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| Miragememories | May 25 2009, 11:22 AM |
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The Elevators WTC North Tower Elevator Lay-Out "From the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST): The World Trade Center complex contained more than 240 elevators, with 99 elevators serving the above-ground levels in each of the two main towers and an additional 7 elevators serving primarily the sub-grade basement levels. In the towers, the elevators were arranged to serve the buildings in three sections divided by skylobbies, which served to distribute passengers among express and local elevators. Figure 2-14 shows an elevator riser diagram for WTC 1 and WTC 2 for passenger elevators. * People traveling to floors 9 through 40 entered a bank of 24 elevators at the Concourse Level. These were divided into four groups, with each stopping at a different set of eight or nine floors (9 through 16, 17 through 24, 25 through 31, and 32 through 40). * Those going to floors 44 through 74 took one of eight express elevators to the 44th floor skylobby before transferring to one of 24 local elevators, These 24 were stacked on top of the of the lower bank of 24, providing additional transport without increasing the occupied floor space. * Those going to floors 78 through 107 took one of 10 express elevators from the Concourse Level to the 78th floor before transferring to one of 24 local elevators. These were also stacked on the lower banks of 24. An occupant traveling to the 91st floor, for example, would have taken an express elevator from the lobby to the 78th floor and then would have had to transfer to another elevator to arrive at the 91st floor. While providing an acceptable rate of people movement, this three tier system also used less of the building footprint than the usual systems in which all elevators run from the entrance to the top of the building. Further, leasable floor space was reclaimed near the top of a given zone. At the top of each elevator bank, the machinery to lift the cabs occupied the next higher floor. From the next higher floor up to the bottom of the next elevator bank, there was no need for an elevator shaft. The concrete floor was extended into this space, providing additional rentable floor are for offices, conference rooms, storage, etc. Fig 2-14, for example, shows that the space taken by Elevator Bank A (Elevators 24 - 29) in order to serve floor 9 to floor 16, was reclaimed for tenant use on floors 19 to 42."  "In addition to the passenger elevators, there were seven freight elevators in each tower, most served a particular 'zone', while Car 50 served every floor. * Car # 5: B1-5, 7, 9-40, 44 * Car #6: B1-5, 44, 75, 77-107 (Dual-use express) * Car #17: B1-1, 41, 43-78 * Car #48: B1-7, 9-40 * Car #49: B1-5, 41-74 * Car # 50: B6 - 108 * Car # 99: 107-116 There were two express elevators (#6 and #7) to Windows on the World (and related conference rooms and banquet facilities) in WTC 1 and two to the observation deck in WTC 2. There were five local elevators in each building, three that brought people from the subterranean levels to the lobby, one that ran between floors 106 and 110, and one that ran between floors 43 and 44, serving the cafeteria from the skylobby. All elevators had been upgraded to incorporate firefighter emergency operation requirements." (NIST NCSTAR 1-7, p.32 - PDF) So there were three elevators running from the basement to the top. The main freight elevator 50, served every floor from Basement 6 to the 108th floor. In addition, two express elevators - Car 6 and 7 - served only particular floors. They both ran from Basement 1 up to "Windows on the World" on the 107th floor. They both shared the same shaft and though their lowest door opening was in basement level 1, their shafts went as deep as basement level 4. Here you can see their locations (red marked), on the south side, opposite to the plane impact side:  This is further established by the floor plans, http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/evidence/blueprints.html which were made available through an anonymous source in March 2007. By examining the core plans for sublevels 3-5, it can be observed that the shaft of Car 6 and 7 ended at Basement 4, and that the shaft of Car 50 terminated at Basement 6. Note that these original floor plans for the basement floors are labeled differently than the corresponding NIST drawings. Floor plans Service level = B1 (NIST) Floor plans Sub-level 1 = B2 (NIST) Floor plans Sub-level 2 = B3 (NIST) Floor plans Sub-level 3 = B4 (NIST) Floor plans Sub-level 4 = B5 (NIST) Floor plans Sub-level 5 = B6 (NIST) In this paper, the basement floors will be referred to as B1-B6.  Above Car 50 in Basement 6  Car 50 in Basement 5  Car 50 in Basement 4. Beneath are Car 6 and 7, sharing one shaft The NIST's misguiding "stacked on each other" One particularly important point needs to be addressed: Due to misleading phrasing in the NIST-reports, many people are drawn to the false conclusion that there were more than two continuing shafts. Read again from the above the NIST-quote: * "Those going to floors 44 through 74 took one of eight express elevators to the 44th floor skylobby before transferring to one of 24 local elevators. These 24 were stacked on top of the of the lower bank of 24, providing additional transport without increasing the occupied floor space. * Those going to floors 78 through 107 took one of 10 express elevators from the Concourse Level to the 78th floor before transferring to one of 24 local elevators. These were also stacked on the lower banks of 24." And here are more quotes: "In order to minimize the total floor space needed for elevators, each tower was divided vertically into three zones by skylobbies, which served to distribute passengers among express and local elevators. In this way, the local elevators within a zone were placed on top of one another within a common shaft". (NIST NCSTAR1-1, Executive Summary XXXVII ) "The concept of multiple elevators within a common shaft was first used in the WTC towers and has since become the norm for buildings taller than about 50 stories." (NIST NCSTAR1-1, p.9 ) This leaves the impression that different elevators shared the same shaft. That they were stacked on top of each other to save floor space. Though it would not be technically possible, people often raise this point in order to prove that there were more than two continuous shafts. To end these false assumptions, it's only necessary to closely examine the floor plans.  All four elevator banks occupying floor space  Bank A terminates, giving these levels more floor space  Bank B terminates, giving these levels more floor space  Bank C terminates, giving these levels more floor space  Here is the 42nd floor upper mechanical room, bank D terminates to allow for the motor to be installed over the shaft  This is the bank D elevator elevation drawing. http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/evidence/blueprints.html Note that the shaft terminates and does not continue above the mechanical room. Looking at the top of the drawing it can be noted that the mechanical room is sealed by the 43rd floor. Above this area on the 43rd floor the drawing shows toilets and a new zone 2 elevator shaft pit. Hence the elevators are stacked.  This is the 43rd floor which shows the position of the toilets and the new zone 2 elevator shaft pits  Here is the 44th floor lobby starting off again. Notice the local elevators are in the same positions, hence they are “stacked” It's now been established that there were only two shafts continuously running from the impact area of WTC 1 (floors 93-98) down to basement levels. One (Car 50) ended in B6, the other one (Car 6/7), ended in B4. Elevators 6 and 7 On 9/11, elevators 6 and 7 were out of operation, which will be established through different sources - because it's important that this point be investigated. First, from the NIST: "Elevators 6A and 7A were out of service for modernization." (NIST NCSTAR 1-8, p.43) Since elevators during maintenance usually are parked at the floors representing their lowest point of descent, and since 6 and 7 had only door openings at one basement level, Basement 1, it can be concluded that those cars were parked at Basement 1. Secondly, an ABC-Report states that they were out of order for at least a month. http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=DNQS0wRtFMs (Though the reporter does not specify which tower, it can be concluded that he was referring to the North Tower, since elevators 6 and 7 in the South Tower were working on 9/11). Thirdly, visual evidence. It is known, that to get to the "Windows on the World“- Restaurant, it was necessary to take express elevator 6 or 7.  "The Greatest Bar on Earth" sign indicates where to go if you want to ascend to the "Windows on the World". On 9/11, since 6/7 were out of service, the sign was placed in front of the north elevator bank.  Note the red-pink sign "Greatest Bar on Earth" Note also the construction fence in front of elevators 20 and 21 (lower left of photo), which were also out of service on 9/11. For comparison, the same point of view before 9/11, without the sign:  Two things are important to keep in mind: Firstly, 6 and 7 were out of service on 9/11. Thus, their doors weren't open on the lobby or basement levels. Access for the mechanics was provided by a door in the lowest level of the shaft, Basement 4. From this it can be concluded that no jet-fuel from within the shaft was able to build an explosive mixture with the air from outside, neither in the lobby or the basement floors. Secondly, according to the NIST these cars were parked at Basement 1 - which is their lowest descent floor and where cars usually are parked during maintenance. These elevator cars were burned, but not destroyed. From that it can also be concluded that the walls of shaft 6/7 in the basement were not destroyed, otherwise the elevator cars could not have been observed remaining in their parked position. Elevator 50 This is what witnesses had to tell about their experience in Car 50, the main freight elevator, which as well as 6 and 7, was the third elevator with a shaft reaching into the impact zone. Arturo Griffith, operated WTC1 elevator Car 50: "[The Griffiths] were both operating elevators in the north tower on Sept. 11. Arturo was running 50A, the big freight car going from the six-level basement to the 108th floor. When American Airlines Flight 11 struck at 8:46 a.m., Arturo and a co-worker were heading from the second-level basement to the 49th floor. Like his wife, who had just closed the doors on a passenger elevator leaving the 78th floor, Arturo heard a sudden whistling sound and the impact. Cables were severed and Arturo's car plunged into free fall." From CNN: "ARTURO GRIFFITH, WTC SURVIVOR: I was running 58 cars -- the elevators that going to 86 to 108th floor. KING: Where were you when it happened? A. GRIFFITH: Well, I was on my way from B-2 to 49th floor. And as I took off, it was amount it was a matter of seconds -- five, six, seven seconds, I don't know. And there was a loud explosion and the elevator dropped. And when the elevator dropped there was a lot of debris and cables falling on top of the elevator. And I just -- I just put my hand over my head and I said, oh God I'm going to die. But I didn't know what was happening. When the elevator finally stopped, they had an explosion that bring the doors inside the elevator, and I think I'm sure that that was what broke my leg. And then they had another explosion and the panel that threw me, you know, against the wall, and I guess I was unconscious for a couple of minutes because somebody else was in the elevator with me, and they say that they was trying to get my attention and they didn't get no response from me." http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0110/06/lklw.00.html Note that he reports three explosion-events. The first caused the elevator to fall and is attributed to the plane impact, cutting the elevator cables with subsequent falling of debris on top of the car. After the car stopped, which was seconds after the plane impact, a second explosion occurred and pushed the doors inside and injured his knee. Therefore it was originating from outside the elevator shaft. The third explosion pushed him against a wall. If these explosions were the result of jet-fuel, Griffith should have noticed a fireball. From another article, the exact location the elevator stopped is revealed: "Arturo Griffith was in a freight elevator when the building was attacked. The elevator dropped to B1 (the basement level), fell below the landing. He was trapped in the elevator beneath debris and unconscious. He remembers seeing a beam of light. He called out. The smoke was so thick; Arturo could not see his own hand. So his rescuers had to follow his voice to find him. 'I don't know who saved me. It was so black and smoky. I couldn't see nothin',' Arturo said. 'When they got me out, I told them there was someone else down there, a woman. They went back to get her. Seconds after they pulled her out, a ball of fire came down the shaft. They almost got killed." http://web.archive.org/web/20021101235538/http://911digitalarchive.org/seiu/details/54 The woman he refers to is the carpenter Marlene Cruz (watch her testimony here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSGZYP--wz0&eurl= or download it here http://www.911podcasts.com/display.php?vid=201). From these accounts, the shaft of Car 50 can be ruled out as the possible conduit for the jet-fuel which reportedly caused the damage in the basement, since the blast pressure would have to go right through the elevator used by Griffith and Cruz. Certainly they wouldn't have survived the pressure of a fireball descending down the shaft of Car 50. Especially a fireball which supposedly generated - as is shown later - sufficient force, to cave in walls, blow out elevator cars, and to rip out a person's tongue. Furthermore, the explosion which injured Griffith originated from outside the shaft, and showed no signs of jet-fuel. The only event which could be contributed to jet-fuel was a fireball which came down the shaft considerably later, and well after the basement explosion. That fireball burned Cruz, but apparently had no significant over-pressure, which fits what would be expected from a jet-fuel explosion (see chapter 3, "About Explosions"). Note that with Car 50 falling to Basement 1, all the cars of the three express elevators serving WTC1 were now located at B1, thus blocking those shafts. Thus any debris and most of the jet-fuel falling down those shafts had to pass through these cars before reaching the ground. Crashing elevators? Before looking into the damage caused by the basement explosions, one point needs to be addressed: the misleading explanation of crashing elevators. For example the NIST states: "Two of the interviewee's associates were injured by flying concrete block on the B2 and/or B4 levels when the 50 Car elevator crashed to the bottom of WTC 1." (NIST NCSTAR1-8, p.80 - PDF) And also here: "For an elevator’s cables to be cut and result in dropping the car to the bottom of the shaft, the cables would need to have been in the aircraft impact debris path, floors 93 through 98 in WTC 1 or floors 78 through 83 in WTC 2. Inspection of the elevator riser diagram and architectural floor plans for WTC 1 shows that the following elevators met these criteria: cars 81 through 86 ( Bank B ) and 87 through 92 (Bank C), local cars in Zone III; car 50, the freight elevator, and car 6, the Zone III shuttle. ...Cars 6 and 50 could have fallen all the way to the pit in the sub-basement level, and car 50 in WTC 1 was reported to have done so." (NIST NCSTAR1-7, p.160 - PDF) Two errors appear here. First, Car 50 did not crash to the bottom of WTC 1, and it would be interesting to know who reported this to the NIST. Secondly, in theory, Car 7 could also have fallen all the way down. In practice, it was parked at B1. Anyway, due to the safety standards, falling elevators would have been stopped by emergency brakes. See this short article from "How stuff works": What if you were on an elevator and the cable broke. http://science.howstuffworks.com/question730.htm So, keep this in mind whenever the NIST or some eyewitness states that elevators crashed down to the pits in the basement or lobby, that this is a misinterpretation of what really happened. In fact, it's not that falling elevators were misinterpreted as explosions, but explosions were misinterpreted as falling elevators. Often this misinterpretation is accompanied by the phrase "what I found out later", or something similar, more examples of this can be seen in the further examination. A few examples to show this: David Kravette, Managing director of Cantor Fitzgerald: “I saw a couple of elevators in free fall; you could hear them whizzing down and as they crashed, there was this huge explosion, like a fireball exploding out of the bank of elevators,” Kravette said. "People were engulfed in flames." http://www.engr.psu.edu/ae/WTC/CantorFitzgerald.html Clearly he could not have seen a couple of elevators in free fall. He also misinterprets the huge explosion as being caused by crashing elevators. Another one: "In the stalled lift in which Ian Robb was trapped, routine exasperation had given way to rising alarm as the sprinkler system slowly began to flood it. Those inside pried the doors open to discover that they were still on the ground floor. A fireman told him that the lift he'd just missed had crashed to the bottom of its shaft." The fireman was mistaken and misinterpreted the event, since no elevator crashed to the bottom. "Firefighter Keith Murphy: To my immediate left is a bank. If I had to guess I would say it was maybe 75, 80 feet long. It was a pretty long elevator bank and it was big sky lobby elevators. They were like floor to ceiling, the ones that hold, I don’t know, 60, 70 people. There was tremendous damage in the lobby. There was already things that were like fallen or cracked. A lot of structural wall damage and ceiling damage that I could see. There was also about four or five inches of water on the floor. At the end of this elevator lobby, there was – it just looked to me like something had exploded. I don’t remember how I heard it or who said it, but someone said I think it was an elevator – when the plane hit, it severed the elevator cable and it came all the way down and crashed. I don’t know a hundred percent if that’s what happened, but it looked to me like that could have been true. It looked like something had fallen down, hit, and exploded out. I mean the whole area around it was maybe 25, 30 feet of really severe damage." http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/20050812_WTC_GRAPHIC/9110238.PDF Note that someone else provided him with this false explanation and he just rephrased it. That something had fallen to the lobby level and then hit (on what?) and exploded out, makes no sense at all. To be continued... MM (for NK-44) Edited by Miragememories, May 25 2009, 04:46 PM.
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| Attack on WTC 1 · World Trade Center | |
8:16 PM Dec 1
