“The effects of this magnitude of fir eon a “The effects of this magnitude of fir eon a less protected structure must be considered less protected structure must be considered in plan reviews, inspections during in plan reviews, inspections during construction, and developing codes.construction, and developing codes.

NIST WTC Workshop

One Meridian PlazaOne Meridian Plaza

38 Stories38 StoriesBuilt in 1973Built in 1973Started on 22 and spread to 30Started on 22 and spread to 30thth

Burned for 19 hoursBurned for 19 hours

NIST WTC Workshop

USFA onUSFA onOne Meridian PlazaOne Meridian Plaza“The degree of structural damage “The degree of structural damage 

produced during the fire at One produced during the fire at One Meridian Plaza suggests that the Meridian Plaza suggests that the requirements for structural fire requirements for structural fire resistance should be reexaminedresistance should be reexamined.  .  Floor assemblies deflected as much as Floor assemblies deflected as much as three feet in some places.”three feet in some places.”

NIST WTC Workshop

New York City BankNew York City Bank

42 stories42 storiesBuilt in the 1960sBuilt in the 1960sFire spread from 7Fire spread from 7thth to 8to 8thth

NIST WTC Workshop

USFA onUSFA onNew York City BankNew York City Bank“If a compartment of this size [15,000 “If a compartment of this size [15,000 

sq. ft.] becomes involved, particularly sq. ft.] becomes involved, particularly modern buildings of “lightweight” modern buildings of “lightweight” construction, there is a significant risk construction, there is a significant risk that fire may spread to higher floors or that fire may spread to higher floors or adjacent compartments.” adjacent compartments.” 

NIST WTC Workshop

LaSalle Bank BuildingLaSalle Bank Building

45 Stories45 StoriesBuilt in 1930sBuilt in 1930sFire lasted 5Fire lasted 5--1/2 hours1/2 hoursTemperatures in excess of 2000Temperatures in excess of 2000ooFFFire on 29Fire on 29thth floor spread to 30floor spread to 30thth

No Sprinklers and No Deaths!No Sprinklers and No Deaths!

NIST WTC Workshop

SummarySummary

Buildings can Buildings can or at least used to be or at least used to be designed and constructed to experience designed and constructed to experience burnout without collapseburnout without collapseRecommendations should to be holistic Recommendations should to be holistic and not just for structural frame and not just for structural frame buildings or structural frame acting buildings or structural frame acting alonealoneIf collapse resistance not achieved than If collapse resistance not achieved than impact on adjacent buildings should be impact on adjacent buildings should be consideredconsidered

NIST WTC Workshop

Thank you!Thank you!

Stephen S. Szoke, P.E.Stephen S. Szoke, P.E.Director of Codes and StandardsDirector of Codes and StandardsPortland Cement AssociationPortland Cement Association5420 Old Orchard Road5420 Old Orchard RoadSkokie, IL 60077Skokie, IL 60077847847--972972--90789078

- Maintaining Structural Integrity
- Maintaining Structural Integrity
- Structural Design Loads
- Structural Frame
- Construction with Infill
- Loadbearing Walls or Frame with Infill
- FEMA/ASCE on 130 Cedar
- Combining Building Elements
- FEMA/ASCE on 90 West
- 30 West Broadway
- Verizon
- FEMA/ASCE on Verizon
- Major Burnout Without Structural Collapse
- Interstate Bank
- USFA onInterstate Bank
- One Meridian Plaza
- USFA onOne Meridian Plaza
- New York City Bank
- USFA onNew York City Bank
- LaSalle Bank Building
- Summary
- Thank you!