Most states and local jurisdictions adopt model building codes maintained by the International Code Council (ICC). In most jurisdictions, however, seismic retrofitting remains voluntary. Building codes are sets of regulations governing the design, construction, alteration and maintenance of structures. The earthquake building codes cover the following types of commercial and residential structures: Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Tilt-up Wall Buildings Tilt-up construction is when the walls of a building are built horizontally on the grounds of the construction site and then lifted—or tilted—to a vertical position by a crane. It is important for protecting the lives and assets of building occupants and the continuity of their work. This publication documents common seismic rehabilitation or retrofitting techniques used for buildings represented in the set of standard building types presented in seismic publications. FEMA’s companion document Earthquake Resistant Design Concepts (FEMA P-749) provides a nontechnical background explanation. The next step is to evaluate the building using Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings (ASCE/SEI 31-03). Buildings constructed after 1993, when western Oregon adopted its first seismic standards, are considered the most likely to withstand a severe earthquake. If the evaluation shows that retrofitting is needed, this should be done using Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings (ASCE/SEI 41-06). Also included are discussions of masonry and stone elements, examples of typical floor plans for earthquake- resistant one- and two-story homes, excerpts of seismic requirements from building codes, and checklists for homebuilders. The Building Code. A lock ( Structures predating 1974, when Oregon enacted its first statewide building code, would suffer the worst damage in a 9.0-magnitude earthquake. On February 9, 1971 an earthquake hit the San Fernando Valley, just north of Los Angeles. Earthquakes are some of the most destructive and unpredictable natural phenomena, causing deaths, injuries, and extensive property damage in populated areas. Most of them are revised where there are new chapters on high-rise, seismically isolated, cold-formed steel and wooden buildings within the code. Some recent building codes require internal and external bracing of chimneys to make them more likely to survive an earthquake. This guide describes the sources of nonstructural earthquake damage and effective methods of reducing potential risks associated with such damage. Studies investigated three structural systems: wood light-frame, special reinforced masonry shear wall, and steel special concentrically braced frame systems. This document provides a readily understandable explanation of the intent and requirements of the seismic related building codes and standards that are based on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (FEMA P-750). It’s possible to make these buildings more resistant to earthquakes through seismic retrofitting. ... building codes and inspection practices changed across the industry to … Evaluating older buildings and retrofitting structural and non-structural components also are critical steps. Codes must also be effectively enforced to ensure that buildings and their occupants benefit from advances in seismic provisions in the model codes. According to building codes, earthquake-resistant structures are intended to withstand the largest earthquake of a certain probability that is likely to occur at their location. Visit Earthquake Publications—Building Codes and Seismic Rehabilitation to review these resources. It assists in identifying potential hazards and provides specific guidance on upgrades. Certain types of buildings, such as unreinforced masonry structures, have performed poorly in past earthquakes and are known to be particularly hazardous. Although you can’t control the seismic hazard in the community where you live or work, you can influence the most important factor in saving lives and reducing losses from an earthquake: the adoption and enforcement of up-to-date building codes. These guides can be purchased from S. K. Ghosh Associates. The following documents provide information concerning the earthquake-resistant provisions of the most recent editions of the International Building Code, International Exiting Building Code, and International Residential Code, and their referenced standards [i.e., American Society of Civil Engineers / Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE/SEI) 7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures and ASCE/SEI 41, Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings]. This gap between analytically predicted and historically observed collapse rates in known as the short-period building seismic performance paradox. These codes specify the minimum requirements to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants. ASCE/SEI 7 and ASCE/SEI 41 can be purchased from the ASCE Store. Damage to older, reinforced concrete building in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The ICC reports: The map shows which buildings in the tri-county area were built in each era. Businesses that use retrofitted buildings are more likely to survive damaging earthquakes and to sustain shorter business interruptions and fewer inventory losses. The ICC’s family of International Codes includes: Visit the earthquake building code document library. Figure 11-12. Buildings erected before 1981, when stricter structural design standards were adopted by the state, are more susceptible to earthquake damage. Each of the three volumes provides a step-by-step approach to applying the structural provisions of the 2015 International Building Code and referenced standards. Procedures for Developing Multi-Period Response Spectra at Non-Conterminous United States Sites. We use these codes to model risks more accurately and provide more precise pricing. 70.86.030: Standards for design and construction. The need for such codes is reflected in the saying, "Earthquakes don't kill people—buildings do." 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