2003 Edition: Program On Improved Seismic Safety Provisions
2003 Edition: Program On Improved Seismic Safety Provisions
2003 Edition: Program On Improved Seismic Safety Provisions
2003 Edition
The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) was established in 1979 under the auspices of the National
Institute of Building Sciences as an entirely new type of instrument for dealing with the complex
regulatory, technical, social, and economic issues involved in developing and promulgating building
earthquake hazard mitigation regulatory provisions that are national in scope. By bringing together in the
BSSC all of the needed expertise and all relevant public and private interests, it was believed that issues
related to the seismic safety of the built environment could be resolved and jurisdictional problems
overcome through authoritative guidance and assistance backed by a broad consensus.
The BSSC is an independent, voluntary membership body representing a wide variety of building
community interests. Its fundamental purpose is to enhance public safety by providing a national forum
that fosters improved seismic safety provisions for use by the building community in the planning, design,
construction, regulation, and utilization of buildings.
See the back of the Commentary volume for a full description of BSSC activities.
Charles Thornton, Chairman/Principal, Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc., New York, New York
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Charles Carter, Chief Structural Engineer, American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago,
Illinois
Ex-Officio
Members
BSSC STAFF
Prepared by the
Building Seismic Safety Council
for the
Federal Emergency Management Agency
NOTICE: Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, neither
FEMA nor any of its employees make any warranty, expressed or implied, nor assume any legal liability
or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process
included in this publication.
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PREFACE
One of the goals of the Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is to encourage design and
building practices that address the earthquake hazard and minimize the resulting risk of damage and
injury. Publication of the 2003 edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulation
of New Buildings and Other Structures and its Commentary is a fitting end to the 25th year of the NEHRP
and reaffirms FEMAs ongoing support to improve the seismic safety of construction in this country. Its
publication marks the sixth edition in an ongoing series of updating of both the NEHRP Recommended
Provisions and several complementary publications. FEMA was proud to sponsor the Building Seismic
Safety Council for this project and we encourage the widespread dissemination and voluntary use of this
state-of-the-art consensus resource document.
The 2003 edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions contains several significant changes,
including: a reformatting to improve its usability; introduction of a simplified design procedure, an
updating of the seismic design maps and how they are presented; a modification in the redundancy factor;
the addition of ultimate strength design provisions for foundations; the addition of several new structural
systems, including buckling restrained braced frames and steel plate shear walls; structures with damping
systems has been moved from an appendix to a new chapter; and inclusion of new or updated material
industry reference standards for steel, concrete, masonry, and wood.
The above changes are but a few of the 138 ballots submitted to the BSSC member organizations. The
number of changes continues to be significant and is a testament to the level of attention being paid to this
publication. This is due in large part to the role that the NEHRP Recommended Provisions has in the
seismic requirements in the ASCE-7 Standard Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
as well as both the International Building Code and NFPA 5000 Code. FEMA welcomes this increased
scrutiny and the chance to work with these code organizations.
Looking ahead, FEMA is contracting with BSSC for the update process that will lead to the 2008 edition
of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions. As is evidenced by the proposed date, this next update cycle
will be expanded to a five-year effort to conclude in time to input into the next update of the ASCE-7
standard. This update will include referencing of the ASCE-7 standard to avoid duplication of effort and
a significant update and revision to the Commentary along with the normal update of current material and
the inclusion of new, state-of-the-art seismic design research results.
Finally, FEMA wishes to express its deepest gratitude for the significant efforts of the over 200 volunteer
experts as well as the BSSC Board of Directors and staff who made possible the 2003 NEHRP Provisions
documents. It is truly their efforts that make these publications a reality. Americans unfortunate enough
to experience the earthquakes that will inevitably occur in this country will owe much, perhaps even their
very lives, to the contributions and dedication of these individuals to the seismic safety of new buildings.
Without the dedication and hard work of these men and women, this document and all it represents with
respect to earthquake risk mitigation would not have been possible.
Department of Homeland Security/
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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resistance of the nations buildings. These seismic design professionals are identified in Appendix B of
the Provisions volume with list of BSSC Board members and member organizations.
I would like to acknowledge a few individuals and groups who deserve special thanks for their
contributions to this effort. As Chairman of the BSSC Board of Direction, it is my pleasure to express
heartfelt appreciation to the members of the BSSC Provisions Update Committee, especially Chairman
Ronald Hamburger, and to Michael Mahoney, the FEMA Project Officer. Special thanks also are due to
the BSSC staff who work untiringly behind the scenes to support all the groups mentioned above and
who bring the finished product forward for acceptance. Finally, I wish to thank the members of the BSSC
Board of Direction who recognize the importance of this effort and provided sage advice throughout the
update cycle. We are all proud of the 2003 NEHRP Recommended Provisions and it is my pleasure to
introduce them.
Charles Thornton
Chairman, BSSC Board of Direction 2001-2003
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS................................................................................. 1
1.1 GENERAL................................................................................................................. 1
1.1.1 Purpose.......................................................................................................... 1
1.1.2 Scope and application ................................................................................... 1
1.1.3 References..................................................................................................... 2
1.1.4 Definitions .................................................................................................... 3
1.1.5 Notation ........................................................................................................ 3
1.2 SEISMIC USE GROUPS .......................................................................................... 4
1.2.1 Seismic Use Group III .................................................................................. 4
1.2.2 Seismic Use Group II.................................................................................... 4
1.2.3 Seismic Use Group I ..................................................................................... 4
1.2.4 Multiple use .................................................................................................. 4
1.2.5 Seismic Use Group III structure access protection ....................................... 5
1.3 OCCUPANCY IMPORTANCE FACTOR ............................................................... 5
1.4 SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORY ............................................................................. 5
1.4.1 Determination of Seismic Design Category.................................................. 5
1.4.2 Site limitation for Seismic Design Categories E and F................................. 6
1.5 SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORY A ......................................................................... 6
1.5.1 Lateral forces ............................................................................................... 6
1.5.2 Connections .................................................................................................. 7
1.5.3 Anchorage of concrete or masonry walls...................................................... 7
1.5.4 Tanks assigned to Seismic Use Group III..................................................... 7
Chapter 2 QUALITY ASSURANCE ................................................................................. 9
2.1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................ 9
2.1.1 Scope............................................................................................................. 9
2.1.2 References..................................................................................................... 9
2.1.3 Definitions .................................................................................................... 9
2.1.4 Notation ...................................................................................................... 11
2.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS............................................................................... 11
2.2.1 Details of quality assurance plan ................................................................ 11
2.2.2 Contractor responsibility............................................................................. 12
2.3 SPECIAL INSPECTION......................................................................................... 12
2.3.1 Piers, piles, and caissons............................................................................. 12
2.3.2 Reinforcing steel ......................................................................................... 12
2.3.3 Structural concrete ...................................................................................... 12
2.3.4 Prestressed concrete .................................................................................... 12
2.3.5 Structural masonry ...................................................................................... 12
2.3.6 Structural steel ............................................................................................ 12
2.3.7 Structural wood........................................................................................... 13
2.3.8 Cold-formed steel ....................................................................................... 13
2.3.9 Architectural components ........................................................................... 13
2.3.10 Mechanical and electrical components ..................................................... 13
2.3.11 Seismic isolation systems ......................................................................... 14
2.4 TESTING ................................................................................................................ 14
2.4.1 Reinforcing and prestressing steel .............................................................. 14
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