by Brianna Crandall — November 28, 2016 — The International Code Council (ICC) has partnered with the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) to publish a landmark set of seismic retrofit Design Guides.
The new Design Guides are focused on retrofits for two types of buildings targeted by the City of Los Angeles Mandatory Earthquake Hazard Reduction Ordinance. This ordinance is intended to reduce the collapse risk of vulnerable structures during a seismic event. The Design Guides, Volumes 1 and 2, explain with insightful detail from experienced experts the different aspects and structural design requirements of the ordinance. These important guides also can be used as a seismic retrofit reference in other seismically active areas.
Design Guide, Volume 1: City of Los Angeles Mandatory Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings (NDC) discusses and demonstrates methodologies for the seismic evaluation and strengthening of existing non-ductile concrete buildings. While aspects of the guide focus on the mandatory Los Angeles earthquake hazard-reduction ordinance and historical construction practices of the Southern California region, it is generally applicable to any other existing concrete buildings in areas of moderate or high seismicity. Additional insights are given based on the latest available research and next-generation standards development work.
Design Guide, Volume 2: City of Los Angeles Mandatory Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Wood-Frame Buildings with Soft, Weak or Open-Front Walls (SWOF) provides an example and detailed commentary for the seismic strengthening of existing wood-frame buildings with soft, weak or open-front wall lines subject to the recently passed mandatory Los Angeles ordinance. The guide discusses challenges inherent in this type of retrofit, responsibilities of the design professional and additional topics to further clarify the requirements of the ordinance.
ICC says the Design Guides are excellent resources for engineers, architects, building officials and students evaluating these types of structures. Facilities managers in earthquake-prone regions may also be interested in how their buildings can be strengthened with a seismic retrofit.
Design Guide, Volume 1 (NDC), and Design Guide, Volume 2 (SWOF), can be ordered in printed format from the Code Council or SEAOSC. PDF download versions of the seismic retrofit guides will be available in December.
