WTC Findings Uphold Structural Design No surprises in the results of federal probe into collapse of the twin 110-story towers 11/1/2004
Structural and fire experts are gratified but not surprised by the latest "interim" findings of the National Institute of Standards and Technology on the behavior of the World Trade Centers twin 110-story towers after the buildings were attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. NIST has concluded, after completing most of its in-depth, $16-million investigation, that the towers would likely have withstood the heat of the jet-fuel-triggered fires had the hijacked planes and the debris from impact not knocked off the sprayed-on fireproofing.
Building design professionals are also not surprised by NISTs "working hypothesis" that the frames sprayed-on fireproofing was adequate to maintain the structural integrity of the steel tubes in an "ordinary" office fire that was not fought, but left to burn out. Click here to view diagrams