(a) The National Construction Safety Team Act (the Act) (Pub. L. 107-231) provides for the establishment of investigative teams to assess building performance and emergency response and evacuation procedures in the wake of any building failure that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential of substantial loss of life.

(b)(1) The purpose of the Act is to provide for the establishment of investigative teams to assess building performance and emergency response and evacuation procedures in the wake of any building failure that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential of substantial loss of life. The role of NIST in implementing the Act is to understand the factors contributing to the building failure and to develop recommendations for improving national building and fire model codes, standards, and practices. To do this, the Teams produce technical reports containing data, findings, and recommendations for consideration by private sector bodies responsible for the affected national building and fire model code, standard, or practice. While NIST is an active participant in many of these organizations, NIST's recommendations are one of many factors considered by these bodies. NIST is not now and will not become a participant in the processes and adoption of practices, standards, or codes by state or local regulatory authorities.

(2) It is not NIST's role to determine whether a failed building resulted from a criminal act, violated any applicable federal requirements or state or local code or regulatory requirements, or to determine any culpability associated therewith. These are matters for other federal, state, or local authorities, who enforce their regulations.

(c) This part is applicable to the establishment and deployment of Teams and the conduct of investigations under the Act.

The following definitions are applicable to this part:

Act. The National Construction Safety Team Act (Pub. L. 107-231, 116 Stat. 1471).

Advisory Committee. The National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee.

Credentials. Credentials issued by the Director, identifying a person as a member of a National Construction Safety Team, including photo identification and other materials, including badges, deemed appropriate by the Director.

Director. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Evidence. Any document, record, book, artifact, building component, material, witness testimony, or physical evidence collected pursuant to an investigation.

General Counsel. The General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Investigation participant. Any person participating in an investigation under the Act, including all Team members, other NIST employees participating in the investigation, private sector experts, university experts, representatives of professional organizations, employees of other Federal, state, or local government entities, and other contractors.

Lead Investigator. A Team member who is a NIST employee and is designated by the Director to lead a Team.

NIST. The National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Team. A team established by the Director and deployed to conduct an investigation under the Act.