The Behaviour of Buildings During a Fire – Why the World Trade Centre 7 Collapsed.

On September 11th 2001, the 47-story office building World Trade Centre 7 (WTC7) collapsed due to standard office fires. The building was not struck by an airplane, unlike WTC1 and WTC2, and was subjected to only minor structural damage on its south face and south-west corner due to the collapse of WTC1.

The WTC7 is the only known case where a multi-story steel framed building has totally collapsed due to standard office fires. This presentation introduces the basic concepts of structural and fire engineering and provides an explanation for the WTC7 collapse. Recommendations for future design and construction of buildings, to ensure life safety and asset protection, against fire and other extreme events are presented.

Biography

Professor Colin Bailey

President and Principal, Queen Mary University of London.

Professor Colin Bailey began his career as an apprentice draughtsman. Over a period of 5 years he worked for a number of design consultants, supervising the construction of a variety of building structures, before studying for a degree and PhD at the University of Sheffield. After completing his PhD he returned to industry to work for the Steel Construction Institute and the Building Research Establishment, where his practical and research experience resulted in significant developments in structural engineering.

He joined The University of Manchester in 2002 as Professor of Structural Engineering, and became Head of the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at Manchester in 2007. He was then appointed Vice-President of the University and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering in 2009, before becoming Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2014

Professor Bailey is author of more than 120 research papers and practical design guides, and has been awarded nine prizes for his research work. His main specialties are fire safety engineering of structures, membrane action, wind loading and steel-concrete composite systems. He has also been involved in the structural fire design of number of iconic buildings in London including the Shard, Heron Tower and the Leadenhall Building.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers and a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers. He joined Queen Mary as President and Principal in September 2017.