Statue of Liberty: A Risk Analysis

Statue of Liberty: A Risk Analysis
Statue of Liberty • New York , USA

The National Park Service (NPS)
contracted a performance-based lifesafety and emergency management
assessment of the Statue of Liberty

Key questions:
o
o
o
o
o
Can you satisfy code requirements with
respect to the Crown?
Physical changes required to bring the
facility into code compliance?
How can the NPS minimize the life and
safety risks?
How many people could be safely
accommodated?
What operational procedures would need
to be in place?
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6P
Museum
3P
Exits
2P
0P
 NFPA 101, Life Safety Code (2006)
 ICC, International Building Code (2006)
 2008 New York City Building Code
New & Existing
Construction
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New Construction
New Construction
 Pedestal Core
o 6-Story vertical opening
containing all egress stairs
from upper levels
o Potentially meets intent of
codes for shaft requirements

Does not comply with
requirements for exit
enclosures
 Egress Components –
Stairs, Doors, Ramps
o Most stairs – Noncompliant
o Several egress doors Noncompliant
o Ramp at Sally Port exit –
Noncompliant
o Unique issues: Stair/Door to
Level 7P and double-helix
stair to Crown
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 Structure does not comply with criteria
 Replacing double-helix stair does not fully address code issues
for Crown.
 Levels 4P-6P are effectively served by only a single exit.
 The exterior walkways at Levels 3P and 2P-exit discharge onto
top of Fort Wood. Temporary wood stairs provide access to
grade.
 General Approach
o Model the structure using the CFD model Fire
Dynamics Simulator (FDS)
o Develop design fire scenarios
o Evaluate fire environment as a function of critical
tenability criteria
 Temperature
 Toxicity (CO Concentration)
 Visibility
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 Included the Statue,
Pedestal, Museum and
Lobby Spaces
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 Trash Fire
 Storage Fires
o Sprinkler Controlled
o Sprinkler Suppressed
 Museum Displays
o Sprinkler Controlled
o Unsprinkled
 Elevator Hydraulic Fluid Spill
 Gasoline Spill (Intentional)
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 Sprinkler controlled
museum display
fire
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 Sprinkler
controlled
museum
display fire
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 General Approach
o
o
o
o
o
Establish emergency egress
performance
Derive procedural/structural
recommendations
Receive feedback
Determine consequences of
recommendations on nonemergency egress and access.
Modify recommendations/ nonemergency operations if
necessary
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 Model of the Monument constructed using
buildingEXODUS
o
Developed by the University of Greenwich (UK)
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 Candidate fire safety designs were considered.
 Six design packages were developed
o Increasing in cost/complexity and level of code
compliance.
o No designs were considered that were visible from the
exterior of the structure.
 Cost estimates were developed for individual
design features and design packages
 Meetings were conducted with stakeholders to
assess/approve options
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 Major Structural Improvements, Administrative
Controls, and Fire Protection System Improvements
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 A qualitative risk assessment was performed to
assess the risk associated with a fire
hazard/event.
 A risk ranking approach was used to evaluate
risk as a function of:
o Frequency
o Consequence
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Consequence
Severe
9
5
2
1
High
13
8
4
3
Moderate
15
12
7
6
Low
16
14
11
10
Improbable
Unlikely
Possible
Anticipated
Frequency
Ranking Index
1-2
3-5
6-9
10-16
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Suggested Risk Level
Extreme Risk
High Risk
Moderate Risk
Low Risk
 Event tree matrices (decision trees) used to
evaluate risk.
o Crown usage and
o Fire events / failure modes.
 Failure modes considered both equipment and
administrative failures:
o Sprinklers Fail to Control Fire
o Response Time Delayed
o Combustible Controls
o Open Doors (Indirect)
o Open Doors (Direct)
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

Is there any way to satisfy code requirements with respect to access
to the Crown? What physical changes to the structure would be
required to bring the facility into code compliance?
o
Major structural improvements to Pedestal to provide two separate
means of egress.
o
Crown access safer by modifying helical stair.
o
Passive fire protection, smoke control, alarm/notification enhancements
provided as part of design package.
If access to the Crown cannot be made code compliant, how can the
NPS minimize the life and safety risks to staff, visitors, and
emergency management personnel? How many people could be
safely accommodated and under what conditions? What
operational procedures would need to be in place to allow access?
o Improvements to physical features.
o Procedural issues initiated for guided tour access to Crown.
Statue of Liberty construction completed in 2010-2011
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
If access to the Crown cannot be made code compliant,
how can the NPS minimize the life and safety risks to staff,
visitors, and emergency management personnel? How
many people could be safely accommodated and under
what conditions? What operational procedures would need
to be in place to allow access?
o Improvements to physical features.
o Procedural issues initiated.
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For More Information Contact:
Heather Stickler, PMP, LEED AP
Director of Marketing
410-737-8677 x463
[email protected]
JENSEN HUGHES
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