Progress of 

World Trade Center Investigation

Dr. Arden Bement

Director

National Institute of Standards and Technology

U.S. Department of Commerce

News Media Briefing

May 7, 2003
NIST’s mission:

• Develop and promote measurement, 

standards, technology

• Enhance productivity

• Facilitate trade

• Improve the quality of life
NIST Structural Investigations

• Experienced, world-class investigators

• Forensic structural scientists

• Finding facts, improvements for the future
NIST Investigations (cont.)

• Establish probable technical cause

• Lead to important changes to standards, 

codes, practices

• Results given serious consideration 
WTC Investigation

• Focusing on two WTC Towers and 47-story WTC 

7 building

• Examining:

--Why and how the buildings collapsed

--Occupant behavior, evacuation, and emergency 

response

--Design, construction, operation, maintenance

--Building and fire codes, standards, practices
WTC Investigation (cont.)

• 24 month investigation to be completed 

August 2004

• One part of three-part response.

• Other parts are:

– Multi-year R&D program to improve codes, 

standards, practices

– Involving industry leaders in change to codes, 

standards, practices 
WTC Response Plan Outcomes

• Make buildings safer

• Enhance safety of fire and emergency 

responders

• Better protect occupants and property in 

future

• Improve emergency response capabilities 

and procedures in future
National Construction Safety 

Team Act

• Modeled after National Transportation 

Safety Board

• NIST is the lead investigating agency –

--Building performance

--Emergency response

--Evacuation procedures
NCST Advisory Committee

• Ten building and fire experts

• Selected based on 

– Technical expertise, experience

– Professional service

– Knowledge of investigation teams

• First meeting held April 29, 30
Liaison

• Draw on capabilities, expertise, and advice 

of many groups

• Provide information – briefings, progress 

reports, web site

• Skyscraper Safety Campaign
Liaison (cont.)

• New York authorities, including:

--Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

--FDNY

--NYPD

--Department of Buildings

--Department of Design and Construction

--Office of Emergency Management
Status of Information

• Received considerable cooperation 

• NIST has large amount of information

• Some important documents still needed
Vital Photography, Video

• Still need photographic, video images 

• Especially, south side of WTC 7

• News media can help by publicizing request 

and sharing photos, video
Public Safety

• Conducting interviews with:

--Occupants

--People with disabilities

--First responders

--People with safety responsibilities

--Victims’ family members

• Interviews to begin this summer
Ways to Help

• Participate in interviews (occupants, first 

responders, family members)

• Provide photos, videos, documents

• Contact:

NIST World Trade Center Investigation Team

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8610

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8610

Email: wtc@nist.gov

Fax: (301) 975-6122 
Progress Report

• First substantive report, far from complete

• Fireproofing of floor sections

• Outlines assessment approach of collapse 

sequence

• Fire model validation

• Plans for floor system testing

• Updates status of information collection
Bottom Line

Make all buildings safer 

for occupants and first responders.