Why did Building 7 fall???????????

[E229Lt]

Good point RR

[Baker FF/PM]

Very good question. I had originally heard that it collapsed due to massive structural damage from the tower collapse. Unfortunatly no one has looked close enough into its collapse to give me other ideas.

[JTL]

LT,

Excellent point.

I have heard that secondary damage to structural components caused the collapse. However there was fire and it had to do damage as well.

The impact of the towers alone created something akin to a minor quake and the blasts could, and probably did, cause a "engineering" disaster in the 60 story structure. However it held up for some time before collapsing. I have to believe that the structure was very weakened by the blast and collapse of the Twin Towers and that fire "Most Likely" played a role in the erosion of remaining stability. Because there has been no report to confirm or deny any of this I am speculating.

[Baker FF/PM]

O.K. what you are saying is that the gravity resistance system (someone said that the other day, couldn't help but use it), was already severly weakened by the impact and violence of the tower(s) collapse. Then, too add to this weakened state fire was introduced which further attacked the gravity resistance system, and as some New Yorkers might say, Bah-da Bing, catastrophic failure of the entire structure. (whew, I didn't know I could speak so much technically).

[NJFFSA16]

E ngine Lt stated

...I'll say it again, the falling of a sixty story building has been brushed aside as a secondary event. There is much to be learned in the remains of that building, I hope someone is looking.

I think your questions and concerns deserve answers from the same people that investigated the collapse of WTC 1 & 2.

If you feel strongly about it, my suggestion would be for you...or a representative of FDNY, to send an inquiry to the investigating entity.
Perhaps, and I admit that it is probably a long shot...another investigation could be undertaken. There are valuable lessons to be learned here. Given an official request...maybe they would indeed act upon it. Heck...what have you got to lose?

American Society of Civil Engineers
1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, VA 20191
(800) 548-2723

Additionally, the entire contents of the ASCE report is available in PDF format on their website.

http://www.house.gov/science/hot/wtc/wtcreport.htm

[JTL]

NJFFS_A16

Thanks for the Link.

Baker FF/PM

I guess what I am saying is that the building (7WTC) was damaged by the twin towers collapse/blast and then it, meaning 7, burned and fell. That is as technical as it gets.

[FF.1205]

Respectfully deleted.

I hope through the investigation that sooner or later you do find out what happened Lt.

GOD Bless FDNY and ALL of the lost Brother's and their families.

Dave
FTM, PTB, RFB

[JTL]

I have never heard any information those forces being applied to building 7.

I am digging trying to find where that has been mentioned.

[emsbrando]

I had read in a book about 9-11 that 7 WTC collapsed due to it catching fire and having a fuel depot to run the generators for the Con Ed electrical system that was the power plant for all 7 buildings.

Of course this could be wrong and way off base, but that is what I read.

Ed

[BucksEngine78]

Keep in mind that this was a 60 story building FULLY INVOLVED in high intensity fire. Little was done in the way of suppression, and then it took a hit laterally from the falling towers. This is not your normal structural fire.

[blancety]

According to the interview with Deputy Peter Hayden - Division 1, a bulge was noted in the southwest corner between floors 10 and 13 very early on after the collapse of the towers. He does not indicate how much fire was present at the time the bulge was noticed, so it difficult to say whether the bulge was from the fire or the collapse.

Dave

[ALSfirefighter]

When I arrived at the site around 10am, #7 was heavily involved with fire on numerous floors. Besides the volume of fire, the building also was givin stress from the impact of the collapsing towers on the ground, and the air pressure created, also keep in mind that while the towers fell "straight" down, it wasn't exactly straight, many of these buildings were very close together, debris spread out quite far. Also keep in mind that it received 2 similiar shocks minutes apart Brando, you are correct in your statement about the fuel storage. I cannot remember the size of the tanks in the basement, but I believe there were 2 large tanks. A safety zone was also already in place around #7. I do remember also that it was around 5:30pm EST when it collapsed. I'm sure that it will be mentioned somewhere, someday. Fortunately, from what I understand, there were no fatalities in 7 WTC, there were numerous body parts on the roof from what friends of mine have told me.
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The above is my opinion only and doesn't reflect that of any dept/agency I work for, deal with, or am a member of.

[Fyrechicken]

Originally posted by BucksEngine78
Keep in mind that this was a 60 story building FULLY INVOLVED in high intensity fire. Little was done in the way of suppression, and then it took a hit laterally from the falling towers. This is not your normal structural fire.

Also from reading other reports on it and from eyewitness reports. The building was not your run-of-the-mill building, it was built around and over the verzion building next door (the generator area - this is were the fuel fed fire comes into play) to use available space. I'm not sure as to the nature of the shape I believe it was "U" shaped with the part of the verzion building in the hollow under #7 WTC.


Robert B.
NJ-TF1
Rescue Specialist

[CJMinick390]

Based on testimony before Congress I heard on CSPAN radio, I am led to believe that the ASCE/FEMA report did look at building #7. At some point, I'll try to read the entire report. It's going to be awhile though. Don't seem to have enough time to do anything these days.

[Temptaker]

I saw this article in the news section and thought it may be of interest. I must say I am glad to see that they ARE investigating why this building fell.

http://webpublisher.lexisnexis.com/i...-X15J-00000-00

The results of many of Ingberg's experiments found their way into U.S. building codes. (When he was told to turn over his matches on the eve of his 70th birthday, the father of fire research turned his garage into a furnace so he could continue collaborating on tests with his former colleagues.)
'Much hotter fire'

But do tests conducted in an era of wood filing cabinets hold up today? Some engineers think not. "Building contents have changed a lot from the 1920s," says Shyam Sunder, the engineer in NIST's Building and Fire Research Laboratory who will lead NIST's in-depth investigation of the World Trade Center if Congress approves the money for it.

It is about time they start looking at the codes from a fire safety stand point.