In this report, issued July 17, 2003, Battalion Chief FDNY (Ret.) Arthur Scheuerman, presents a preliminary interpretation of the evidence in the analysis of the cause of the large loss of life and collapse of the World Trade Center Towers and recommendeds code changes to mitigate the chance of a recurrence in high-rise office buildings.
Scheuerman explains that the most probable cause and mechanism of collapse of the Towers is in contention. There are two main theories on why the Towers collapsed: one based on core column damage from the aircraft collision and subsequent core column failure from the heat of the fire, and the other from the effects of the fire on the steel bar joist, floor trusses. But, Scheurman contends, each theory stems from the position an analyst is in. For example, those in the building industry will share a different viewpoint than others.
Scheurman explains that the buildings’ failures were in part due to fire codes that had been too far relaxed when the city of New York revised them in 1968. ” The city is presently in the process of upgrading the Building Codes in the wake or the World Trade Center disaster, and this essay is my perspective, as a retired NYC Fire Chief, in furtherance of that process,” writes Scheurman.
His report concludes with, ” The World Trade Center’s vulnerability to fire, as confirmed by the fire spread and mode of collapse, is partially the result of the building industry’s competition for, real estate dominance and financial reward, affecting the building codes over the years. The Port Authority of New York, New Jersey using corporate and public bond financing and the governmental power of the two-state agency to sidestep the already weakened, city building code requirements effectively reduced the fire resistance and suppression capabilities and collapse resistance, in the Towers. The Government should disqualify itself from competing in the real estate industry and concentrate on regulating the competition between developers to assure fire safe building construction standards and the life safety of the people. The actual fire is the ultimate test of codes and construction practices and at the World Trade Center Towers, failed the test twice.”
To view his report, CLICK HERE.
