Case Study: 9/11 Attacks, Building Standards, and Civil Engineering

This case study examines the 9/11 attacks and their significant impact on building standards and civil engineering practices. The study begins with a brief overview of the attacks and the resulting loss of life and property damage, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of existing infrastructure standards. The core of the case study focuses on the major changes implemented in international codes following the incident, specifically addressing the importance of elevators, additional stairways, and self-luminous exit pathway markings in high-rise buildings. The plan for the case study includes an analysis of pre-9/11 standards, damages caused by the lag in those standards, careful consideration of post-9/11 standards, derivation of possible solutions, and finalization of implementation and amendment of standards. References to key literature on structural fire protection, forensic science, and emergency management are also included, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. This case study aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of the evolution of building standards and the importance of safety and preparedness in civil engineering.

CASE STUDY PLAN
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 9/11
The September 11, 2001 attack commonly known as the 9/11 attacks was a series of four
coordinated terrorist attacks on United States. The attack killed around 3000 People and injured
more than 6000 people. It caused around $10 Billion loss in infrastructure and property damaged.
The attack changed the minds of several leading engineers and brought up several questions over
the disaster. This has been consequently discussed over years and finally brought up with a
conclusion which has amendments over the Construction Standards and Infrastructure Standards.
MAJOR CHANGES AFTER 9/11
The 9/11 incident brought up several changes in International codes. Some of them are
being listed below.
 Elevators are required in High rise buildings (commonly known as skyscrapers), more
than 120ft tall, which makes it easy for the fire fighters to get to the point.
 Apart from a general stairway, there requires an additional stairway for high-rises more
than 420ft high.
 A higher standard for fire resistance must be provided in High rises more than 420ft high.
 Shafts enclosing elevators and exit stairways that have impact resistant walls.
 Self-Luminous exit pathway markings in all exit stairways must be provided, as it acts as
a necessary one when both the primary and secondary lighting fails.
These changes have been appreciated by several persons around the world. Some of them
are,
Charles Lewis (In a National Post) said. “The Code Council has done an admirable job in
that regard. Beyond that, building owners, operators and state and local governments will
need to be ever vigilant and tailor their preventive strategies based on threat and risk
assessment.”
TOPIC TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CASE STUDY:
ELEVATORS:
In the modern world elevators has become an ideal part of the life style. Being in a high
rise building there needs to be adequate provision of Good working elevators at a speed of
movement. Considering the fact of safety and the provision of speed evacuating of the persons
from an accident zone it brings up important to notice. Henceforth it is being considered for the
case study.
Not only provision of adequate elevators also the provision of fire protected, and
structurally hardened elevators must be provided to bring emergency response activities in high
rise buildings by providing active tactical decision aids.
ADDITIONAL STAIRWAY:
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Additional stairway is needed in a high rise building as it brings up to notice that while
evacuating the width of staircase is very much essential or else it will lead to a stampede and
create a lot of disaster. An additional stairway with regular safety fire exits and proper fire
extinguishers and mostly important.
SELF LUMINOUS EXIT PATHWAY MARKINGS:
Humans are often relating to the lighting and visibility of a living or a workplace. Hence
the self-luminous pathway markings have become the ideal part of the discussion. The self-
luminous pathway markings are done in all commercial buildings after 9/11 incident. Careful
considerations have been done for this process.
CASE STUDY PLAN:
The above-mentioned factors are to be considered for the case study plan. The case study
plan consists of the following contents to be covered
 Standard before 9/11 on the case study
 Damages because of the lag in standard on 9/11
 Careful consideration points on the standard after 9/11
 Clear view point on the standard
 Deriving at possible solutions on the case study
 Finalizing the solution of the case study standard
 Implementation and amendment of the standard
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REFERANCES:
1. Lie, T.T., (2015), Structural Fire Protection, American Society of Civil Engineers, P-
232.
2. Lioy, J.P., Weisel, P.C., et.al., (2002), Characterization of Dust/smoke aerosol that
settled east of the WTC, Environmental Health Perspectives, PP-703-714
3. Peters, T.F., Drummer, H.O., & Musshoff, F., (2007) Validation of New Methods,
Forensic Science Internation, Vol-165 Issue 2-3, PP-216-224
4. Proulx, G., (1995), Evacuation Time and Movement in apartment Buildings, Fire
Safety Journal, Vol-24 Issue 3, PP-229-246.
5. William, L., Waugh, & Streib, G., (2006) Collaboration and Leadership for Effective
Emergency Management, Americal Society for Public Administration, PP-131-140
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