NIST is conducting a full technical investigation of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, FL that occurred on June 24, 2021, under the authority of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act, which is authorized by Congress. As part of this work, NIST seeks to interview eyewitnesses, first responders, engineers, vendors, contractors, maintenance staff, construction workers, residents, condominium owners, government officials, and others who can describe experiences with the building before and/or during the collapse, describe knowledge of the building prior to the collapse (e.g., construction, maintenance), and generally, provide any additional information that may help explain the technical cause of the building failure. The ultimate goal of the NIST investigation is to determine the technical cause of the collapse and, if appropriate, to recommend changes to building codes, standards and practices, or other actions to improve the structural safety of buildings. There are millions of high-rise condominium units in Florida alone, many of them aging structures near the coast. While a NIST investigation is intended to identify the cause of the Champlain Towers South Condominium collapse, it could also uncover potential issues in other similar buildings nearby and throughout the nation.
The National Construction Safety Team Act (Act), 15 U.S.C. 7301 et seq., authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish investigative teams (Teams) to assess building performance and emergency response and evacuation procedures in the wake of any building failure that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential of substantial loss of life. The purpose of investigations by Teams is to improve the safety and structural integrity of buildings in the United States. As stated in the statute, a Team will (1) establish the likely technical cause or causes of the building failure; (2) evaluate the technical aspects of evacuation and emergency response procedures; (3) recommend, as necessary, specific improvements to building standards, codes, and practices based on the findings made pursuant to (1) and (2); and (4) recommend any research and other appropriate actions needed to improve the structural safety of buildings, and improve evacuation and emergency response procedures, based on the findings of the investigation.
NIST sent a preliminary reconnaissance team to collect information on the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, FL that occurred on June 24, 2021. Based on the recommendations of the reconnaissance team and evaluation of the criteria listed in the regulations implementing the Act, 15 CFR 270.102, on June 30, 2021, NIST announced that it will conduct a full technical investigation of the collapse under the authority of the Act. There are millions of high-rise condominium units in Florida alone, many of them aging structures near the ocean. While a NIST investigation is intended to identify the cause of the Champlain Towers South collapse, the findings could be used to improve the safety and structural integrity of other similar buildings nearby and throughout the nation.
As part of this investigation, the Team will conduct semi-structured interviews with eyewitnesses, first responders, engineers, contractors, maintenance workers, residents, condo owners, and government officials who can describe experiences with the building before and/or during the collapse, describe knowledge of the building prior to the collapse (e.g., construction, maintenance), and generally, provide any additional information that may help explain the technical cause of the building failure. This information will provide an essential supplement to the engineering assessment of physical evidence.
It is imperative that this data collection effort be conducted as quickly as possible to ensure the preservation of perishable data. Interview data from any event relies on individualsâ memories of the event, which can degrade as time passes. In addition, the situation is changing rapidly in and around the site, including the controlled demolition of the structure and the impending threat of hazardous weather.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Justification Memo with routing.pdf
Supporting Statement_Surfside Collapse.docx
NIST and National Construction Safety Team Investigative Study of the June 24, 2021 Champlain Towers South Condominium Collapse in Surfside, FL