Seismic Reliability Assessment of Critical Facilities: A Handbook, Supporting Documentation, and Model Code Provisions

Keywords: Rapid visual assessment. Critical facilities. Damage assessment. Non-structural components. Equipment failures. Mechanical systems. Electrical systems. Facility performance. Risk management. Checklists.

Abstract: This report summarizes a multi-year research effort to develop a detailed methodology to assess and improve the functional reliability of equipment systems in critical facilities following earthquakes. The emphasis was on performing a rapid assessment by regular facility staff and consists of four major steps: systems definition, evaluation of individual components, systems evaluation, and risk management. The program is intended for use by engineers, building officials, owners, and others interested in assessing and improving the capability of a facility to maintain its structural integrity. This report is divided into three parts. Part A is handbook, written as an instruction for users. Part B contains supporting documentation and the technical rationale for the approach. In addition Part B contains two tables correlating specific components with damage for the Northridge earthquake and world-wide earthquakes from 1987-1991. Part C provides an example set of model code provisions using this approach. It is intended to demonstrate how the approach can be incorporated into a format that can be used by designers or to evaluate existing facilities.