The Role of George Mulholland of National Fire Research Lab (NFRL) at NIST/NBS in the 911 Event

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The Role of George Mulholland of National Fire Research Lab (NFRL) at NIST/NBS in the 911 Event

“This person called on the morning of 9/11/2001, imploring us to immediately “turn on the TV”. To my mind, it has always been personally-known absolute proof of ‘insider foreknowledge’ from within moments of the (supposed) “attack”.

George W. Mulholland was a prominent figure at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), contributing extensively to fire safety research. He co-authored several key reports in the Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster, including:

These contributions were part of NIST’s comprehensive investigation into the moments leading up to the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings.

Some conspiracy theories suggest that individuals within the U.S. government had prior knowledge of the 9/11 attacks. These theories propose that such foreknowledge could have been used to prepare research initiatives related to fire effects on structural steel.

NIST’s investigations were presumably conducted impartially and based on empirical evidence. The involvement of experts like Mulholland in these investigations was a response to the unprecedented nature of the disaster, aiming to improve building safety standards and prevent future tragedies. George W. Mulholland’s work at NIST was integral to understanding the structural failures during the 9/11 attacks.

George W. Mulholland was a prominent figure in fire research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), formerly known as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). His career spanned several decades, during which he made significant contributions to fire safety science.

Positions and Duties:

  • Research Scientist: Mulholland held the position of research scientist at NIST’s Center for Fire Research (CFR). His work primarily focused on fire dynamics, smoke characterization, and the development of measurement techniques for fire-related phenomena.
  • Project Collaborations: He collaborated on various projects, including studies on smoke properties and detector responses. For instance, he worked with colleagues like Lewis K. Ives and Robert A. Fletcher on fire research initiatives.

Involvement in 9/11 Investigations:

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, NIST conducted a comprehensive investigation into the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Mulholland contributed his expertise to this effort, co-authoring reports that reconstructed the fires in the towers and analyzed their impact on structural elements. Notable contributions include:

  • Reconstruction of the Fires in the World Trade Center Towers: This report detailed the nature, duration, and location of fires on 9/11, providing insights into how these factors influenced the structural integrity of the towers.
  • Experiments and Modeling of Structural Steel Elements Exposed to Fire: This study examined the response of structural steel components to fire conditions similar to those experienced during the 9/11 attacks.

Hiring Date and Retirement:

Specific details regarding Mulholland’s hiring date and retirement are not readily available in the provided sources. However, his extensive body of work and collaborations indicate a long-standing association with NIST’s fire research programs.

In summary, George W. Mulholland played a vital role in advancing fire safety research at NIST. His contributions, especially in the context of the 9/11 investigations, have been instrumental in enhancing our understanding of fire dynamics and structural responses to fire.

The National Fire Research Laboratory (NFRL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a premier facility dedicated to advancing the understanding of fire behavior and the structural response of buildings and materials to fire. Located on NIST’s Gaithersburg, Maryland campus, the NFRL provides approximately 3,000 square meters (32,300 square feet) of experimental space, equipped with four exhaust hoods capable of handling fires with heat release rates up to 20 megawatts.

Key Features of the NFRL:

  • Large High-Bay Test Area: This space includes a strong floor measuring 18.3 meters by 27.4 meters (60 ft x 90 ft) and a strong wall measuring 9.1 meters by 18.3 meters (30 ft x 60 ft). These features enable controlled structural loading experiments beneath a 20 MW exhaust hood, facilitating the study of large-scale structural components under realistic fire conditions.
  • Exhaust Hoods and Emissions Control: The facility’s exhaust system, part of an oxygen consumption calorimeter, allows precise measurement of fire heat release rates and includes an Emissions Control System to treat smoke and combustion products.

Recent and Ongoing Research Initiatives:

  • Measurement of Structural Performance in Fire: This project conducts large-scale fire experiments to provide data supporting the development of validated computational tools for cost-effective fire-resistant structure design.
  • Advanced Metrology: The NFRL is developing a robust system of measurement capabilities and best practices to advance fire metrology, generate accurate data, and provide solutions for various fire-related issues.
  • Operations and Safety: This initiative focuses on developing and maintaining a research portfolio, standard operating procedures, test protocols, safety programs, and a robust business model for large-scale fire and fire-structural experiments.

Notable Achievements:

  • Fire Calorimetry Database: In January 2021, NIST released an updated Fire Calorimetry Database, providing valuable data for researchers and engineers to understand fire behavior better.
  • Structural Fire Resistance Research: NIST has conducted studies on how fire causes office-building floors to collapse, providing insights that inform building codes and safety standards.

For a visual overview of the NFRL’s capabilities and research activities, you can watch the following video:

Built to House an Inferno: The NIST National Fire Research Laboratory

Here are the sources as requested:

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