Fireproofing blamed for collapse of Twin Towers

US GOVERNMENT investigators said the World Trade Center buildings would probably not have collapsed in the September 11, 2001, terror attacks if fireproofing had stuck firmly to the columns and floors.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology also concluded that the average survivor took more than double the estimated time to descend emergency stairwells, and that better communication between emergency services could have saved more lives.

NIST, which issued three reports on the attacks, did not blame designers or builders for the New York buildings’ collapse.

However, Shyam Sunder, who led NIST’s fire and safety investigation, said yesterday that there were now better ways to ensure that fireproofing adhered to steel.

“Even with the airplane impact and jet-fuel-ignited multi-floor fires, which are not normal building fires, the buildings would likely not have collapsed had it not been for the fireproofing that had been dislodged,” he said.

The reports are likely to spur debate about how to build safer skyscrapers.