Seismic code
Seismic codes are building codes designed to protect property and life in buildings in case of earthquakes.
Origin
While modern seismic code is heavily influenced by earthquakes in California and ensuing California legislation, the origins of seismic code go back to the 1700s in Portugal.
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake resulted in prescriptive rules for building certain kinds of buildings common in the area. Events in Messina, Italy (1911), and Kanto (Tokyo) Japan (19023) led to guidelines for engineers to design buildings for horizontal forces of about 10% of the weight of the building.
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake produced little or no code development, but the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake convinced a critical mass of those in power in California of the need for seismic requirements. Two years later in 1927 the first seismic regulations appeared as a voluntary appendix in the 1927 Uniform Building Code.
Then the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, and careful analysis of structural failures by architect Louis John Gill formed much of the California seismic legislation: (Field Act for schools and Riley Act for all buildings),[1]which are now used on many other places on the planet.[2]
Seismic code has been under constant evolution since 1927, with changes often instigated by earthquakes in California.
Around the world
Mexico
The first MCBC was issued in 1942; since 1966, it contains a complete set of regulations for structural design. In 1976, the code adopted a coherent format for all materials and structural systems, based on limit states design philosophy. In February 2004 a new set of seismic codes was issued.[3]
United States
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In the United States the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publishes "Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures".[4]
References
- ^ PEER (Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley) Tall Buildings Initiative—Task 2 Workshop April 18, 2007
- ^ Rev. C. Douglas Kroll, Journal of San Diego History, "LOUIS JOHN GILL: Famous but Forgotten Architect", San Diego Historical Society Quarterly, Summer 1984, Volume 30, Number 3
- ^ "SEISMIC DESIGN AND CODES IN MEXICO", Mario ORDAZ and Roberto MELIZ, 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering Vancouver, B.C., Canada, August 1-6, 2004, Paper No. 4000
- ^ "NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures. 2009 Edition", Federal Emergency Management Agency