Has NIST previously conducted building collapse and fire investigations?
NIST has more than 30 years of experience investigating building fire and structural failures. Scientists and engineers in NIST’s Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) often lead a failure investigation. BFRL has experts in concrete and steel construction, earthquake engineering, and fire performance in structural systems. Other NIST experts, such as materials scientists, manufacturing engineers, and electronic engineers, often provide their specialized knowledge to investigations. In addition to the building and fire safety investigation of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center fire and building collapses, NIST also is investigating the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I.
