DOB Findings and Recommendations for WTC, Feb 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

2.2.2 Working Groups Working Groups were established to investigate four major areas that affect building performance and occupant safety during emergency events. An additional working group was established to review the enforcement of building requirements by the DOB, the City's primary design and construction regulatory body, and the enactment of recommendations of the Task Force. The five Working Groups were: • Structural strength • Fire protection • Emergency evacuation • Mechanical systems • Department of Buildings operations Only members of the Executive Committee could lead Working Groups and all Executive I Committee members were invited to attend any Working Group meetings. The Working Group leaders invited experts to participate in discussion by submitting reports, attending meetings arid I making presentations. Experts addressing issues that overlapped Working Group areas made ) presentations to a combination of those Working Groups or to the entire Task Force.. Permanent members of Working Groups were sponsored by Executive Committee members. 'i

2.2.3 Public Forum The Department of Buildings held a Public Forum on August 13, 2002 to ensure that the Task Force received input from all groups affected by the events of September 11th and any group potentially affected by possible changes to the Building Code. The general public was invited to submit requests to present testimony. Selection of speakers was based on the proposed presentation relative to the working group areas of focus as well as creating a representative­ II 1 sample of interested individuals and groups. Those who could not attend were encouraged to send written submissions to the Task Force. Materials not able to be presented at the forum were also accepted and reviewed by the Task Force.

2.3 Methodology Information regarding the specific events of September 11th was largely taken from the FEMA World Trade Center Building Performance Study Report (BPS Report) as the best available single source of information. Other information collected through inspection reports, expert . assessment, or eyewitness testimony did not substantially contradict the findings of this report. As . a result, the specific events and findings of the BPS Report will not be reiterated in this report. Study issues were identified by the Task Force and by the Working Groups through consultation I of written reports, as well as presentations made by agencies, organizations and individuals involved in analyzing the disaster, including public forum testimony. Study issues from these sources were assigned to the Working Groups by area of focus. Issues that involved more than one discipline were considered by all appropriate groups. Oftentimes one group acted as lead examiners with other Working Groups contributing as needed.

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Page 14 WTC Building Code Task Force February 2003 Findings and Recommendations i NYC-WTC_000166500