National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act

The Act, signed into law on Oct. 1, 2002, by President Bush, authorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish teams to investigate building failures. These authorities are modeled after those of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for investigating transportation accidents. The NCST Act gives NIST the responsibility to dispatch teams of experts, where appropriate and practical, within 48 hours after major building disasters. Under the law, the NIST Director, in consultation with the U.S. Fire Administration and other appropriate federal agencies, maintains a standing advisory committee of as many as 12 persons to advise him or her on carrying out the Act, and to review procedures and reports issued. The panel is known as the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Advisory Committee.

• Bill grants NIST new authorities to investigate major building failures (News Release, Oct. 2, 2002)
• NIST's Responsibilities Under the National Construction Safety Team Act
• The National Construction Safety Team Act (pdf)
• Implementation of NCST Act (Federal Register Notice, Nov. 2004, pdf)
• NCST Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
• How Does NIST Decide to Do a Full Investigation Under the NCST?

If a NCST Act Team is established, an investigation is expected to take months to years to complete. Previous investigations have taken at least two years to complete.

NIST has completed three NCST technical investigations and is currently conducting two additional studies. NIST investigated the building collapses of the World Trade Center, issuing a final report on the collapse of the Twin Towers in 2005 and a final report on WTC Building 7 in 2008. NIST investigated the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, where 100 people perished attending a concert, issuing a final report in 2005. NIST investigated the Joplin, Missouri, tornado in May 2011, which was the single deadliest and costliest tornado in U.S. history. NIST is currently investigating the effects of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico, with a progress report released in January 2021, as well as a technical investigation on the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida. 

National Construction Safety Team Annual Reports

• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2023 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2022 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2021 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2020 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2019 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2016 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2014 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2013 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2012 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2010 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2009 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2008 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2007 (pdf)
• National Construction Safety Team Annual Report Fiscal Year 2006 (pdf)