GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The final report on the cause of last May's collapse of a fabric-covered Dallas Cowboys practice facility blames design problems for the incident.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology report upholds its preliminary findings that were released for public comment in October. The NIST said the 85-foot-tall structure owned and used by the National Football League team collapsed during a severe thunderstorm under wind loads significantly less than those called for under design standards. Twelve people suffered injuries during the incident.
NIST officials have recommended other fabric-covered frame structures across the nation be evaluated to ensure adequate performance under design wind loads.
The Cowboys facility was designed as a series of identical, tubular steel frames with a tensioned fabric covering. NIST officials, working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory, said they estimated that at the time of the collapse winds were blowing perpendicular to the long side of the building in the range of 55 to 65 mph -- well below the design wind speed of 90 miles per hour.
The final report is available at http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/investigations/pubs/NISTIR7661_January%202010.pdf.
