NIST report puts priority on safety in skyscrapers.

After a lengthy and impartial investigation of the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology this week made 30 recommendations in eight core areas to improve the safety of tall buildings, their occupants and first responders.

"We expect that the focus on what the nation needs to do to improve safety for buildings, occupants and first responders will grow sharper as a result of the work we have done," said Dr. Hratch Semerjian, acting director, National Institute of Standards and Technology. "NIST will not be satisfied until then, and until improvements are made. That is why it is so important that everyone scrutinize these recommendations, comment, and move forward thoughtfully but quickly."

Based on the findings of the most detailed examination of a building failure ever conducted, NIST is making 30 recommendations.

"We believe these recommendations are both realistic and achievable within a reasonable period of time, and should greatly improve the way people design, construct, maintain and use buildings, especially high-rises," said WTC Lead Investigator Shyam Sunder at the press briefing in New York City. "The recommendations also should lead to safer and more effective building evacuations and emergency responses. However, improvements will only be realized if they are acted upon by the appropriate organizations."

The recommendations, contained within 43 draft reports (totaling some 10,000 pages) released June 23 for a six-week public comment period, cover: specific improvements to building standards, codes and practices; changes to, or the establishment of, evacuation and emergency response procedures; and research and other appropriate actions needed to help prevent future building failures.

The eight main areas that were studied and recommendations made are:

Increased Structural Integrity; Enhanced Fire Resistance of Structures; New Methods for Fire Resistance Design of Structures; Active Fire Protection; Improved Building Evacuation; Improved Emergency Response; Improved Procedures and Practices; Education and Training.

NIST strongly urges that immediate and serious consideration be given to these recommendations by the building and fire safety communities--especially designers, owners, developers, codes and standards development organizations, regulators, fire safety professionals, and emergency responders.

NIST also strongly urges building owners and public officials to (1) evaluate the safety implications of these recommendations to their existing inventory of buildings; and (2) take the steps necessary to mitigate any unwarranted risks without waiting for changes to occur in codes, standards and practices. NIST further urges state and local agencies to rigorously enforce building codes and standards since such enforcement is critical to ensure the expected level of safety.

NIST welcomes comments on the draft reports and recommendations--available online at http:// wtc.nist.gov--which are received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Aug. 4, 2005.