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91.9310.1. General. For existing and new construction, the plans and specifications shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature, design methodology, and extent of the proposed work and to show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this division and the Los Angeles Building Code.
1. I am responsible for designing this building's seismic strengthening in compliance with the minimum standards of the Mandatory Earthquake Hazard Reduction In Existing Wood-Frame Buildings with Soft, Weak or Open-Front Walls (Ordinance No. ________)."
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to maintain, use or occupy any building within the scope of this division that fails to meet the minimum earthquake standards specified in this division after receiving an order described in Section 91.9306.
Any person who violates or causes or permits another person to violate this division is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to prosecution and/or administrative enforcement under the Los Angeles Municipal Code. For purposes of this paragraph, "any person" includes an owner, lessor, sublessor, manager or person in control of a building subject to this division. This term shall not include any person who is merely a tenant or other individual occupying any dwelling unit, efficiency dwelling unit, guest room or suite in a building. The legal owner of a building is that person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity whose name or title appears on the record with the Office of the County Recorder, as well as all successors or assignees of these persons.
EXCEPTION: This section shall not apply to any building on which work is proceeding in compliance with the time limits set forth in this division, or in compliance with any extensions of time granted by the Department or the Board; or any action, order or determination made by the Department or the Board in the implementation of this division.
If any subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason of any preemptive legislation, such decision or legislation shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this section, and each and every subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
(Amended by Ord. No. 172,592, Eff. 6/28/99, Oper. 7/1/99.)
The purpose of this division is to promote public safety and welfare by reducing the risk of death or injury that may result from the effects of earthquakes on existing hillside buildings constructed on or into slopes in excess of one unit vertical in three units horizontal (33.3% slope). Such buildings have been recognized as life hazardous as a result of partial or complete collapse that occurred during the Northridge Earthquake.
The provisions of this division are minimum standards for structural systems established primarily to reduce the risk of loss of life or injury resulting from earthquakes and will not necessarily prevent loss of life or injury or prevent earthquake damage to an existing building which complies with these standards.
This division provides voluntary retrofit standards under which buildings shall be permitted to be structurally analyzed and retrofitted. When fully followed, these standards will strengthen the portion of the structure that is most vulnerable to earthquake damage.
(Added by Ord. No. 171,258, Eff. 8/30/96.)
The provisions of this division may be applied to all existing hillside buildings designed under building codes effective prior to June 19, 1995. If only a portion of the building is supported on or into the slope, these regulations may be applied to the entire building.
Seismic retrofit work as described in this division may be applied to the portion of the structure defined as the base-level-diaphragm and below. Non-habitable accessory buildings, decks not supporting the main building, and existing conditions above the base-level-diaphragm are exempt from these regulations.
Seismic strengthening constructed prior to the effective date of the ordinance may be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of this division.
(Amended by Ord. No. 182,850, Eff. 1/3/14.)
For the purpose of this division, in addition to the applicable definitions, symbols and notations in this Code, certain additional terms are defined as follows:
BASE (BASE LEVEL) is the level at which the earthquake motions are considered to be imparted to the structure or the level at which the structure as a dynamic vibrator is supported.
BASE-LEVEL-DIAPHRAGM is the floor at, or closest to, the top of the highest level of the foundation.
DIAPHRAGM ANCHORS are assemblies that connect a diaphragm to the adjacent foundation at the uphill diaphragm edge.
DIAPHRAGM BACKSPAN is the horizontal cantilevered distance parallel to the direction of the lateral force, between the outermost vertical lateral force resisting elements and the edge of the diaphragm.
DOWNHILL-DIRECTION. The descending direction of the slope approximately perpendicular to the slope approximately perpendicular to the slope contours. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.)
FOUNDATION is the concrete or masonry which supports a building, including footings, stem walls, retaining walls, and grade beams.
FOUNDATION EXTENDING IN THE DOWNHILL-DIRECTION. A foundation running downhill and approximately perpendicular to the uphill foundation. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.)
FOUNDATION, UPHILL is a foundation parallel and closest to the uphill diaphragm edge, as defined herein.
HILLSIDE BUILDING. Any building or portion thereof constructed on or into a slope steeper than one-unit vertical in three-units horizontal (33.3% slope). If only a portion of the building is supported on or into the slope, these regulations apply to the entire building. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.)
PRIMARY ANCHORS are diaphragm anchors designed for and providing direct connection as described in LAMC Subsections 91.9406.2 and 91.9406.3 between the diaphragm and the uphill foundation. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
RETROFIT is an improvement of the lateral force resisting system of the structure by an alteration of existing or addition of new structural elements.
SECONDARY ANCHORS are diaphragm anchors designed for and providing a redundant diaphragm to foundation connection, as described in LAMC Subsection 91.9406.4. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
UPHILL DIAPHRAGM EDGE is the edge of the diaphragm adjacent to or closest to the highest ground level at the perimeter of the diaphragm.
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