Initial Model for Fires in the World Trade Center Towers
NIST Interim Report 6879 (May 2002)
Ronald G. Rehm, William M. Pitts, Howard R. Baum, David D. Evans, Kuldeep
Prasad, Kevin B. McGrattan and Glenn P. Forney
Based on preliminary assumptions and analysis, mathematical models
have been used to estimate the behavior of the fires in the twin towers
of the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001. The hijacked-plane
collision with each tower produced significant structural damage, generated
a spectacular external fireball and started burning within the tower.
The fuel consumed by the fireball was lost as an ignition source, but
produced a pressure pulse that broke windows and changed the ventilation
for the fires. The subsequent fire in each tower generated a quasi-steady,
wind-blown smoke plume. The fire and smoke behavior were simulated using
the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) software developed by NIST.
Presented as the invited lecture at the 7th International Symposium
on Fire Safety Science, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute, Worcestor,
Mass., on June 17, 2002.
Publications Related to the Use of Elevators During Fires
Collected Publications Related to
the Use of Elevators During Fires, 2002
In the wake of the September 11 attacks in the US provisions for
emergency egress from tall buildings are being re-examined, worldwide.
Possibilities being discussed include the utilization of protected elevators
with stairways for both occupant egress and fire service access. These
have been discussed over the years and have been the subject of research
by a number of parties, including a cooperative program between NIST,
the National Research Council of Canada, and the US elevator industry.
Workshop on the Use of Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies, 2004
This American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) workshop was
held in Atlanta, Georgia, March 2-4, 2004. Information on the
workshop, including the proceedings, is available at the website.
Publications Related to 1993 World Trade Center Bombing
Study of
Occupant Behavior During the World Trade Center Evacuation: Preliminary
Report of Results., 1995
On February 26, 1993, shortly after noon, a bomb exploded in a
subterranean garage below the World Trade Center plaza in New York City.
The explosions and subsequent fire caused extensive structural damage
on several basement levels, interfered with the operation of the fire
protection and other emergency systems and resulted in the evacuation
of over 100,000 occupants of the complex....
Human Behavior
in the World Trade Center Evacuation. March, 1997
An explosion below the World Trade Center plaza in New York City
on February 26, 1993, killed six workers, and resulted in injuries to
over 1,000 occupants as they made their way out of the affected buildings.
The explosion and subsequent fire caused extensive structural damage
on several basement levels, interfered with the operation of the fire
protection and other emergency systems and resulted in the evacuation
of tens of thousands of occupants of the complex....
Enhancement
of EXIT89 and Analysis of World Trade Center Data. Final Report. August
1994-August 1995.
The features of an enhanced model for egress from fires in non-residential
occupancies is presented along with a users manual describing the use
of the model. The enhancements to the model include analysis of locations
of safety, smoke blockages, disabled occupants, and delays in egress....
For access to NIST publications on past building fire and structural
failure investigations, go to
Building and Fire Research Laboratory Publications Online at http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs.
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