ASTM_E_2026_-_07.pdf

Designation:E202607An American National StandardStandard Guide forSeismic Risk Assessment of Buildings1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2026;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONLenders,insurers,and equity owners in real estate are giving more intense scrutiny to earthquakerisk than ever before.The 1989 Loma Prieta,California earthquake,which caused more than$6 billionin damage,accelerated the trend toward considering loss estimation in real estate transactions.The1994 Northridge,California earthquake,with over$20 billion in damage,made seismic riskassessment an integral part of real estate financial decision-making for regions at risk of damagingearthquakes.Users of Seismic Risk Assessment reports need specific and consistent measures forassessing the possibility of future loss due to earthquake occurrences.This guide discusses specificapproaches that the real estate and technical communities can consider a basis for characterizing theseismic risk assessment of buildings in an earthquake.It uses two concepts to characterize earthquakeloss:probable loss(PL)and scenario loss(SL).Use of the term probable maximum loss(PML)isacceptable,provided it is specifically and adequately defined by the User.1.Scope1.1 This guide provides guidance on conducting seismicrisk assessments for buildings.As such,this guide assists aUser to assess a propertys potential for losses from earthquakeoccurrences.1.1.1 Hazards addressed in this guide include earthquakeground shaking,earthquake-caused site instability,includingfault rupture,landslides and soil liquefaction,lateral spreadingand settlement,and earthquake-caused off-site response im-pacting the property,including flooding from dam or dikefailure,tsunamis and seiches.1.1.2 This guide does not address the following:1.1.2.1 Earthquake-caused fires and toxic materials releases.1.1.2.2 Federal,state,or local laws and regulations ofbuilding construction or maintenance.Users are cautioned thatcurrent federal,state,and local laws and regulations may differfrom those in effect at the time of the original construction ofthe building(s).1.1.2.3 Preservation of life safety.1.1.2.4 Prevention of building damage.1.1.2.5 Contractual and legal obligations between prior andsubsequent Users of Seismic Risk Assessment reports orbetween Providers who prepared the report and those whowould like to use such prior reports.1.1.2.6 Contractual and legal obligations between a Pro-vider and a User,and other parties,if any.1.1.3 It is the responsibility of the User of this guide toestablish appropriate life safety and damage prevention prac-tices and determine the applicability of current regulatorylimitations prior to use.1.2 The objectives of this guide are:1.2.1 To synthesize and document guidelines for seismicrisk assessment of buildings from earthquakes;1.2.2 To encourage standardized seismic risk assessment;1.2.3 To establish guidelines for field observations of thesite and physical conditions,and the document review andresearch considered appropriate,practical,sufficient,and rea-sonable for seismic risk assessment;1.2.4 To establish guidelines on what reasonably can beexpected of and delivered by a Provider in conducting theseismic risk assessment of buildings;1.2.5 To establish guidelines on appropriate field observa-tions and analysis for conducting a seismic risk assessment;and1.2.6 To establish guidelines by which a Provider cancommunicate to the User observations,opinions,and conclu-sions in a manner that is meaningful and not misleading eitherby content or by omission.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performanceof Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.25 on WholeBuildings and Facilities.Current edition approved May 1,2007.Published May 2007.Originallyapproved in 1999.Last previous edition approved in 1999 as E2026 99.DOI:10.1520/E2026-07.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E631 Terminology of Building Constructions2.2 Other ReferencesThe following resource documentsprovide technical guidance for the seismic evaluation andretrofit of existing buildings:ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and OtherStructures,American Society of Civil Engineers3ASCE 31 Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings,Ameri-can Society of Civil Engineers3ASCE 41 Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings,American Society of Civil Engineers33.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 See Terminology E631.3.1.2 Fordefinitionoftermsrelatedtobuildingconstruction,ASCE 31(1)4and ASCE 41(2)provide addi-tional resources for understanding terminology and languagerelated to se