Michael E. Newman
(301) 975-3025

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will brief the media on April 5, 2005, in New York City on the latest findings from its building and fire safety investigation of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of Sept. 11, 2001. WTC Lead Investigator Shyam Sunder will present the final probable collapse sequence for the two WTC towers, updating the leading collapse hypothesis released last October. He also will discuss what has been learned from three projects within the WTC investigation—analysis of building and fire codes and practices; occupant behavior, egress, and emergency communications; and fire service technologies and guidelines. Full reports from the three projects will be released. Recommendations for these projects, as well as all other projects in the investigation, will be released for public comment at a later date.

A briefing for the public will be conducted starting at 1 p.m. EST.

The overall goal of this investigation, and all NIST investigations conducted under the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act, is to recommend improvements in the way people design, construct, maintain and use buildings to increase both occupant safety and structural integrity.

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 10 a.m. – noon EST

The Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
1605 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10019

Times Square B Room

Media planning to attend the briefing should register by Friday, April 1, 2005, at
5 p.m. EST, by calling (301) 975-2762 or sending an e-mail to media@nist.gov.

For security reasons, all media—including production crew members—must have proper credentials (a news media badge with photo or a photo ID with a business card) to enter the briefing room.