The purpose of this chapter is to promote public safety and welfare by reducing the risk of death or injury that may result from the effects of earthquakes on unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings. Such buildings have been widely recognized for sustaining life-hazardous damage, including partial or complete collapse during moderate to strong earthquakes.
The provisions of this chapter are intended as minimum standards for structural seismic resistance established primarily to reduce the risk of life loss or injury. Compliance with these standards will not necessarily prevent loss of life or injury or prevent earthquake damage to rehabilitated buildings. This chapter does not require alteration of existing electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire safety systems unless they constitute a hazard to life or property.
This chapter provides systematic procedures and standards for identification and classification of unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings based on their present use. Priorities, time periods and standards are also established under which these buildings are also established under which these buildings are required to be structurally analyzed and anchored. Where the analysis finds deficiencies, this chapter requires the building to be strengthened to minimum levels required for compliance or to be demolished.
Qualified Historical Buildings shall comply with the State Historical Building Code (SHBC) established under Part 8, Title 24 of the California Administrative Code. (Ord. 5076 § 1 (part); November 14, 1989.)