Why the WTC collapsed - A Fire Chief ’s Assessment

[MarkyX]

http://vincentdunn.com/wtc.html

Surprised no one else found this. Just had it emailed to me.

[LashL]

I've seen that in the past, and I think I assumed that it was linked here.

[Gravy]

This was written shortly after September 11. It's interesting in a general sense, but I've never cited it because Dunn was speculating on the cause of the collapses and wasn't involved in the investigations.

[MarkyX]

This was written shortly after September 11. It's interesting in a general sense, but I've never cited it because Dunn was speculating on the cause of the collapses and wasn't involved in the investigations.

Ah..didn't know that.

Still, I rather hear an opinion of a fire chief not directly involved in the investigation than a Theology PHD.

[Gravy]

Ah..didn't know that.

Still, I rather hear an opinion of a fire chief not directly involved in the investigation than a Theology PHD.
Have a little faith, will you? :D

[Hamradioguy]

This was written shortly after September 11. It's interesting in a general sense, but I've never cited it because Dunn was speculating on the cause of the collapses and wasn't involved in the investigations.

Speculation, yes. And had you cited it the Loose brains....er Change crowd would have caught you on it. That said, Chief Dunn is one smart fellow, and when he speaks the rest of us firefighters listen. It's a good article, particularly his discussion of WTC construction compared to that of other high rise buildings.

Of course the LCers don't seem to know much about firefighting or building construction.

[LashL]

Of course the LCers don't seem to know anything about firefighting or building construction.

There, fixed that for you. ;)

[Hutch]

Noted an interesting quote there...

Then the masonry smoke proof tower was eliminated in the 1968 building code. It contained too much concrete weight and took up valuable floor space. Then the solid steel beam was replace by the steel truss. And finally the concrete and brick encasement of steel columns girders and floor supports was eliminated. A lightweight spray-on coating of asbestos or mineral fiber was sprayed over the steel. This coating provided fireproofing. After asbestos was discovered hazardous vermiculite or volcanic rock ash substance was used as a spray-on coating for steel. Outside of the foundation walls and a thin 2 or 3 inches of floors surface, concrete has almost been eliminated from high-rise office building construction. If you look at the WTC rubble at ground zero you see very little concrete and lots of twisted steel.

Someone else for Christophera to consider ignorant and unable to understand that there was a concrete core...

[Toro]

Interesting

[Skibum]

There, fixed that for you. ;)


Of course the LCers don't seem to know anything.

There, made the final correction.

[JamesB]

Ah..didn't know that.

Still, I rather hear an opinion of a fire chief not directly involved in the investigation than a Theology PHD.

Yeah, but he was bought off.

[Hamradioguy]

There, made the final correction.

Ah, thanks much. I guess I am getting soft in my old age.

[LashL]

There, made the final correction.

Ah, yes. Nice catch :)