In September 2001 a young structural engineering PhD student, whose research happened to be on the fire-induced collapse of load-bearing elements in buildings, watched both World Trade Center towers burn and collapse. Sixteen years later, now a professor of fire and structures, he watched Grenfell Tower burn. Each time, he had to understand how this had happened. Professor Bisby told the story of the research, testing and regulation that followed.
Speaker
Luke Bisby holds the Personal Chair of Fire and Structures at the University of Edinburgh and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Fire Safety Journal. His work has been particularly influential at the interface between structural and fire safety engineering. He was an expert witness to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry for over six years, and has presented engineering documentary series including Impossible Engineering and When Big Things Go Wrong.