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NIST Sending Experts to Examine South Carolina Building Collapse |
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
CONTACT:
Michael E. Newman
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GAITHERSBURG, Md.-The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that it is immediately sending four fire experts to Charleston, S.C., to gather information and examine the site of last night's fire and subsequent collapse of a furniture store/warehouse. Nine firefighters were killed in the collapse. In Charleston, the NIST experts will work with local officials and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to learn more about the collapse. Based on that reconnaissance, NIST will decide if any additional study is appropriate. NIST has more than 30 years of experience investigating building fire and structural failures. By understanding the technical causes leading to structural failures and then making that information public, NIST engineers and researchers strive to improve safety for buildings, their occupants and emergency responders. For more information on NIST's building fire and structural failure investigations, go to http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/factsheet/bfrlinvestigations.htm. As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. -30-
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See also: A-Z Subject Index, NIST Home Page Created:
06/19/2007
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