Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage: New Tools for Design Professionals

This paper introduces a new web-based earthquake design aid intended to assist design professionals to comply with building code requirements and to satisfy project-specific performance objectives for protection of nonstructural components. This web-based product FEMA E-74, Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Damage: A Practical Guide (FEMA 2010), was developed by the Applied Technology Council under contract to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For commercial construction, such as office buildings, hotels and hospitals, nonstructural components and contents typically represent 80–90% of the capital investment at risk during an earthquake, and experience suggests that the majority of losses in future U.S. earthquakes will be the result of damage to nonstructural components and contents. Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Damage: A Practical Guide (FEMA E-74) explains the sources of nonstructural damage in simple terms and provides extensive visual information in the form of photos of nonstructural components damaged in earthquakes and photos of mitigation efforts. It also includes illustrated mitigation examples for over 70 nonstructural items including architectural components; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) components; and furniture, fixtures, equipment and contents. The web-based document also includes additional tools, such as a spreadsheet template for managing design responsibility for seismic protection of nonstructural components and a comprehensive sample specification.