The Role of Building Codes in Delivering Seismic Performance

John HooperDirector of Earthquake EngineeringMagnusson Klemencic Associates

• Over 220,000 fatalities

• Over 300,000 homes damage/destroyed

• Over 1.5 M people affected

• No Building CodesMW 7.0

MW 8.8

• Under 500 fatalities

• Displaced population: 800,000

• Estimated damage: $30B US

• Building Codes Similar to US

Performance of Chilean Buildings Post 1985

Buildings that collapsed: 4 (approximately) Buildings to be demolished: 50 (estimated) Number of buildings 3+ stories: 9,974 Number of buildings 9+ stories: 1,939 Failures of 3+ stories: 0.5% Failures of 9+ stories: 2.8%

Life Safety Performance

Life Safety Performance

SDC A SDC B SDC C SDC D SDC D SDC D SDC E

1-Second RTE (MCE Spectral Response Acceleration, SR1 (%g)Seismic Design Category for Site Class DSeismic Design Codes – based on USGS National Seismic Hazard Map

Summary

Building Codes (and their enforcement) make a difference

Continued Code updates are essential Analysis Physical Research Earthquake Reconnaissance

Is Life Safety Performance adequate?