SECTION 506E – ENGINEERING CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION AND RETROFIT.

506E.1 General. This Chapter requires that evaluation and/or retrofit of buildings within its scope be undertaken using the engineering criteria established in this section.

506E.2 Engineering Criteria. A proposed seismic evaluation and/or retrofit plan shall demonstrate that the building satisfies one of the following:

   1.   FEMA P-807. Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Multi-Unit Wood-Frame Buildings With Weak First Stories, as detailed in an Administrative Bulletin to be prepared pursuant to 506E.3 of this ordinance, with the performance objective of 50 percent maximum probability of exceedance of Onset of Strength Loss drift limits with a spectral demand equal to 0.50 SMS, or

   2.   ASCE 41-13. Seismic Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings, with the performance objective of Structural Life Safety in the BSE-1E earthquake, or

   3.   ASCE 41-06. Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings, with the performance objective of Structural Life Safety in the BSE-1 earthquake with earthquake loads multiplied by 75 percent, or

   4.   for evaluation only, ASCE 31-03, Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings. With the performance level of Life Safety, or

   5.   for retrofit only, 2012 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) Appendix A-4, or

   6.   any other rational design basis deemed acceptable by the Department that meets or exceeds the intent of this Chapter.

506E.3 Alternative Retrofit Criteria. A proposed seismic retrofit plan which fails to meet the criteria of 506E.2(1) or 506E.2(5) shall be deemed to comply with this Chapter if with the approval of the Department, it satisfies the intent of FEMA P-807, Section 6.4.2 with a maximum acceptable Onset of Strength Loss drifts limit probability of exceedance of 70 percent.

   Exception: Alternative retrofit criteria shall not apply to buildings in which the critical stories, basements or underfloor areas contain other than parking, storage, or utility uses or occupancies.

506E.4 Administrative Bulletin for Technical Requirements. The Department shall develop and publish one or more Administrative Bulletins that detail the technical requirements to be used for the evaluation and retrofitting of buildings required to meet the criteria established in Section 506E.2.

506E.5 Conformance Period. Any building retrofitted in compliance with this Chapter and properly maintained shall not, within a period of 15 years after the operative date of this Chapter, be identified as a seismic hazard pursuant to any local building standards adopted after the date of the building seismic retrofit unless the building incurred disproportionate damage, or otherwise has been damaged or altered so that it no longer meets the engineering criteria under which it was retrofitted.

506E.6 Compliance with this Chapter does not supersede the requirements for compliance with Section 501E when otherwise under Chapter 5 of this Code. A permit issued solely for compliance with the provisions of this Chapter shall not be considered a “substantial change” or “substantial structural alteration” as defined in Chapter 5 of this code and compliance with Section 303.4 of this code will not be requirement by such work.

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