Translation of the NIST World Trade Center Investigation Recommendations into Building Codes

Since late 2005, the NIBS/MMC has been assisting NIST in translating the recommendations resulting from its World Trade Center investigation into the model building codes. Issues related to practices, standards, and codes arising from the WTC study recommendations include the need for increased structural integrity, enhanced fire resistance of structures, new methods for fire-resistance design of structures, enhanced active fire protection, improved building evacuation, improved emergency response, improved procedures and practices, and improved education and training for engineers and architects.

To begin the process of translating the NIST recommendations, the NIBS/MMC has focused primarily on the codes of the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) but also has involved development of a suggested strategy for identifying changes needed in various standards of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and others.

The committee conducting the effort is co-chaired by Gerald Jones, retired building official from Kansas City, and Herman Brice, Fire Rescue Administrator for West Palm Beach County.

The group met in October and December 2005 and again in February, May, and July 2006 to consider submittals to the ICC by March 2006. In doing so, it has worked closely with the ICC’s Code Technology Committee and ad hoc Committee on Terrorism Resistant Buildings.

At its May 2006 meeting, the committee provided a forum for input on what long- and short-term actions need to be taken to mitigate the effects of disproportionate collapse and to hear about National Fire Protection Association planned actions with respect to the NIST WTC investigation recommendations. In July, the group met to review all proposals submitted to the ICC that relate to the NIST recommendations, to finalize proposals to be submitted to NFPA, and to determine who would represent the committee at the ICC hearings in September 2006. In November, the group convened to review the results of the ICC hearings and to determine whether public comments would be submitted.

The committee participated in a May 2007, teleconference to review the public comments on ICC proposals and develop positions for the ICC annual meeting. It convened for what was expected to be the last time in mid-July 2007 to discuss the next ICC code development cycle and the need for comments on the disposition of proposals submitted to NFPA for NFPA 101 and 5000. At this meeting, NIST asked NIBS/MMC to provide a budget for committee operations through the next year. Staff subsequently submitted this budget and the original contract was modified to provide the needed funding.

Following this meeting, several public comments were prepared for submittal to NFPA. Because sufficient time was not available to develop committee consensus, these comments were submitted by members of the committee as individuals. The group met in January 2008, to prepare for the ICC hearings in Palm Springs, California and again in May 2008 to decide whether public comments should be submitted.

NIST has extended the contract to early 2009 for MMC to continue being the focal point for advice on WTC-related code and standard change proposals.

The committee conducting the effort is co-chaired by Gerald Jones, retired building official from Kansas City, and Herman Brice, Fire Rescue Administrator for West Palm Beach County.