Indeed, with the National Institute of Science and Technology technical conference reporting their findings from the building and fire safety investigation of the World Trade Center disaster under way at the time of this writing, it is important to reexamine the effects that impact and fire had in causing the collapse of WTC 1, 2 and 7.
The new NIST report specifically highlights the need for compartmentation (Recommendation #4), according to the International Firestop Council. Compartmentation, in fact, is proven to increase the safety of buildings by slowing and limiting flame and smoke spread, so it is no surprise that NIST found compartmentation to be critical to structural integrity and life safety.