Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake · PDF filePublishing Information The...

Commercial PropertyOwner’s Guide toEarthquake Safety

2006

Edi

tion

Published by the

CaliforniaSeismic SafetyCommission

State ofCalifornia

Arnold Schwarzenegger,Governor

SSC No. 06-02

Publishing Information

The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety wasdeveloped and published by the California Seismic Safety Commission.It was distributed under the provisions of the Library Distribution Act andGovernment Code Section 11096.

Copyrighted 2006 by the California Seismic Safety CommissionAll rights reserved

Legislation

This guide has been developed and adopted by the California SeismicSafety Commission as required by the Business and Professions CodeSection 10147.

Ordering Information

Copies of this booklet are available from the California Seismic SafetyCommission, 1755 Creekside Oaks Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA95833. To order call (916) 263-5506 or download via our website athttp://www.seismic.ca.gov/sscpub.htm

On the Cover:

The roof of this department store was not well connected to itswalls and partially collapsed in Yucca Valley during the 1992Landers Earthquake.

ii The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety

This 2006 Edition of the Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to EarthquakeSafety replaces the 1998 Edition on October 1, 2006.

CONTENTS

The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety iii

Page

INTRODUCTION..................................................1Your Commercial Property and the Law ..............2Recommendations ...............................................3Summary of Major California Laws ......................4Property Tax and Insurance .................................5Examples of Damage to Commercial Property ....6

EARTHQUAKE MAPS OF CALIFORNIA ............7Damaging Earthquakes Map ...............................7Major Earthquake Fault Map ................................8Simplified Earthquake Shaking Map ....................9

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES .............................10

EARTHQUAKE WEAKNESSES......................11Unbraced Water Heaters ...................................12Walls Poorly Anchored to Floors or Roofs ......... 14Unreinforced Masonry Walls and Parapets .......16Poorly Reinforced Concrete Walls and Columns18Steel Frame Buildings ........................................ 20Soft Story Multi-Unit Residential Buildings ......... 22Other Unusual and Irregular Building Types ......23Other Vulnerable Features ................................. 24Poorly Anchored Exterior Cladding ....................25

Page

OTHER EARTHQUAKE-RELATEDCONCERNS ........................................... 26

Unbraced Building Contents ........................ 26Unattached Equipment ................................ 28Unbraced Ceiling Systems .......................... 30Large Windows ........................................... 31Ceiling-Mounted Items ................................. 32Partitions ...................................................... 33Building Contents ......................................... 34Checklist for Building Contents .................... 35

NATURAL GAS SAFETY ............................... 36

GETTING THE WORK DONE ........................ 38

GEOLOGIC HAZARDS .................................. 40

WHAT TO DODURING EARTHQUAKES OR TSUNAMIS 43BEFORE EARTHQUAKES........................... 44AFTER EARTHQUAKES........................... 46

RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS ..................... 48

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EARTHQUAKEDISCLOSURE REPORT................................. 51

SAMPLE TAX EXCLUSION FORM................ 53

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

iv The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety

Seismic Safety CommissionLawrence T. Klein, Chair,UtilitiesHon. Richard Alarcon, State Senate (Saeed Ali, Alternate)Hon. Carol Liu, State Assembly (Donald Manning, Alternate)Mark Church, Local GovernmentLucille M. Jones, Ph.D., SeismologyCelestine Palmer, InsuranceGary McGavin, Architecture and PlanningDaniel Shapiro, S.E., Structural EngineeringBruce R. Clark, Ph.D., GeologyKeith Wheeler, Emergency ServicesJeff Sedivec, Fire ProtectionDennis Mileti, Social ServicesArul Arulmoli, Soils EngineeringJames Wattenburger, County GovernmentAndrew Adelman, Cities/Building OfficialVacant, City GcvernmentVacant, Mechanical Engineering

Seismic Safety Commission StaffRichard McCarthy, Executive DirectorRobert AndersonSue CelliKaren CoganVeronica RamirezHenry ReyesHenry SepulvedaFred Turner, Project Coordinator

The Commission gratefully acknowledgesthe assistance of the following public andprivate entities for information, expertiseand images:Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)California Association of Realtors (CAR)California Building Officials (CALBO)California Council of the American Institute of Architects (CC-AIA)California Geological Survey (CGS)California Department of Insurance (CDI)California Department of Real Estate (CDRE)California Office of Emergency Services (OES)Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation (CDM)Committee on Earthquake Safety Issues for Gas

SystemsEarthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)Humboldt Earthquake Education CenterNational Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center(PEER)Sempra Gas CompanyUnited States Geological Survey (USGS)

Disclaimer: The effects, descriptions, recommendations, andsuggestions included in this document are intended to improveearthquake preparedness; however, they do not guarantee thesafety of an individual or a structure. The Seismic SafetyCommission takes responsibility for the inclusion of material inthis document. The State of California, the Seismic SafetyCommission, and all contributors to this document do notassume liability for any injury, death, property damage, loss ofrevenue, or any other effect of an earthquake.

INTRODUCTIONEarthquakes, especially major ones, aredangerous, inevitable, and a fact of life in California.Sooner or later another “big one” will occur.

Earthquakes:

Occur without warning

Can be deadly and extremely destructive

Can occur at any time

As a current or potential owner of a commercialproperty, you should be very concerned about thepotential danger to not only yourselves and others,but also to your property, its contents and functions.

The major threats posed by earthquakes are bodilyinjuries and property damage, which can beconsiderable and even catastrophic.

Most of the property damage caused byearthquakes ends up being handled and paid for bybuilding owners.

Earthquakes have caused over $58 billion (in2000 dollars) in direct property losses inCalifornia since 1971.

Large earthquakes in or near major urbancenters in California will disrupt the localeconomy and can disrupt the economy of theentire State.

However, proper earthquake preparation of yourbuilding can:

Save lives

Reduce injuries

Reduce property damage

Avoid prolonged disruptions of functions

As a commercial property owner, you cansignificantly reduce damage to your building byfixing a number of known and commonweaknesses.

The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety 1

This Booklet is designed to assist you in filling outthe Commercial Property Earthquake DisclosureReport (See page 51) when you sell your property.

This booklet is also a good primer to beginstrengthening your building against earthquakedamage.

It describes:

Common weaknesses that can result in yourbuilding being damaged by earthquakes, and

Steps you can take to correct theseweaknesses.

There are no guarantees of safety duringearthquakes, but properly constructed andstrengthened commercial buildings are far lesslikely to collapse or be damaged duringearthquakes. The California Seismic SafetyCommission advises you to act on the suggestionsoutlined in this booklet to make you and yourproperty safer.

California State Law requires sellersof commercial property built before1975 that have precast (tiltup)concrete or reinforced masonrywalls and wood-frame floors or roofsto:

Deliver to the buyer, “as soon aspracticable before the transfer,” a copy ofThe Commercial Property Owner’s Guideto Earthquake Safety. (Government Code,Section 8893.2)

2 The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety

California State Law does not requirethe seller to:

Hire someone to evaluate a commercialproperty.

Disclose specific earthquake weaknessesof a commercial property.

Strengthen a building before selling it.

This Booklet:Describes the most common weaknessesthat can cause damage to commercialproperty in the event of an earthquake.

Enables the seller to meet the State Lawrequiring this booklet be given to buyers ofcommercial property.

Enables sellers to voluntarily disclose tobuyers the typical earthquake weaknessesin commercial property.

Provides owners with basic informationabout finding and fixing earthquake-relatedweaknesses.

Provides general information aboutearthquake risks and directions for findingmore information on earthquake safety.

Your Commercial Property and the Law

Recommendations...

If You Are SellingBefore you sell your commercial property, thefollowing steps are recommended:

If you list your property for sale through areal estate broker or agent, you areencouraged, but not required, to give theagent the completed disclosure report (Seepage 51) as soon as practical. Your agentcan give the booklet and the form to thebuyer for you.

You are not required to hire someone toanswer the questions on the disclosureform.

You are not required to remove siding,drywall, plaster or other finishes to answerthe questions.

You are not required to fix the weaknessesbefore you sell your property.

However, if you wish, you may getassistance from a licensed buildingcontractor, architect, civil or structuralengineer.

Keep a copy of the form, signed by thebuyer, as evidence that you have disclosedearthquake weaknesses.

You may find that you will get a better price foryour property if you strengthen earthquakeweaknesses before you sell.

If You Are BuyingBefore you agree to buy commercial property,consider the following recommendations:

Have a certified licensed building contrac-tor, architect, civil or structural engineerinspect the property and give you anopinion regarding existing earthquakeweaknesses and an estimate of costs tostrengthen these weaknesses.

Consider the location of the building: Is it inor near an Earthquake Fault Zone or in anarea where it might be damaged by alandslide, liquefaction, or a tsunami? Youmay wish to hire a licensed geotechnicalengineer and/or engineering geologist tocheck the stability of the land under thebuilding.

Negotiate with the seller the cost ofstrengthening, if any is needed. Localordinances may require seismic retrofits if achange of occupancy classification or amajor remodel is contemplated. In anycase, if any weaknesses are not fixed, youmay find that repair costs after a damagingearthquake can amount to more than yourequity in the property. It is prudent toinvestigate these issues before you pur-chase your property.



Delivering this guideEach seller of commercial property built before1975 that has precast (tiltup) concrete or rein-forced masonry walls and wood-frame floors orroofs must deliver to the buyer, “as soon aspracticable before the transfer,” a copy of TheCommercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earth-quake Safety (this booklet) to inform the buyer ofearthquake weaknesses that the property mighthave. (Government Code, Section 8893.2)

Disclosing masonry weaknessesLocal governments in Seismic Zone 4, where adamaging earthquake is most likely to happen (seemap, page 7), must inventory their unreinforcedmasonry buildings and establish a seismic riskreduction program for these buildings that includesthe disclosure of the risk to the building owner(Government Code, Section 8875). Owners ofbuildings in Seismic Zone 4 who received noticethat their buildings have load-bearing unreinforcedmasonry walls must post their buildings with signswarning that they may be unsafe in an earthquake(Government Code, Section 8875.8).If the owner has not brought the building intocompliance within three years, the owner shall notreceive payment from any state assistance pro-gram for earthquake repairs resulting from dam-age during an earthquake until all other applicantshave been paid. (Government Code, Sections8893.1 to 8893.4)

SUMMARY OF MAJOR CALIFORNIA LAWSRELATED TO SEISMIC SAFETYFull wording of all California codes is available at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Earthquake fault rupture disclosureThe Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Actprohibits building for human occupancy astrideactive faults. Public Resources Code, Section2621 and following sections, requires sellers ofcommercial property to disclose to potentialbuyers if the property is located in a designatedfault rupture zone.

Landslides and liquefactionThe Seismic Hazards Mapping Act requires thestate to prepare maps of the zones in Californiamost susceptible to landslide and liquefactionhazards during earthquakes. Public ResourcesCode Section 2694 requires sellers of commercialproperty to disclose to buyers whether the prop-erty is in such a zone. This guide recommendsvoluntary disclosures of mapped landslide andliquefaction hazards during commercial realestate transactions.

Publishing this guideThe Seismic Safety Commission is required todevelop, adopt, update, and publish The Com-mercial Property Owner’s Guide to EarthquakeSafety containing information on geologic andseismic hazards, explanations of structural andnonstructural earthquake hazards, and recom-mendations for mitigating these hazards, asrequired by the Business and Professions Code,Section 10147.

Property Tax Reappraisal ExclusionCalifornia law allows property owners to strengthentheir buildings with approved seismic strengtheningtechniques without the improvement beingincluded in reappraisals that usually raise theproperty value and the tax owed, according to theRevenue and Tax Code, Section 74.5.

If you make an addition, such as adding newrooms to your building, your property tax bill willincrease. But a strengthening project to help yourbuilding resist earthquakes will not add to yourproperty taxes.

To receive the exclusion you must file a claim formwith your county assessor. The work must also beapproved as appropriate seismic strengthening byyour local building department.

A sample form from the County of Santa Clara isattached on page 53. This form may vary in eachcounty.


Earthquake InsuranceEarthquake insurance is typically not part of yourproperty owner insurance policy.

The cost of any earthquake insurance policy isbased on a number of factors, including yourproperty’s location, age, construction type, andvalue. One thing to consider is to compare yourbuilding’s expected damage to the deductible andthe insurance premiums that would apply to yourbuilding if it were insured. You may wish to consulta licensed civil or structural engineer for morespecific information on your potential for damage.

Each property owner should consider his or herindividual risk factors and then weigh the cost ofearthquake insurance coverage against thebenefits.

For more information, contact your insuranceagent, who can also help you locate an earthquakeinsurer and estimate annual premiums anddeductibles.

In 2005, only slightly more than 11 percent of allcommercial property owners in California wereinsured for earthquakes and damage may fallbelow deductibles.

PROPERTY TAX AND INSURANCE


EXAMPLES OF DAMAGE TOCOMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Figure 3 - File cabinet drawers can slide openand unbolted cabinets can topple duringearthquakes.

Figure 2 - Northridge Earthquake, Jan. 17, 1994.Collapse of the lower, soft story of this apartmentrendered it uninhabitable.

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Figure 4 - Department Store Collapse inNorthridge 1994. Fortunately no lives were lostsince the earthquake occurred before storehours.

Figure 5 - Concrete Parking StructureCollapse.

Figure 6 - San Simeon Earthquake, Dec. 22,2003. The Acorn Clock Tower Building constructedof unreinforced masonry collapsed killing twopeople.

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Figure 1 - Partial Collapse of an IndustrialBuilding. Poor connections between thewalls and the roof caused this collapse.

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EARTHQUAKE MAPS OFCALIFORNIA


Damaging Earthquakes in California

Source: California Geological Survey; Earthquake History of the U.S., U.S. Department of Commerce and Interior,1982; Records of California Office of Emergency Services; compiled and revised by California Seismic SafetyCommission, 2004; International Code Council, California Building Code 2001 Edition.

EUREKA, 1954,1980

CAPE MENDOCINO,1992

Figure 7—Earthquake history. Californiahas experienced many damaging earthquakesin the past two centuries. The sizes of the dotson this map indicate the relative magnitude ofearthquakes that occurred at these locations.

Seismic Zones in California. All ofCalifornia lies within Seismic Zone 3 or 4.There are four zones in the U.S.A., rangingfrom 1 to 4; the higher the number the higherthe earthquake danger. Stronger constructionstandards for buildings in Zones 3 and 4 havebeen adopted in the California Building Code.

IMPERIAL VALLEY,1940, 1979, 1987

LANDERS/BIGBEAR, 1992

TAHOE, 1966

WINTERS-VACAVILLE, 1892

OWENS VALLEY, 1980CHALFANT VALLEY, 1986

OWENS VALLEY, 1872

COALINGA, 1983

MORGAN HILL, 1984

LOMA PRIETA, 1989

SAN FERNANDO, 1971

SANTA BARBARA, 1925

SIERRA MADRE,1991

LONG BEACH, 1933

WHITTIER NARROWS,1987

OROVILLE, 1975

SAN SIMEON, 2003

KERN COUNTY, 1952

FORT TEJON,1857

NAPA VALLEY, 2000SANTA ROSA, 1969

PALM SPRINGS,1986

SAN FRANCISCO, 1906

ZONE 3

ZONE 4

NORTHRIDGE,1994

HECTOR MINE, 1999


Major Earthquake Faults in California

San Andreas Fault

Santa Barbara

Figure 8 - Earthquake Faults - Mapshowing major earthquake faults inCalifornia on which earthquakes are mostlikely to occur.

Map courtesy of California Geological Survey. Fault locations modified from seismic sources used in Revised 2002California Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Maps.

Eureka

San Francisco

Los Angeles

San Diego

For a more detailed map, includingnames of faults, go to:www.seismic.ca.gov/cog.htm


Figure 9 - Earthquake Shaking Potential Map -This map shows the relative intensity of groundshaking and damage in California from anticipatedfuture earthquakes.

Expected damages in California in thenext 10 years exceed $30 billion.

Three-quarters of our nation’searthquake losses will be in California.

Efforts to reduce the losses fromearthquakes have already proveneffective.

SIMPLIFIED Earthquake Shaking Potential Map for California

Data source: California Seismic Safety Commission, California Geological Survey, Governor’s Office ofEmergency Services, and United States Geological Survey, April, 2003, Earthquake Shaking Potential forCalifornia, California Seismic Safety Commission Publication No. 03-02.

Regions near faults known to beactive. These will on averageexperience stronger earthquakeshaking more frequently.

Regions distant from faultsknown to be active. These willexperience lower levels ofshaking less frequently.

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Eureka

Sacramento

San Francisco

San Jose

Fresno

Los AngelesLong Beach

San Diego

For a full color version go to:www.seismic.ca.gov/cog.htm

Please note:


ADDITIONAL RESOURCESThere are many additional resources available. Some are web sites and some arebooks or pamphlets.

The California Seismic Safety Commission has created a webpage thatprovides links to other sites that are appropriate for commercial propertyowners interested in improving the earthquake safety of their buildings.

Visit www.seismic.ca.gov/cog.htm

FEMA also provides a wide variety of information suitable for thecommercial property owner, including the availability of, and registrationfor, federal disaster aid programs after a damaging earthquake or otherdisasters.

Visit www.fema.gov

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services also offers helpfulemergency preparedness and mitigation advice for the public.

Visit www.oes.ca.gov

The earthquake weaknesses identified in this section, if not corrected, can result inone or more of the following:

Injury to occupants and bystanders

Severe damage to your building

Broken gas and utility lines

Fires from broken gas or electric lines

Damage to floors, walls, and windows

Damage to the contents in the building

Damage to the foundations

Remember that:

Retrofitting before an earthquake is relatively inexpensive.

Doing major structural repairs to your building after an earthquake is veryexpensive.

Sometimes the damage is extensive enough to require the entire buildingto be demolished.

After an earthquake, there is usually a shortage of available licensedcontractors and engineers in the impacted area, because of the suddenhigh demand for their services.

An appropriate seismic retrofit will reduce future earthquake damage andsave you money in the long run.

Poor quality in building design and construction may also result inearthquake damage, so insist on high quality and strict compliance withbuilding codes when buying, altering, and retrofitting.

Consult your local Building Department and/or a licensed architect or civil/structural engineer for more detailed information.


EARTHQUAKE WEAKNESSES

IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The ProblemIf water heaters are not properly braced, they cantopple over during an earthquake causing:

Broken gas lines and gas leaks

Fires causing major damage to commercialproperties

Broken water lines and flooding

How to IdentifyIs the water heater free-standing?

Are there straps or other types of restraintssecuring the water heater?

Are there straps or restraints bolted to thestuds?

Are there flexible pipes for water and gasconnected to the water heater?

RememberReplacing a water heater after an earthquakecan cost more than $500.

Repairing fire damage and flooding damagecan cost several thousand dollars, including theentire cost of your building!

There are many different ways of strapping awater heater. One example is shown on thenext page. (See page 13)

Check with your local Building Department fordetails of local requirements.

Know where your main water valve is so thatyou can shut it off if you have a water leak.

Know where your main gas valve is so that youcan shut it off if you hear or smell a gas leak.(See page 36)

Contents DamageUnbraced Water Heaters


Figure 10 - The unbraced waterheater in this building fell during anearthquake; the resulting firedestroyed the building.

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Water heater

Figure 11 - This unstrapped waterheater tipped over during the 1984Morgan Hill Earthquake. Fortunatelygas and water lines were not ruptured.

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HOW-TO

Water heaters must be braced (securely attached) to the studs in a wall. California law requires waterheaters to be braced at the time of sale, or when a new water heater is installed.(Health & Safety CodeSection 19210 to 19217)

How-to ResourcesYour local hardware storeHow to Brace Your Water Heater, City of LosAngeles, Department of Building & Safety,Information Bulletin #P/PC 2002-003, June14, 1999.How to Secure Your Water Heater,Governor’s Office of Emergency Services,2003.

The SolutionThere are many solutions – all relativelyinexpensive when water heaters arelocated near walls.

Purchase and install a strap kit orbracing kit from your local hardwarestore. Be sure the kit is certified bythe State Architect.

Other options include:

Have a licensed plumber strap yourwater heater according to code.

Use metal tubing or heavy metalstrapping and lag screws andwashers to secure the water heaterto the wall studs.

The gas and water lines should also haveflexible pipes. These are safer than rigidpipes during an earthquake.

Be sure to check the straps once a year.They may come loose due to vibrations,or other causes.

For water heaters not located near walls,consult a qualified engineer or architect.


Brace Water Heaters

Figure 12: One Method of Water Heater Bracing.Straps and screws visible with water heater in a garageinstallation. You may need to add wood blocking.

SheetrockIf wood blocking is used, itmust be attached to studs.

WATERHEATER

Straps

Flexiblepipes

IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The Problem

When earthquakes shake the ground, the variousparts of buildings may move in different directions.If the connections (anchorage) between concrete orreinforced masonry walls, wood floors, and roof areweak, walls can pull away. (See figure 13a, b and c.)And the building, or a portion of it, may collapse.Until the mid-1970s, California building codes did notrequire new buildings to have wall anchorage thatwas adequate to prevent separation between thewalls and the roof.The Northridge earthquake showed that some typesof wall anchorage installed even after 1975 were notadequate to support the walls.Poor wall anchorage is also common in unreinforcedmasonry buildings. (See figure 13d.)

Walls Poorly Anchored to Floors and Roofs


How to Identify ItHire a qualified civil or structural engineer to:

Check buildings with precast (tiltup) concreteor reinforced masonry walls that were builtbefore 1975 for wall anchorage.

It is also a good idea to check all anchoragesbuilt before 1995 to ensure the meet post-Northridge Earthquake standards.

Check unreinforced masonry building wallanchorages.

RememberA good time to check and fix wall anchorage iswhen you replace or patch your roof.

Figure 13–Failures of Wall Anchors During Earthquakes.a. The roofs and floors of many concrete tiltup and masonry buildings rest on ledgers bolted into the wall.b. When an earthquake occurs, the building’s movement may rip out the nails holding the roof in place,c. or split the ledger along the wood grain allowing the roof to collapse.

d. “Dog ties,” also known as government anchors, will not always prevent unreinforced masonry wallsfrom separating from floors or roofs

a. d.c.b.

ReinforcedConcreteorMasonryWall

Plywoodroof or floor

Parapet Nail

BoltWoodledger

Nail rips outof plywoodedge.

Crack opens up.

Wall beginsto pull awayfrom theplywood.

Wall

Nails bendor pull out.

Wood ledgersplits alongits grain justabove thebolt.

Wall pulls away fromthe roof or floor.

Governmentanchor

“Dog tie”

Keeper nail

UnreinforcedBrickMasonryWall

Joist

HOW-TO

Figure 14 —Strengthening Wall Anchors. One ofseveral ways to strengthen the connections between theroof and floor joists and the walls is to install bracketsand rods that go through the walls and attach to thejoists.

The SolutionIf you suspect your building has poor wallanchorage, consider hiring a qualified engineeror architect to determine the most cost-effectiveway to strengthen it.

Technical information for engineers to usewhen designing strengthened wall anchors canbe found in Appendix Chapter A2 in theInternational Existing Building Code, publishedby the International Code Council.

Contractors can add new anchorage andcontinuous ties across the roof. Work can bedone inside above the ceiling (see figure 14) oron the roof, at relatively low cost.

Structural DamageNonstructural HazardsNonstructural HazardsContents DamageContents DamageContents DamageContents DamageContents DamageHOW-TOStrengthen Wall Anchors


New Brackets, rodsand bolts

New platesand nuts

Figure 15 — Wall Anchors Can Prevent Failures Like This. Even newer buildings arenot immune to earthquakes. This reinforced masonry strip mall was built in the 1980’s butdid not comply with the building code. The wall anchorage failed in the 1992 LandersEarthquake. Its front wall fell into the parking lot.

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IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The Problem

Buildings built of unreinforced masonry (URM) —brick, hollow clay tiles, stone, concrete blocks, oradobe—are very likely to be damaged in earth-quakes because the mortar holding the masonrytogether may not be strong enough to resist earth-quake forces.These buildings are usually brittle; they cannot flexand return to their original shapes as wood-framebuildings can. In addition to the danger of buildings’collapsing during earthquakes, masonry can peel offthe tops of walls, pull away from floors or roofs, andfall on people, neighboring buildings, or streetsbelow.Even if your building is safe, your neighbor’sunreinforced masonry building may damage yourbuilding, injure your employees or tenants, or disruptcommerce in your area.

How to Identify Unreinforced Masonry

If walls are made of brick or stone (which you candetermine from the outside unless the walls arecovered), check to see if they have “header courses”of bricks turned endwise every five or six rows (seefigure 16) to hold unreinforced brick walls together. Ifthe building was built before 1940, the walls aremost likely unreinforced.If walls are made of concrete block, it can be difficultto determine whether reinforcing steel was addedduring construction. The services of an experiencedtesting laboratory may be able to determine whetherreinforcing steel is present. Otherwise, consultingthe building’s plans, which may be on file with thebuilding department, might be the only way to tellwithout damaging the wall.

How to Identify Unbraced ParapetsParapets are tops of walls that extend up aboveroofs. Unbraced parapets have no visible steelmembers connecting the top or side of the parapetto the roof.

Structural DamageNonstructural HazardsContents Damage

Unreinforced Masonry Walls and Parapets

Figure 16 - The second-story wall of thisunreinforced masonry building was not well-tiedto the roof, and the building collapsed during the1994 Northridge earthquake.


Figure 17 – Header courses. Headercourses of bricks are usually placedendwise every six or so rows inunreinforced masonry walls to tie the outerlayer of bricks to the layers inside the wall.

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Headercourses

Figure 18 - Parapets. They are the tops ofwalls above the roof can fall off buildings likethis one nearly did in Rio Dell during the 1992Cape Mendocino Earthquake.

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HOW-TO

The Solution

Strengthening unreinforced masonry requires an-choring the walls to the floors and roof, addinginterior partitions or walls, installing braces, or othermeasures. Strengthening will greatly reduce thehazards to life but may not guarantee thatunreinforced masonry buildings will be repairableafter an earthquake. Unreinforced masonry is aweakness that requires the services of a qualifiedand experienced engineer or architect to correct.

Notify the Public with Warning Signs

If your unreinforced masonry building is located inseismic zone 4 (see page 19) and you receivednotice from your local government that it containsunreinforced masonry bearing-wall construction,owners must post signs at entrances that say:

The sign must be in a conspicuous place at theentrance of the building, it must be at least 5 inchesby 7 inches, and it must be lettered in bold type nosmaller than 30 points in size. This posting require-ment does not apply to unreinforced masonry build-ings if the walls are non-load-bearing and have steelor concrete frames.If this placard was not installed prior to January 1,2005, owners are required to install the following 8inch by 10 inch sign (Government Code, Section8875.8(a)):

Retrofit URM Walls and Parapets


Owners that retrofit their buildings can take downwarning signs or replace them with the following:

Figure 20 - Unbraced Parapets can Injure andKill - This parapet on the front of the building inFigure 18 fell on the sidewalk.

Figure 19 - Ways to Retrofit URM buildings.

Earthquake Warning.This is an unreinforced

masonry building.You may not be safe inside or

near unreinforced masonrybuildings during an earthquake.

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This building has beenimproved in accordancewith the seismic safety

standards of a local buildingordinance that is applicable

to unreinforced masonry.

This is an unreinforcedmasonry building.

Unreinforced masonrybuildings may be unsafe

in the event of amajor earthquake.

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IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The Problem

By itself, concrete is brittle and easily crackedduring an earthquake. But with the addition ofreinforcing steel, concrete buildings can be madestrong enough to withstand earthquake forces.However, the concrete walls or columns of struc-tures erected before 1975 often lack enough rein-forcing steel to keep them from collapsing or beingdamaged beyond repair.These buildings can pose the greatest threat to lifein major earthquakes because, though total collapseof these buildings is rare, just one collapse couldcause hundreds of deaths. In 1971, three concretehospital buildings in the San Fernando Valley col-lapsed, killing 52 people; 43 people were killed inthe collapse of a concrete freeway viaduct duringthe Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. These struc-tures lacked sufficient steel to confine the concreteand allow it to bend but not fall apart(See figure 21).

How to IdentifyHire an engineer or architect to help you review yourbuilding’s plans and determine whether it has thisweakness, particularly if the building has many largewindows, an irregular shape, or a tall, open firstfloor.

Poorly Reinforced Concrete Walls or Columns


Figure 21 –Lack of Reinforcing steel. If theconfining reinforcing steel in a column is too widelyspaced (a), it will not be able to keep the verticalreinforcing bars and the concrete in place when it isshaken by an earthquake (b).

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Figure 22 - Short columns in this parking structurefailed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Modernbuilding codes now require much more reinforcingsteel for such short columns.

Figure 23 - This medical office building’s exteriorcladding affected the way its frame responded toshaking, and the columns failed during the 1994Northridge earthquake. The building wasdemolished and all medical records inside weredestroyed.

HOW-TO

The Solution

New walls or bracing can be added, and columnscan be wrapped with confining material, so thatthese buildings can survive ground shaking. Aqualified engineer or architect can help you decideon the most cost-effective way to strengthen yourbuilding.

Nonstructural HazardsNonstructural HazardsContents DamageContents DamageContents Damage

Strengthen Concrete Walls and Columns


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Figure 24 - The addition of more confining steel (c)keeps the vertical reinforcing bars from buckling andthe concrete from shifting so that the buildingcontinues to be fully supported (d) even it if isdamaged in an earthquake.

Figure 25 - The walls and columns holding upthe Psychiatric Unit of the Olive View Hospitalweren’t adequately reinforced; they collapsedin the San Fernando Earthquake of 1971. Itwas a two-story building before theearthquake. Only because the earthquakeoccurred during an early hour of the morning,the building was fortunately not occupied anda large loss of life was avoided. This type ofconstruction is common in older Californiacommercial and institutional buildings.

After the Earthquake

Before the Earthquake

IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The Problem

In past earthquakes, fractures (cracks) occurred insteel frame buildings built before 1995 in two loca-tions: (1) in welds and steel elements in or near steelbeam-to-column connections (see figures 26 and27); and (2) in column base plates (see figure 28).Such fractures are often small and hard to detectbecause they may be covered by fireproofing,interior walls and ceilings, and exterior facades.Slender or thin-walled steel braces can buckleprematurely in buildings built before 1982. Seefigure 29).

Steel Frame Buildings


The reasons for damage to steel members arenot fully known but may include workmanship,design, welding procedures, and material charac-teristics.Some buildings with subtle structural damagealso will suffer movement-related damage suchas cracked finishes around columns and beams,cracked or out-of-plumb partitions or door frames,damaged ceilings, and broken glass. In cases ofextreme damage, partial collapse may be pos-sible.

Types of Cracks in or NearConnections Steel Frame

A steel frame is a rectangularassemblage of beams andcolumns. The beams aretypically welded and bolted tothe columns.

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Figure 26–Steel Frame. Two types of cracks found in steel frame buildings afterearthquakes.(Adapted from photo provided by Los Angeles Times.)

HOW-TO

How to IdentifyIf your steel frame buildings have been exposed tostrong ground shaking in the past and you haveobserved the damage described above, contact anappropriately experienced structural or civilengineer or architect to assess the need toinvestigate critical areas in the buildings. Ownersof other steel buildings who are concerned aboutthe potential for such damage are alsoencouraged to obtain qualified opinions.

Building investigations typically involve removingfinishes and fireproofing at the beam columnconnections, visual observations, and testing,where appropriate. This work may disrupt occu-pants for a short time.

Structural DamageStructural DamageStructural DamageStructural DamageNonstructural HazardsNonstructural HazardsContents DamageContents DamageContents DamageContents DamageContents DamageHOW-TO

Retrofit Steel Frame Buildings


Figure 28–A 4-inch-thick steel plate supporting thebase of a column at the Oviatt Library at CSUNorthridge fractured in the 1994 earthquake.

Figure 27–This steel frame connection unexpectedlycracked in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

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The SolutionRepair and retrofit techniques and recommendedguidelines are currently available from the FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA 350 to353), the American Institute of Steel Construction(AISC 2005 Seismic Provisions and AISC 358) andthe International Code Council (ICC) (see “ResourceOrganizations” on page 48). Local governmentordinances may also apply. Engineers should obtainand consider these latest guidelines, codes andstandards when designing retrofits or repairs.

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Figure 29–A six-story steel braced frame buildingwas damaged after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake inJapan. 4,000 to 8,000 small commercial buildingsand 1,000 to 2,000 large commercial buildingswere destroyed or severely damaged in that event.

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IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The Problem

Apartments and condominiums with parking orcommercial space on the first floor are prone tocollapse if ground floor walls and columns are notstrong enough to hold up the building duringearthquakes.

Soft Story Multi-Unit Residential Buildings


EERI

Figure 31–A similar apartment building’s soft storycollapsed on cars during the same earthquake.

Figure 32–This modern wood-frame apartmentbuilding had a central driveway. It collapsed inwardover unbraced entrances to crush first-story parkingduring the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

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How to Identify

Buildings with parking at the ground floor, or largeamounts of windows and few solid walls can haveearthquake weaknesses. Consult with a qualifiedengineer or architect to help you evaluate yourbuilding’s condition.

The Solution

Soft, weak, or open front stories can be strength-ened to prevent collapse. You should rely on theadvice of a qualified engineer or architect.

Figure 30–Apartments with tuck-under parking likethis can collapse. This building is leaning but did notcollapse in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES


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Figure 33 - This six story lift slab building collapsed inthe 1964 Alaskan Earthquake.

Other Unusual and Irregular Building Types

The Problem

Buildings with irregular configurations, unusualdesigns, long spans, large assembly areas, or otherunique features can be more vulnerable to earth-quake damage than simple buildings. Numerousparking structures suffered partial collapse duringthe Northridge earthquake.

How to Identify

Consult with a qualified engineer or architect toidentify the hazards, if any, of unusual designs andfeatures. A building that is anything other than aplain box with four walls, floors, and a roof needscareful engineering attention. Irregularities in thebuilding’s footprint can be earthquake weaknesses.Buildings with long spans over large assembly areassuch as theaters, auditoriums, and churches shouldbe carefully evaluated, since a collapse could becatastrophic.

The Solution

The earthquake weaknesses of irregular orunusual building features can be reduced bystrengthening or other means. You should relyon the advice of a qualified engineer or archi-tect.

Figure 34 - This unusual building with a tall story, longspans and large windows was severely damaged in the1933 Long Beach Earthquake.

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IDENTIFYWEAKNESSES

The Solutions

If your property has one or more of the featuresdescribed above, get an architect or engineer whois experienced in earthquake strengthening ofexisting buildings to give you a quick, preliminaryevaluation.Use such an evaluation to help you decide what todo to make sure your building and its occupantscan survive a damaging earthquake.Keep features such as children’s play areas, out-door restaurants, and storage areas out of thestriking range of falling masonry, roof tiles, para-pets, and overhangs.Replace infested or deteriorated building materialbefore you strengthen.

Other Vulnerable Features

The Problems

Chimneys–Unreinforced brick and stone chimneysoften collapse in earthquakes. These chimneysshould be braced or replaced to prevent injury orproperty damage.

Signs, marquees, canopies–These items should bebraced so they do not pose a hazard to passersby.Check periodically to make sure their connectionsare not rusting away.

Heavy roofs–Buildings with heavy roofs (clay, tile,and slate, for example) shake more in an earth-quake than buildings with lighter roofs. Such roofingmaterials may even fall off, injuring people anddamaging objects below.

Stairs, balconies, overhangs–If these features aren’tproperly braced or attached to the building, they cancollapse or prevent occupants from leaving thebuilding after an earthquake.

Dry rot, insect infestation, deterioration–Dry rot,termites, boring beetles, or lack of maintenance canweaken a building and make it more prone to earth-quake damage.


Figure 36 - Stairs to an apartment buildingcollapsed during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Figure 35 - The chimney on this building fell on thestair-way in the 1992 Big Bear earthquake, cutting offa means of escape for persons on the second floor.

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The Problem

The cladding on the outside of some buildings cansustain damage and even fall off if it does notallow the building to flex when the ground shakes.Precast concrete cladding, with or without stonefacing, is heavy. The steel connections holding it tothe building must be strong enough to allow thebuilding to move in an earthquake without failing.In addition, gaps or joints between cladding unitsmust be large enough and in the right places toaccommodate building movement.

Poorly Anchored Exterior Cladding & Signage

The Solution

Poor connections can be strengthened or re-placed. You will need to hire a qualified engineeror architect.

How to Identify

Engage a qualified engineer or architect to help youevaluate the condition of cladding and its ability toallow for earthquake movement.

Figure 37 - Cladding on this store in Anchorage failed in the1964 Alaska earthquake.

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Figure 38 - The sign on this commercialbuilding fell in the 1979 Imperial Earthquake.

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Figure 39 - Simple retrofits can prevent signsfrom falling.

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OTHERCONCERNS


Unattached or Unbraced Building Contents

Figure 42 - The storage rack collapsed in thiswarehouse-style retail store during the 1994Northridge earthquake. Heavy items such as the sofain the center of the photo crashed to the ground andcould have injured employees and shoppers.

Figure 40 - Shelves like these can topple likedominos.

The Problem

The contents of your building can be damaged orcan cause damage in earthquakes. They mayinjure your building occupants or block emergencyexits; it can be expensive to repair and replaceitems that are broken. You should be concernedabout contents, not only to protect your propertybut also to guard against deaths or injuries.Earthquake shaking may cause light fixtures andbookshelves to fall, and other large items to toppleor move across the floor (see figures 40 to 63).Equipment may be disabled or severely damaged.It may take considerable time and money to re-place or repair computers, vital records, andspecialized technical equipment. Heavy crates orboxes stacked high, such as those in warehousesor discount stores, can fall on tenants, employees,or customers.

How to Identify

Look around your building for items that could fall ormove during earthquakes. Could your file cabinetsfly open, allowing the contents to scatter on thefloor? Could unanchored storage or display shelvestopple or lose their contents?

Figure 41 - Pallets of canned goods stored in thisbuilding fell off the shelves during the 1989 Loma Prietaearthquake and pushed out the concrete wall of thisHollister warehouse.

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HOW-TO Brace and Attach Building Contents


Figure 43–Securing shelves and furniture. Attach rowsof shelving and other tall pieces of furniture to the wall andto each other for support; tilt the shelves or install shelfparapets or other restraints to keep objects from falling offshelves.

Figure 45–Bolting file cabinets. Bookcases and filecabinets should be bolted to the wall and to each otherto keep them from falling. File drawers should havelatches so they can’t open in earthquakes.

The Solutions

Door latches, braces, and fasteners to fixnonstructural hazards can be installed as part ofyour regular maintenance activities.Fasten heavy equipment and furniture to the flooror to the studs in the walls.Store heavy objects on low shelves or in areas thatpose fewer hazards.Make sure your employees or tenants secureitems such as tall furniture or equipment when it isinstalled or moved.See the Earthquake Checklist for Building Con-tents on page 35, Resource Organizations onpage 48, and www.seismic.ca.gov/cog.htm for helpin identifying and dealing with these hazards.

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Bolts toStuds

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Figure 44–Toppled file cabinets. In the 1994Northridge Earthquake, businesses were disrupted.

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OTHERCONCERNS


Figure 48 - This motor slid out from under the headsof the bolts holding it down. Tight bolts installed inholes—rather than slots—in its base would have held itin place.

Figure 46 - The support pedestal system of thisoxygen tank at Olive View Medical Center wasdamaged after the 1994 Northridge earthquake,leaving the tank leaning. The tank is shown after itwas removed to allow for installation of areplacement unit.

Unattached or Unbraced Building Equipment

The Problem

If mechanical and electrical equipment such as airconditioners, water or propane tanks, boilers, andshop equipment are not securely attached to awall, floor, or roof, it can topple or slide in earth-quakes. If gas, electrical, water supply, or wastelines are broken when these items move, they maycause fire or flood damage.

How to Identify

Examine mechanical or electrical equipment tosee if there are anchors, metal straps, or bracesaround them that are bolted to the wall, floor, orroof. Make sure the bolts go into the wall studs orsolid concrete, not just the drywall or plaster. Pullon the straps or braces to make sure they aresecure and taut.


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Figure 47 - This pipe joint separated during the 1971San Fernando Earthquake.

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HOW-TO Attach or Brace Building Equipment & Piping

Figure 51–Bolting equipment. Light equipment can bebolted to a concrete floor with expansion bolts. Formethods of securing heavier equipment, consult anengineer.

Figure 49–Bracing tanks. Tank supports should becross-braced as well as bolted to the floor.

The Solutions

The equipment can be secured to the structureby using bolts or braces (see figures 49 to 51).Add flexible connections between the equipmentand gas and water lines. Avoid rigid connectorsto solid pipe, which may fail in earthquakes.

Bolts at eachcorner


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Figure 50–Bracing Pipes. Adding diagonal braces tokeep pipes from swaying can prevent damage anddisruption.

OTHERCONCERNS Unbraced Ceiling Systems

The Problem

Unbraced acoustic-tile ceiling systems canshake loose during earthquakes. Heavy lightfixtures and duct vents are particularly hazard-ous to occupants if they are not properly con-nected to the roof or the floor above (see figures52 to 54). Unbraced ceilings can hit fire sprinklerheads, which may release water and flood thebuilding.

How to Identify It

Lift a ceiling tile and look up into the spaceabove the ceiling. If the tiles seem loose in theirframes, they may fall when the building beginsto move. In rooms more than 12 feet wide, youshould see diagonal wires and vertical pipestruts connecting the ceiling tiles’ framework tothe building’s framing above, spaced every 12feet.Look for wide, secure supports for the ceilingframework around the room’s edges.Each light fixture and duct vent should be se-curely supported with at least two wires to thebuilding framing above.

Figure 53 - This building sustained extensive interiornonstructural damage during the 1994 Northridgeearthquake. Parts of the ceiling grid and tiles havefallen.

Figure 52–Bracing ceilings. This view from thetop of the ceiling tiles shows diagonal bracing andstruts to keep the tiles from falling in earthquakes.

Figure 54–Lighting fixtures. Fluorescent lighting fixturesshould be secured so they will not present hazards.

What Can Be Done

Wire hangers and braces can be added to ceilingsystems, light fixtures, sprinklers, and vents. Youcan either make the additions yourself or hire acontractor.Make sure there are gaps that will allow pipes tomove where they pass through ceilings and parti-tions.


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OTHERCONCERNS Large Windows

The Problem

If a building has large windows, the glass may breakwhen the ground shakes, especially if there are onlynarrow walls on each side of the windows. In a majorearthquake, buildings with large storefront windowscan lean over and even collapse if the front wall isinadequately braced. Buildings on crowded city blocksare especially prone to damage if the buildings arenear enough to pound against each other duringearthquakes.

How to Identify It

Check to see if there are solid walls, diagonal braces,plywood panels, or heavy steel frames next to anylarge window. Such a window does not always indicatean earthquake weakness. There are no simple rules ofthumb for determining whether or how much bracing isneeded or where it should go.You will need the help of an architect or engineer withexperience in earthquake strengthening.

Figure 55–The front window of this Fortunaauto parts store broke in the 1992 Cape Mendocinoearthquake.

Figure 56–The windows in this San Franciscobuilding probably broke because its frame flexedtoo much in the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.


What Can Be Done

New steel framing or plywood paneling can beinstalled around a storefront window. New win-dow mullions can be added to replace a largepiece of plate glass; this change will allow formore movement. Plastic film can be applied tothe windows to keep the pieces from scattering ifa window does break.You should consult a qualified architect or engi-neer if you have large or numerous windows,especially on the ground floor of your building.

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HOW-TO Attach Ceiling-Mounted Items


Figure 57 - A broken sprinkler pipe caused extensivewater damage after it was sheared off by ceilingmovement in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

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Figure 59 - Prevent suspended equipment from falling with properconnections and bracing.

Figure 58 - Equipment that is not wellconnected to ceilings above can fall and causeserious injuries.

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HOW-TO Attach Partitions


Resources for How-to Attach &Brace Nonstructural Items:

Reducing the Risks of NonstructuralEarthquake Damage, FEMA 74.International Building Code, 2006 Edition.Minimum Design Loads for Buildings andOther Structures, ASCE 7-05, AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers.Nonstructural Earthquake Hazards inCalifornia Schools, DSA, CSSC, OES, 2000.Installing Seismic Restraints for Mechanical,Electrical, and Duct and Pipe, FEMA 412,413, and 414, 2002, 2004.Seismic Considerations for Steel StorageRacks, FEMA 450, 2005.

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Figure 60 - Partitions and ceilings toppled onto officespaces during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Figure 61 - Adding braces to the top of free-standingpartitions can prevent them from toppling.

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OTHERCONCERNS


Building Contents

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Figure 63 - Protect electronic equipment from falling off desks with straps or othermounting devices.

Figure 62 - Secure storage units from toppling by connecting them to walls.Keep contents from falling off shelves with lips or guardrails.

HOW-TO

Every box you can check ahead of time is one less source of damage and expense after an earthquake.Review the “Earthquake Weaknesses” section of this booklet for additional weaknesses and concernsthat you may need to fix.

Desktop computer equipment is securelyfastened down so it can’t slide in anearthquake. (See Page 34)

Data backup copies are kept off-site.

Wall decorations, mirrors, hanging plants, fireextinguishers, and other heavy objects areattached with closed-eye hooks so they can’tfall.

Fragile objects (vases, display cases, andframed photographs, for example) areprotected against tipping over or sliding offshelves.

Tall filing and storage cabinets are attachedto the wall or, if they are installed in rows, therows are attached to each other so theycannot topple. (See Page 27)

Earthquake Checklist for Building Contents

File cabinet drawers have latches so theycannot open during earthquake shaking, andheavy boxes or equipment stored on top of thefiles are secured so they cannot slide off.

Office machines (computers, copiers, faxes,and printers, for example) and shop equipmentare secured so they cannot slide or roll acrossthe floor or fall off their stands. (See Page 34)

Storage racks and shelves are braced andbolted to the floors and walls, and theircontents are secured so they cannot slide off.(See Page 27)

Compressed gas cylinders are fastened with anylon strap, strong chains near the top andbottom, or a secure rack.

Containers of laboratory chemicals or otherhazardous materials are restrained so that theycan’t spill or slide off their shelves and break.(See Page 34)

Movable partitions are securely braced,especially if they support bookshelves orcontain breakable glass. (See Page 33)


The ProblemNatural gas piping and appliances can be damagedduring earthquakes, causing gas leaks.

If ignited, this can result in fires which can burn partof, or, the entire building.

About one in four fires after an earthquake is relatedto natural gas leaks.

Gas leaks after an earthquake are more likely if:

There are structural weaknesses

Gas appliances are not anchored

Flexible pipe connections are not used.

The primary concern is property loss from firedamage.

The potential for life loss is limited since mostcommercial properties have several safe exits.

How to IdentifyExamine all natural gas appliances (waterheaters, dryers, stoves, ovens, furnaces) to seeif they are anchored to the floor or walls, andhave flexible pipe connections.

Plan AheadLocate your gas meter outside your building.

Identify the exact location of the shutoff valve andmake sure that you have access to it.

Make sure you have a wrench that is readilyavailable to turn off the gas when needed.


NATURAL GAS SAFETY

Figure 64—Manual Shutoff Valve Location

Close-up view of Valve

Manual Gas ShutoffThe most cost-effective way to manage therisk from natural gas is to know how and whento manually shut off the gas.

Use the wrench to turn off the manual valvelocated at the gas meter (See Figure 64, page36).

Shut off your gas only if you:

Smell gas

Hear gas escaping

Suspect a broken gas pipe, appliance,vent, or flue.

Manually shutting off gas to commercial andmanufacturing buildings should be included inemergency response procedures for trainedmaintenance personnel.

RememberOnce the gas has been shutoff, service canbe restored only by utility personnel orqualified plumbers.

Restoration of gas service by qualifiedpersons should include the inspection andrepair of damaged systems.

High demands for qualified personnel after anearthquake can lead to substantial delays inrestoring natural gas service.


ResourcesSeismic Gas Shut-Off Valve Requirements in LosAngeles, City of Los Angeles, Department ofBuilding & Safety, Information Bulletin #P/PC 2002-001, April 30, 2003.

Improving Natural Gas Safety in Earthquakes,California Seismic Safety Commission, Publication#CSSC-02-03, July 2002.

Gas Shutoff Valve Certification Program, Divisionof the State Architect.

Automatic Gas Shutoff OptionsThere are a variety of automatic gas shut-off valvesavailable. These cost more than manual shutoffvalves and may provide additional safety but mayalso have some disadvantages including thepotential for delays in service restoration andshutoffs when hazardous conditions may not exist.

The types of valves available include:

Earthquake shake-actuated valves

Excess flow valves

Methane detectors

Hybrid systems

Others.

These can be installed on the “customer owned”side of the gas meter.

Consult your local Building Department because:

Some installations will require building permits.

Some local jurisdictions have adoptedordinances requiring automatic gas shutoffdevices at the time of sale or during significantrenovations.

Decide which strengthening project or projectsyou are going to do.

Get the necessary building permits first.

Have a licensed architect and engineerdraw up the necessary plans andspecifications.

Interview two or three architects andengineers.Ask for references or former clients.Talk to references or former clients.Compare experience, ideas, and fees.

Submit the plans for approval to your localbuilding department.Remember: the building codes aredesigned for your safety.

There are many publications that describestrengthening projects in detail.

Visit the California Seismic Safety Commission’swebsite at www.seismic.ca.gov, which providesmany useful links.

Get the documents that relate to your projectand read them.

This will help you to better understand whatthe architect or engineer is doing, and alsowhat the contractor is doing.

The International Existing Building Codecontains the best current guidelines. Ask yourlocal Building Department how to comply withthis Code.

Select your licensed contractor.

First make sure the contractor is properlylicensed.Interview at least two or three contractors.Ask your licensed architect or engineer forrecommendations.Ask for references or former clients.Talk to references or former clients.Compare experience, fees, and terms ofcontract.Get at least three written bids for theconstruction work.The lowest bid may not always be the bestbid.

Keep all plans, permits, and other records ofyour strengthening project.

Provide future buyers of your building withthese.

If your building qualifies as “historical,” you alsomay need to comply with the California HistoricalBuilding Code.

Contact your local Building Department forfurther help with this.

REMEMBERWhether you do it yourself, or hire a contractor,you need permits from your local BuildingDepartment.

It costs far less to correct earthquake weaknessesbefore an earthquake than to repair the damageafter an earthquake.

If your building is damaged in an earthquake, youwill probably also have other costs such aslodging, medical, etc.

GETTING THE WORK DONE

DON’T HESITATE – MITIGATE!


Plans, Permits, and Contractors

AFTER A DISASTER –Hire a Licensed Building Contractor!

The contents of this section have been adapted from “After a Disaster, Don’t Get Scammed” by theContractors State License Board.

After a Disaster...

DO NOT:

Rush into repairs, no matter how badly theyare needed.

Hire the first contractor who comes along.

Accept verbal promises.

DO:

Get proof that the person you are dealing withis a California licensed contractor appropriatefor the work to be done.

Get the contractor’s license number and verifythat it is current and valid.

Get a written contract that contains all thedetails of the job to be performed.

Get at least three bids.

Check references of other work the contractorhas done, if possible, in your area.

Develop a payment schedule with thecontractor.

Consider a completion bond on large projects.

Avoid Payment Pitfalls

By law, a down payment on a buildingimprovement contract cannot exceed:

10% of the contract price, or$1000

whichever is less!

Withhold at least 10% of the totalcontract price until the project iscomplete

Do not make final payment until:

The building department has signedoff on it,You are satisfied with the job, andTake a final walk-through to makesure work is complete and donecorrectly.

Useful publications from the Contractor’s StateLicense Board (www.cslb.ca.gov):

What You Should Know Before You Hirea Contractor - Provides information abouthiring and working with contractors.

Building Improvement Contracts:Putting the Pieces Together - Providesanswers about the legal requirements ofcontractors.


Contractors must be licensed for anyjob which costs $500 or more, including

materials and labor.

Geologic HazardsGEOLOGIC HAZARDSSellers of real estate in California are required todisclose to buyers certain information regardingnatural hazards that can affect the property beingsold. In addition to flood and fire hazardinformation, disclosure of seismic hazards is alsorequired. Earthquakes are common in Californiabecause of the many earthquake faults locatedthroughout the state.

This section:Describes briefly the basic geology-relatedhazards, andIntroduces the government mapping pro-grams that define which areas are suscep-tible to those hazards.

Ground Shaking:Ground shaking causes 99% of the earth-quake damage to California commercialproperties.Areas near large active faults are more likelyto be shaken severely than areas in the restof the state.

Landslide:Earthquakes can also trigger landslides.Earthquake shaking can cause the soil androck to slide off a slope, ripping apart com-mercial properties on the slope and/or crush-ing commercial properties downhill (SeeFigure 65).

Fault Rupture:An actual crack forms and the ground isoffset along the two sides of a fault during anearthquake (See Figure 66).A building built over an active fault can betorn apart if the ground ruptures beneath it.If the building is built over a “creeping” fault –one that moves slowly with no earthquakes ora series of very small earthquakes – thedamage may not be noticed for some time.


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Figure 65 - Landslide. San Simeon Earthquake,December 22, 2003 Landslides on San Gregorio Roadin Atascadero, California, only a short distance awayfrom where the commercial properties with the mostdamage were located.

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Figure 66 - Fault Rupture. Landers Earthquake ofJune 28, 1992, produced a surface rupture of over 50miles along faults in the Mojave Desert.

Lateral Spreading:Intense shaking during an earthquake cancause the soil to break into blocks which moveapart from each other. This can causedamage to all ground surfaces including thefoundation of a building (See Figure 67).

Liquefaction:During earthquakes, loose, wet sandy soilcan become almost like quicksand, and loseits ability to support structures. This cancause the foundation of a building to sink,break, or tilt (See Figure 68).

Tsunami:A tsunami is a series of large sea wavescaused by an underwater earthquake orlandslide.Coastal areas are prone to tsunami damage.Tsunami waves can come from a greatdistance and can cause flooding and damageproperties in low-lying areas along the shore.

Dam Failure:Earthquake damage to a dam can causesudden and devastating flooding of propertiesdownstream.During the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake,the Lower San Fernando Dam above the SanFernando Valley was damaged. Had it failed,it would have flooded the properties below,causing many deaths and injuries. (SeeFigure 69). Risk of an aftershock forcedresidents and businesses in an 11-squaremile area to evacuate for the next 3 days.California has some of the world’s beststandards for building and inspecting dams.

Recommendation:If you live in a low-lying coastal area or a daminundation zone, become familiar with evacu-ation routes to higher ground and be pre-pared to evacuate such areas immediatelyafter an earthquake.


Figure 67 - Lateral Spreading. Loma PrietaEarthquake, October 17, 1989. Lateral spreadingdamage levee road along the San Lorenzo River.

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Figure 68 - Liquefaction caused differential settlementunder this building and increased damage during theLoma Prieta Earthquake.

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Figure 69 - Lower San Fernando Dam that was badlydamaged by the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake.

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Earthquake Hazard MappingEnormous progress has been made inunderstanding how, why, and where earthquakesoccur. This has led to the creation of maps thathighlight areas having the highest likelihood ofdamaging earthquakes.

The following mapping programs have beendeveloped to help Californians lead safer lives inearthquake country.

National Seismic Zones

The U.S. is divided into four major zones, eachhaving a different likelihood of strong groundshaking. The earthquake hazard potential for theU.S., determined through a national program, hasbeen generalized into four seismic zones,numbered Zone 1 through Zone 4. Zone 1 has thelowest earthquake danger and Zone 4 has thehighest earthquake danger. Most of the denselypopulated parts of California are in Zone 4.(See Figure 7, page 7)

The National Seismic Zone map is published bythe International Code Council (ICC) in theCalifornia Building Code.

Earthquake Fault Zone Maps

These maps are also known as the Alquist-PrioloEarthquake Fault Zone Maps, named after theCalifornia legislators who initiated the legislationthat mandated these maps. The maps showregulatory zones around active earthquake faultsprone to surface ruptures. The zone is about onequarter mile wide with the fault at the center of it.

Seismic Hazard Zone Maps

These maps show areas where landslides andliquefaction are most likely to occur duringearthquakes.

Tsunami Inundation and Evacuation Route Maps

Maps for the Pacific Coast show areas where low-lying regions are exposed to tsunami inundation.These maps are in various stages of preparation andavailability. Generally if your property is less than 35feet above a shoreline, it may be vulnerable totsunami inundation.

Dam Inundation Maps

These maps show the areas below major dams thatmay be flooded in the event of their failure.

How are these Maps Used?

The zones defined by the maps are at greatestpotential risk when a major earthquake occurs. Thisis particularly the case when the earthquake occursduring or shortly after a heavy rainfall, which in-creases the likelihood of liquefaction and landslides.

California law requires that the information from theEarthquake Fault Zone and Seismic Hazard Zonemaps be incorporated into local general plans, andany land-use planning or permitting ordinances.Cities and counties must establish regulationsgoverning development within these zones.

Special geotechnical studies are required beforebuildings can be built in Earthquake Fault Zones orSeismic Hazard Zones.

Your local building or planning department can showyou the National Seismic Zone Map as well as theother maps if they are available for your community.These maps, if they are available, may also beaccessed at www.seismic.ca.gov/cog.htm


The Seller of real estate within a hazard zone must disclose that the property lieswithin such a zone at the time of sale.


1. IF YOU ARE INDOORS—STAY THERE! “DROP, COVER ANDHOLD ON.” Get under a sturdy desk or table and hang on to it, ormove into a hallway or get against an inside wall. Stay clear ofwindows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. Get out ofthe kitchen, which is a dangerous place in earthquakes since it’s fullof things that can fall on you. Don’t run downstairs or rush outsidewhile the building is shaking or while there is danger of falling andhurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris.

2. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE—GET INTO THE OPEN, away from build-ings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

3. IF YOU ARE DRIVING—STOP, but carefully. Move your car as farout of traffic as possible. Do not stop on or under a bridge or over-pass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. Stay insideyour car until the shaking stops. When you resume driving, watch forbreaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road.

4. IF YOU ARE ON OR NEAR A STEEP HILLSIDE—WATCH OUTFOR LANDSLIDES, falling rock, trees, and other debris that couldbe loosened by earthquakes.

If You Feel a Strong Earthquake or Receive aTsunami Warning When You are on the Coast

1. DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON. Watch for falling objects until theshaking is over.

2. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND or inland away from the coast imme-diately. A tsunami may be coming. Go on foot if possible. The firstwaves may reach the coast within minutes after the ground shakingstops. The first wave is almost never the largest. Later waves maybe spaced tens of minutes apart and can continue arriving for manyhours.

3. THERE MAY BE NO TIME FOR AUTHORITIES TO ISSUE AWARNING. If you do not hear an evacuation announcement butnotice a sudden drop or rise in water level or hear a loud noisecoming from the water, nature may be warning you of impendingdanger.

4. STAY AWAY FROM THE COAST. Do not return to the shore afterthe first wave. Waves may continue to arrive for hours.

5. LISTEN TO A RADIO FOR AN “ALL CLEAR” before returning to theshore.

WHAT TO DO DURING ANEARTHQUAKE

COVER!

HOLD ON!

DROP!

Be sure you have these basic supplies on hand:

Fire extinguisherAdequate supplies of medications that you or your building’soccupants are takingCrescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water suppliesFirst-aid kit and handbookFlashlights with extra bulbs and fresh batteriesPortable battery-powered radio or television and extra freshbatteriesWater for each building occupant for at least three days (allow atleast one gallon per person per day) and purification tablets orchlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sourcesCanned and packaged foods, enough for three days, and atleast an additional four-day supply readily accessible for use ifyou are confined to your building. Don’t forget a mechanical canopener.Camp stove or barbecue to cook on outdoors (store fuel out ofthe reach of children)Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for waste disposalCopies of personal identification, such as driver’s licenses,passports, and work identification badges, and copies of medi-cal prescriptions and credit cardsAn extra set of car keys and building keysMatches in waterproof containerMap of the area marked with places you could go and theirtelephone numbersCash, account numbers, critical business records, copies ofdeeds, insurance policies, and a list of your financial institutionsSpecial items, such as denture needs, contact lenses andsupplies, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteriesItems for seniors, disabled persons, or anyone with seriousallergies

What to Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake

The information contained in this section does not represent weaknesses in the earthquake resistance ofcommercial properties. It is valuable information to keep in mind to reduce risks to yourself, yourbuilding’s occupants, and your building. These lists are only highlights of the actions you should take.

Gather EmergencySupplies

How-To’sWHAT TO DO BEFORE ANEARTHQUAKE


Plan Ahead1. Create a building disaster plan; practice and maintain the plan.2. Make and complete a checklist.3. Plan escape routes from your building..4. Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills at least twice a

year and include your pets in your evacuation and shelteringdrills.

5. Test your smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries atleast once a year in battery-powered smoke alarms (on daylightsavings time days or on birthdays) .

6. Make sure each occupant of your building knows what to do nomatter where they are when earthquakes occur.

Establish two meeting places where you can all reunite after-ward: one right outside your commercial property, in case ofa sudden emergency, and one outside your neighborhood incase you cannot return to your building or are asked to leavethe area.Find out about the earthquake plan developed by yourchildren’s school or day care.Remember that since transportation may be disrupted, youmay have to stay at your workplace for a day or two followinga major earthquake. Keep some emergency supplies—food,liquids, and comfortable shoes, for example—at work.Pick two out-of-town contacts:

A friend or relative who will be your primary contact,A friend or relative who will be your alternative contact.

7. Know where your gas, electric, and water main shutoffs are andhow to turn them off if there is a leak or electrical short; if indoubt, ask your utility companies. Make sure that all the adultbuilding occupants can shut off the utilities.

8. Locate your nearest fire and police stations and emergencymedical facility. Remember that telephones may not work afteran earthquake. If you can, use your land line rather than yourcell phone to call 911, but only if you need emergency help.

9. Talk to your neighbors—how could they help you, or you helpthem, after an earthquake?

10. Take a Red Cross first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) training course.

11. If your commercial property is located near a steep hillside, in anarea near the shore of a body of water or below a dam, checkwith your local building or planning department to see if you arein a landslide, tsunami or dam inundation zone. Plan for how,when, and where your building’s occupants should evacuate.

12. Create a Financial Disaster Recovery Kit: Gather copies of youressential financial documents, backup critical computer filesregularly, and store them in a fire-proof deposit box or safe.



1. If a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound. Useclean gauze or cloth, if available.

2. If a person is not breathing, administer rescue breathing. Thefront pages of many telephone books contain instructions onhow to do it along with detailed instructions on other first-aidmeasures.

3. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless theyare in immediate danger of further injury.

4. Cover injured persons with blankets to keep them warm.5. Seek medical help for serious injuries.

1. Fire or fire hazards. Put out fires in your building orneighborhood immediately. Call for help, but don’t wait for thefire department.

2. Gas leaks. Shut off the main gas valve only if you suspect aleak because of broken pipes or the odor of natural gas. Don’tturn it back on yourself—wait for the gas company to check forleaks.

3. Damaged electrical wiring. Shut off power at the control box ifthere is any damage to your building wiring.

4. Downed or damaged utility lines. Do not touch downed powerlines or any objects in contact with them.

5. Spills. Clean up any spilled medicines, drugs, or other potentiallyharmful materials such as bleach, lye, and gasoline or otherhazardous materials.

6. Downed or damaged chimneys. Approach chimneys withcaution. They may be weakened and could topple duringaftershocks. Don’t use a fireplace with a damaged chimney—itcould start a fire or let poisonous gases into your building.

7. Fallen items. Beware of items tumbling off shelves when youopen the doors of storage units.

WHAT TO DO AFTER ANEARTHQUAKE

Check for Injuries

Check for Hazards

Wear sturdy shoes to avoid injury from broken glass and debris.Expect aftershocks.


Note: The information in thesesections is reproduced inwhole or in part with thepermission of the copyrightowner, SBC. The SurvivalGuide is available in the WhitePages of SBC Directories ©SBC 2004. This informationwas provided by medical andemergency service authoritiesand published as a publicservice. While everyreasonable effort was made toensure its accuracy, SBC is notresponsible and assumes noliability for any actionundertaken by any person inutilizing such information. Anyperson relying upon suchinformation does so at his orher own risk.

Do not eat or drink anything from open containers nearshattered glass.Do not turn the gas on again if you turned it off; let the gascompany do it.Do not use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues,electrical equipment—including telephones—or appliancesuntil you are sure there are no gas leaks. They may createsparks that could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosionand fire.Do not use your telephone, except for a medical or fireemergency. You could tie up lines needed for emergencyresponse.If you need help and the phone doesn’t work, send some-one for help.Do not expect firefighters, police, or paramedics to help youright away. They may not be available.

Do Not . . .

1. If power is off, plan meals to use up foods that will spoil quickly, orfrozen foods. If you keep the door closed, food in your freezershould be good for at least a couple of days.

2. Don’t light your kitchen stove if you suspect a gas leak.3. Use barbecues or camp stoves, outdoors only, for emergency

cooking.4. If your water is off, you can drink supplies from water heaters,

melted ice cubes.

Check Your Food andWater Supplies

Resource Organizations

Some of the organizations listed below have information to help you strengthen your building againstearthquakes and help you and your building’s occupants prepare a personal earthquake response plan.Other resources that can help you may be available in your community; check your local telephonedirectory.

Building Safety InformationOffice of Emergency ServicesMain OfficeInformation and Public AffairsP.O. Box 419047Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9047Telephone: (916) 845-8400http://www.oes.ca.gov

Regional Offices:Coastal Region1300 Clay Street, Suite 408Oakland, CA 94612Telephone: (510) 286-0895Inland RegionP.O. Box 419047Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9047Telephone: (916) 845-8470Inland Region South2550 Mariposa Mall, Room 181Fresno, CA 93721Telephone: (559) 445-5672Southern Region4671 Liberty AvenueLos Alamitos, CA 90720Telephone: (562) 795-2900

California Seismic Safety Commission1755 Creekside Oaks Drive, Ste. 100Sacramento, CA 95833Telephone: (916) 263-5506www.seismic.ca.gov

Structural Safety Information

American Institute of ArchitectsLocal chapters have referral lists of licensedarchitects; consult telephone directory listing for“American Institute of Architects.”http://www.aia.org

Structural Engineers Association ofCalifornia1730 I Street, Suite 240,Sacramento, CA 95814-3017Telephone: (916) 447-1198http://www.seaoc.orgLocal chapter organizations have referral list forlicensed structural engineers as follows:San Diego - http://www.seaosd.orgSouthern California - http://www.seaosc.orgNorthern California - http://www.seaonc.orgCentral California - http://www.seaocc.org

Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyorsof California1303 J Street, Suite 450Sacramento, CA 95814Telephone: (916) 441-7991http://www.celsoc.org/A referral list for licensed engineers is available.

International Code Council5360 Workman Mill RoadWhittier, CA 90601-2298Telephone: (800) 284-4406http://www.iccsafe.org

Geologic HazardsRESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS


Geologic InformationAssociation of Bay Area GovernmentsP.O. Box 2050Oakland, CA 94604Telephone: (510) 464-7900http://www.abag.ca.govA consortium of local governments in the SanFrancisco Bay Area, offering a variety ofinformation, including lists of local resources.

California Geological SurveyCalifornia Department of Conservation801 K Street, MS 12-30Sacramento, CA 95814Telephone: (916) 445-1825http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgsThe CGS is the state agency responsible forgeological research, mapping, and policy. Itprovides maps and other information to thegeneral public.

Southern California Earthquake CenterUniversity of Southern California3651 Toursdale Parkway, Suite 169Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742Telephone: (213) 740-5843http://www.scec.org

United States Geological SurveyEarth Science Information Center345 Middlefield RoadMenlo Park, CA 94025Telephone: (650) 853-8300http://www.usgs.govThis is the federal agency responsible forgeological and earthquake hazard research,mapping, and policy. It provides maps and otherinformation to the general public.

Cities and CountiesConsult your telephone directory under city orcounty government listings for the office ofemergency services or disaster management,city or county building and planningdepartment, and city or county governmentgeologist.

Emergency Planning InformationFederal Emergency Management AgencyRegion IX1111 Broadway, Suite 1200Oakland, CA 94607Telephone: (510) 627-7100http://www.fema.govFEMA offers a publications lists and referrals topreparedness organizations. FEMA also providesinformation on Federal Disaster Aid Programs thatbecome available after Federal disasters.

American Red CrossConsult your telephone directory for the addressand phone number of your local chapter.http://www.redcross.org



How to Fill out the Disclosure Form

When you sell a building that has either:

precast (tiltup) concrete or reinforced masonry walls with wood-framefloors or roofs, built before 1975 or

unreinforced masonry , or

non-ductile concrete, or

a soft or weak story or open front, or

a steel frame built before 1995;

You are encouraged to fill out the form shown on the next page.

Sellers should hand buyers a completed disclosure report.Sellers should answer the questions to the best of their knowledge.If a question on the form describes only part of your building—for example if part of your buildingis anchored to the foundation and the other part is not—sellers should answer the question witha “NO” because a portion of the building is not properly anchored.Sellers are not required to remove siding, drywall, or plaster in order to answer the questions.Sellers are not required to hire anyone to inspect their commercial properties.Sellers are not required to fix the weaknesses before they sell their commercial properties.

REPORT

The Seismic Safety Commission believes that owners have a duty to warn of,& correct seismic hazards:

“Private-sector owners and operators of buildings of types that havehistorically proven hazardous in earthquakes should seek the advice ofboth a Structural Engineer and legal counsel on satisfying their duty toinform forseeable victims of any hazard posed by such buildings.”(The Right to Know: Disclosure of Seismic Hazards in Buildings, CSSC 92-03, 1992)

Commercial Property Earthquake Disclosure Report (2006 Edition)

NAME ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO.

STREET ADDRESS YEAR BUILT

CITY AND COUNTY ZIP CODE

Answer these questions to the best of your knowledge. If you do not have actual knowledge as to whether the weakness exists or not,answer “Don’t Know.” If you know that a weakness exists or has been corrected or that the building has been seismically retrofitted,explain on a separate sheet. If your property does not have the feature described in the question, answer “Doesn’t Apply.” Thepagenumbers in the right-hand column indicate where in this guide you can find information on each of these features.

If any of the questions are answered “No,” the building may be likely to suffer severe damage during earthquakes. Questions answered“Don’t Know” may indicate a need for further evaluations. If you corrected one or more of these weaknesses, describe the work on aseparate page.

As seller of the property described herein, I have answered the questions above to the best of my knowledge in an effort to disclose fullyany potential earthquake weaknesses it may have. Other earthquake concerns may be present but are not disclosed.EXECUTED BY

_____________________________ ______________________________ _________(Seller) (Seller) Date

I acknowledge receipt of this form, completed and signed by the seller. I understand that if the seller has answered “No” to one or morequestions, or if seller has indicated a lack of knowledge, there may be one or more earthquake weaknesses in this property.

_____________________________ ______________________________ _________(Buyer) (Buyer) Date

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e1. Is the water heater braced, strapped, or anchored to resist falling during an earthquake?

2. If the building has precast (tiltup) concrete or reinforced masonrywalls with wood-frame floorsor roof, are the exterior walls adequately anchored to the floors and the roof in accordancewith local building codes?

3. If the exterior walls, or part of them, are made of unreinforced masonry, have they beenstrengthened in accordance with the California Building Standards Code?

4. If the building is located in Seismic Zone 4 and has unreinforced masonry bearing walls thathave not been retrofitted, has it been posted as potentially unsafe?

5. If the building has concrete columns, were they adequately reinforced to resist earthquakes orhave they been strengthened?

6. If the building has a steel frame built before 1995, has it been inspected for fractures in weldsin or near steel connections?

7. If your building is commercial or has five or more residential units, does it have a soft or weakstory or open front?

8. Does the building have well-anchored exterior cladding with no unusual or irregular buildingfeatures?

9. Is the building outside an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone (an area prone to fault ruptureimmediately surrounding active earthquake faults)?

10.Is the building outside a Seismic Hazard Zone (zone identified as susceptible to liquefactionor landsliding)?

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Doesn’t Don’t See Yes No Apply Know Page

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SAMPLE FORM

for Santa Clara County


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