The Trade Center bombing: relearning old lessons

Article Abstract:

The World Trade Center should have adopted a number of safety designs to prevent the shutdown of all power in the building following the bomb explosion in Feb 1993. An anti-terrorism task force created by the building's owner in 1985 came up with 170 safety improvements, of which the building management implemented only one-third. An emergency power source and the emergency control system should have been located offsite. Because of the vulnerable location of the building's central power supply, there was no emergency lighting or ventilation, leaving the occupants to evacuate while in a smoke-filled, darkened building.

Safety and security measures, Skyscrapers, High rise buildings, World Trade Center (New York, New York), World Trade Center Bombing, 1993

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Building codes help weather the storms

Article Abstract:

The formulation and enforcement of adequate building codes can significantly reduce damage to buildings from extreme weather conditions. In areas where wind-resistant construction was mandated and enforced, hurricanes did relatively little damage. Places that either lacked adequate building codes or failed to enforce them suffered much more property destruction. The expense of meeting building codes should be seen in relation to the savings that result from a structure's ability to withstand natural disasters.

GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS, Standards, Construction industry, Laws, regulations and rules, Building law, Building codes

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