DOB Findings and Recommendations for WTC, Feb 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

rise buildings. The Task Force recommends all high-rise commercial buildings 100 feet or more in height, that are without automatic sprinkler protection on the effective date of the local law, be required to install a sprinkler system providing complete coverage throughout the building within 15 years of the law’s passage. The procedure for retrofitting would include an implementation timeline, with benchmarks/milestones at which a prescribed percentage of work completed must be attested to and implementation plans for outstanding work must be submitted. Implementation of these plans would be monitored annually by the FDNY's High Rise Inspection Unit. A committee, composed of representatives of the Commissioners of the Department of Buildings and FDNY and a representative of the Real Estate Board of New York, would review requests for time extensions based upon extreme hardship.

Recommendation 10. Require controlled inspections to ensure that fireproofing is fully intact on all structural building members exposed by subsequent renovations to ensure continued compliance with applicable code requirements.

11. Require all high-rise commercial buildings over 100 feet in height without autornatic sprinkler protection to install a sprinkler system throughout the . building within 15 years.

4.3.2 Enhanced Emergency Communication An effective response to emergency situations requires getting information about the situation and the building context to responders and providing them with an operable means of communication for on-site use.

Computerization of building information to be used by emergency personnel to assess site conditions was considered. However, the Task Force has recommended a more modest, immediately implementable system. The Task Force recommends a Building Information Card (BIC), listing all of the building's vital features, be required for occupancy group E buildings within six months. The BIC would be located at the Fire Command Post, accessible to responding fire units and Chiefs. Improving communications in high-rises is one key component in the successful management of emergency situations. To enhance emergency response communications, the Task Force recommends adding or enhancing the use of auxiliary communications technologies where appropriate in occupancy group E buildings. Specific technical solutions should reflect research and information gathered by the NIST Investigation.

Recommendation 12. Require all occupancy group E buildings to maintain a Building Information Card (BIC) listing a building's vital features.

13. Enhance Fire Department emergency response communications in high rise commercial buildings.

February 2003 WTC Building Code Task Force Page 23 Findings and Recommendations

NYC-WTC_000166509