Engineering Division, ... If so, does the current Scope of Work reference a particular ASTM standard? ... Do scope costs
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2016 ASTM Seismic Standards Update by ROY ANDERSON PE, Seismic Services,
A
revised ASTM Standard Practice for
Loss (PML) Evaluations for Earthquake Due
Seismic Risk and Earthquake Due
Diligence Assessments, respectively. The new standards governing seismic risk
Diligence was released in June 2016
Building Science &
by the E2026/E2557 ASTM Task Group after
evaluations of buildings have been revised
Engineering Division,
a rigorous 32-month review that included
as E2026-16a and E2557-16a. While the
AEI Consultants
balloting, input, collaboration, and more than 350
new standards replace the old, many lending
revisions to the standard.
institutions and investors may have Scopes of
The 2016 ASTM Seismic Standard update
Work that reference the old standards. Adoption
affects commercial real estate transactions
of the new standards will likely occur over the
through changes to the ASTM Standard Guide
next several months.
and Practice E2026 and E2557 for Seismic Risk Assessment of Buildings and Probable Maximum
As mentioned, the revised standard includes
…Seismic Standards continued on page 55
THINGS TO CONSIDER ON CURRENT TRANSACTIONS With all of the changes to the ASTM Standard Guide and Practice E2026 and E2557, the big question is, “What about the transaction I’m working on right now?” Below are a few things to consider as you move forward with a current transaction. Is a lender involved in the transaction? If so, does the current Scope of Work reference a particular ASTM standard? Does it say “most current standard” or does it specify -07 or -16 Do scope costs reflect the “most current standard?” If the scope requirement references “most current,” recognize that the pricing will be different from what you have submitted previously. Lenders: Ensure your consultant’s proposal references the current scope. Are you including structural plans? Structural plans will help meet the new ASTM requirements. Can I still use the old standard? In the interim, lenders may consider utilization of the old standards until the
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…Seismic Standards continued from page 29 more than 350 revisions and this article
benchmarking is if the structure was
the end-user with useful information
will address some of the major changes
built after the implementation of the
regarding the expected damage to
related to assessor qualifications, levels
1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC), or
the majority of buildings of a certain
of investigation, Scenario Expected Loss
as a rule-of-thumb, 1998 or later. If
classification based on site specific
and Scenario Upper Loss assessments,
either of these provisions cannot be
criteria related to historic performance.
and newly required documentation.
met, then the minimum qualifications
The SUL provides insight to the
must be followed.
potential damage at the upper end
The main change to the standard involves assessor minimum
of the distribution curve, where a
If a lesser qualified Field Assessor
qualifications. The old standard
is chosen, they should at least be a
smaller quantity of buildings of similar
recommended qualifications for
licensed architect or engineer with a
classification may be damaged.
assessors whereas the new standard
minimum of five years of experience in
dictates specific requirements for
building design and evaluation. The
Senior Assessor and Field Assessor
The new standard also requires additional report documentation that includes an ASTM Summary
Senior Assessor must also have
qualifications and how they apply to the
direct communication with Field Assessor
Findings Form and an Appendix X5
overall responsibility of the assessment.
as engineer in responsible charge.
Informational Document (Seismic
E2026-16a specifies that a Senior
Assessment Report Summary).
Another important change to
Assessor be a Civil or Structural
ASTM E2026-16a involves levels of
Engineer with experience that includes
investigation. It is the responsibility of
includes property location and assessor
structural engineering of buildings (10
the user to set the Level of Investigation
information, documents reviewed,
years), seismic design and analysis (five
based on risk tolerance and reliance.
PML definition, analysis methods and
years), and seismic risk assessment of
The standard provides four levels
procedures, level of investigation, and
buildings (three years). The standard
of investigation (Levels 0-3). Level
any deviations.
also prescribes the requirements of a
0 is considered a screen or desktop
field assessor as a Civil or Structural
assessment and provides the greatest
Summary includes information
Engineer with five years of experience
level of uncertainty. For this reason,
related to salient property data,
related to structural engineering of
Level 0 is not recommended for
seismic hazard and site class, site
buildings, three years of seismic design
property transactions. Levels 2 and 3 are
stability, Probable Maximum Loss, and
and analysis, and two years of seismic
considered to be more detailed in the
consultant recommendations.
risk assessment experience of buildings.
evaluation of seismic risk and are not
If needed, E2026-16a provides two provisions for the Senior Assessor
The Summary Findings Form
The Seismic Assessment Report
With growing concern surrounding
typically utilized for property transactions.
human induced seismic events (e.g., fracking) the principles may be applied
ASTM does recommend a Level 1
to designate a lesser qualified Field
assessment for property transactions
using available local historic data. The
Assessor to perform the site visit. The
that includes site observations by
United States Geological Survey is
Senior Assessor is allowed discretion for
a qualified PE, review of available
currently working on data in this regard.
the qualifications of the Field Assessor
construction documents, and a review
in both of these cases. Under the first
of the site specific conditions, with a
the ASTM E2026 and E2557 reflects
provision, relevant structural drawings
reasonable amount of uncertainty.
the growing demand for uniformity in
must be available for review by the
The purpose of the updates to
On the subject of seismic Scenario
the process of preparing SRA reports,
Expected Loss (SEL) and Scenario
providing guidance and allowing for
addresses the year of construction —
Upper Loss (SUL) Assessments, ASTM
transparency in the calculation of SEL
the building must be constructed during
recommends that users request both
and SUL percentages.
or after the ASCE 41-13 benchmark
SEL and SUL, but this is left to the
year with no structural modifications.
discretion of the user. Utilization of
A guide for consideration on building
both the SEL and the SUL provides
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Senior Assessor. The second provision
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