The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) National Construction Safety Team (NCST) investigating the June 24, 2021, partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, is preparing to begin invasive testing and preparation of physical evidence collected from the collapse site.
The evidence, including structural components such as concrete columns from both the collapsed and imploded portions of the building, has been preserved in a secure warehouse in Miami-Dade County. NCST experts have been carefully cataloging and analyzing the materials, as well as collecting detailed measurements and creating 3D models for further analysis. The next phase of the investigation will include an invasive testing program that requires the manipulation of the evidence, core drilling and cutting of specimens to collect samples, which cannot be fully accomplished in the tight confines of the current warehouse.
NCST Insider - featuring Kamel Saidi
Introducing Kamel Saidi, who is serving as a co-lead on the Remote sensing and Data Visualization Project.
“Invasive testing will provide important information about the properties of the concrete and reinforcing steel and the potential roles those properties may have played in the collapse,” said Glenn Bell, co-lead of the investigation. “This is an important step in the investigation, one we are able to take only after months of careful investigation and preparation.”
This testing will include physical tests to determine the samples’ mechanical properties, chemical tests to determine material characteristics such as density and porosity, and corrosion testing.
In preparation for the move, sample extraction and testing, NIST brought in a board-certified industrial hygienist to conduct air sampling for asbestos fibers to ensure the safety of those accessing the materials. The process of ..
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