Fire protection and life safety provisions applied to the design and construction of WTC 1, 2, and 7 and post-construction provisions applied after occupancy

2005·9.3 MB·English

by  Grill, Raymond A.

NISTNCSTAR1-1D
Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the
World Trade Center Disaster
Fire Protection and Life Safety
Provisions Applied to the Design and
WTC
Construction of and 7 and
1, 2,
Post-Construction Provisions
Applied Occupancy
after
Raymond A. Grill
Duane A. Johnson
National InstituteofStandardsandTechnology TechnologyAdministrofion • U.S. DeparimenfofCommerce

NISTNCSTAR1-1D
Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the
World Trade Center Disaster
Fire Protection and Life Safety
Provisions Applied to the Design and
WTC
Construction of and 7 and
1, 2,
Post-Construction Provisions
Occupancy
Applied After
Raymond A. Grill
Duane A. Johnson
RolfJensen & Associates, Inc.
Septennber 2005
U.S. DepartmentofCommerce
Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary
TechnologyAdministration
Michelle O'Neill, Acting UnderSecretaryfor Technology
National Institute ofStandards and Technology
William Jeffrey, Director
D
Disclaimer No. 1
Certain commercial entities, equipment, products, or materials are identified in this document in orderto describe a
procedure orconcept adequatelyorto trace the historyofthe procedures and practices used. Such identification is
not intended to imply recommendation, endorsement, or implication thatthe entities, products, materials, or
equipment are necessarilythe best available forthe purpose. Nordoes such identification imply a finding offaultor
negligence bythe National Institute ofStandards and Technology.
Disclaimer No. 2
The policy ofNIST isto usethe International System ofUnits (metric units) in all publications. In this document,
however, units are presented in metric units orthe inch-pound system, whichever is prevalent in the discipline.
Disclaimer No. 3
Pursuantto section 7 ofthe National Construction SafetyTeam Act, the NIST Director has determined thatcertain
evidence received by NIST in the course ofthis Investigation is "voluntarily provided safety-related information"that is
"notdirectly related tothe building failure being investigated" and that "disclosure ofthat information would inhibitthe
voluntary provision ofthattype ofinformation" (15 USC 7306c).
In addition, a substantial portion ofthe evidence collected by NIST in the course ofthe Investigation has been
provided to NIST under nondisclosure agreements.
Disclaimer No. 4
NISTtakes no position asto whetherthe design orconstruction ofa WTC building was compliantwith anycode
since, due tothe destruction ofthe WTC buildings, NIST could notverifythe actual (oras-built) construction, the
properties and condition ofthe materials used, or changesto the original construction made overthe life ofthe
buildings. In addition, NIST could not verifythe interpretations ofcodes used by applicable authorities in determining
compliance when implementing building codes. Where an Investigation reportstates whether a system was
designed or installed as required by a codeprovision, NIST has documentaryor anecdotal evidence indicating
whetherthe requirementwas met, or NIST has independentlyconducted tests oranalyses indicating whetherthe
requirementwas met.
Use in Legal Proceedings
No partofany report resulting from a NIST investigation into a structural failure orfrom an investigation underthe
National Construction Safety Team Act may be used in anysuitoraction for damages arising outofany matter
mentioned in such report (15 USC 281a; as amended by P.L. 107-231).
National Institute ofStandards and Technology National Construction SafetyTeam Act Report 1-1
Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Natl. Constr. Sfty. Tm. Act Rpt. 1-1D, 168 pages (September2005)
CODEN: NSPUE2
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 2005
Forsale bythe Superintende—nt of Documents, U.S. Gov—ernment Printing Office
Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001
Abstract
This reportwas prepared to supportthe analysis ofbuilding and fire codes and standards ofthe National
Institute ofStandards and Technology World Trade Center (WTC) Investigation. To best analyze the
WTC
performance of 1, 2, and 7 in response to the September 1 1, 2001, attacks, the provisions ofthe
design and construction ofthe buildingsmust first be understood. The purpose ofthis report is to
summarize the fire protection (bothpassive and active) and life safety provisions that were used to design
WTC
and construct 1, 2. and 7 and to document the changes in building code regulations that occurred
aftertheir construction.
Determination ofthe applicable building provisions was a multi-step task. First, documentation (such as
drawings, memoranda, and New York City building regulations) was analyzed to identify the initial
construction provisions at the times ofconstruction ofthe three buildings. Second, New York City
building regulations, published since the time ofconstruction, were analyzed to identify the new and
amended building provisions. Third, the building provisions were analyzed to detennine their
WTC
applicability to the building characteristics of 1, 2, and 7.
Ke\'uords: Compartmentation. elevators, emergency power, fire alarm, fire protection, fire safety, fire
sprinklers, high-rise buildings, inspections, interior finish, means ofegress, pressurization, venting, voice
communication. World Trade Center.
NISTNCSTAR 1-1D. WTC Investigation iii
Abstract
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iv NISTNCSTAR 1-1D, WTC Investigation
1
Table of Contents
Abstract iii
Table ofContents v
List ofFigures xi
List ofTables xiii
List ofAcronyms and Abbreviations xv
Metric Conversion Table xvii
Glossary xxi
Preface xxiii
Section
I
Fire Protection Summary for tlie World Trade Center Towers 1
Executive Summary
1
Chapter 1
Introduction 3
1.1 Purpose 3
1.2 Introduction 3
Chapter2
General 5
2.1 Applicable Codes and Standards 5
2.2 Building Summaries 6
Chapters
Construction 7
3.1 Construction Classification 7
3.2 Building Limitations 7
3.3 Secondary/Accessory Occupancies 7
3.4 Fire Resistance Ratings 7
3.5 Opening Protection 10
3.6 Separation ofOccupancies 1
3.7 Firestopping 12
3.8 Through Penetration Protection 13
3.9 Fire and Smoke Dampers 13
NISTNCSTAR 1-1D, WTCInvestigation v
75
Table ofContents
Chapter4
Interior Finish 15
4.1 InteriorFinish Flame Spread Ratings 1
4.2 Smoke Developed Ratings 16
4.3 InteriorTrim 16
4.4 Floor Finish 16
Chapter5
Means of Egress 1
5.1 General 17
5.2 Exits 18
5.3 Exit Width and Capacity 20
5.4 Doors 22
5.5 Exit Access 23
5.6 Staii-ways 24
5.7 Ramps 25
5.8 Handrails and Guardrails 26
5.9 Exit Signs 26
5.10 Means ofEgress Lighting 27
Chapters
Fire Suppression 29
6.1 Automatic SprinklerProtection 29
6.2 Standpipes 29
6.3 Water Supply 30
Chapter7
Fire Detection and Alarm 33
7.1 Fire Alann System 33
7.2 Smoke and Heat Detector Locations 33
7.3 Manual Fire Alann Boxes 34
7.4 Audible/Visual Alann Notification Appliances 34
7.5 Communication System 34
Chapter8
Elevators and Hoistways 37
8.1 General 37
vi NISTNCSTAR 1-1D, WTC Investigation
1
Table ofContents
Chapter9
Special Features 39
9.1 Emergency Power Systems 39
9.2 Public Garages 39
9.3 Smoke and Heat Venting 39
Chapter 10
References 41
Section II Fire Protection Summary for World Trade Center 7
Executive Summary 45
Chapter 11
Introduction 47
11.1 Purpose 47
11.2 Introduction 47
Chapter 12
General 49
12.1 Applicable Codes and Standards 49
12.2 Building Summary 50
Chapter 13
Construction 51
13.1 Construction Classification 5
13.2 Building Limitations 51
13.3 Secondary/Accessory Occupancies 51
13.4 Fire Resistance Ratings 51
13.5 Opening Protection 54
13.6 Separation ofOccupancies 55
13.7 Corapartmentation 56
13.8 Firestopping 57
13.9 Through Penetration Protection 57
13.10Fire and Smoke Dampers 58
Chapter 14
Interior Finish 61
14.1 Interior Finish Flame Spread Ratings 61
14.2 Smoke Developed Ratings 62
NISTNCSTAR 1-1D, WTC Investigation vii
Table ofContents
14.3 Interior Trim 62
14.4 Floor Finish 62
Chapter 15
Means of Egress 63
15.1 General 63
15.2 Exits 64
15.3 Exit Width and Capacity 66
15.4 Doors 68
15.5 Exit Access 69
15.6 Stairways 70
15.7 Ramps 71
15.8 Handrails and Guardrails 72
15.9 Exit Signs 72
15.10Means ofEgress Lighting 73
Chapter 16
Fire Suppression .....75
16.1 Automatic SprinklerProtection 75
16.2 Standpipes 76
16.3 Water Supply 77
Chapter 17
Fire Detection and Alarm 79
17.1 Fire Alarni System 79
17.2 Smoke and Heat Detector Locations 79
17.3 Manual Fire AlarmBoxes 81
17.4 Audible/Visual Alann Notification Appliances 81
17.5 Communication Systems 81
Chapter 18
Elevators and Hoistways 85
18.1 General 85
Chapter 19
Emergency, Electrical, and Standby Power Systems 87
19.1 Emergency Power Systems 87
vni NISTNCSTAR 1-1D, WTC Investigation