This FEMA 154 Report, Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for
Potential Seismic Hazards: A Handbook, is the first of a two-volume
publication on a recommended methodology for rapid visual screening
of buildings for potential seismic hazards. The technical basis for
the methodology, including the scoring system and its development,
are contained in the companion FEMA 155 report, Rapid Visual
Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards: Supporting
Documentation. The rapid visual screening procedure (RVS) has been
developed for a broad audience, including building officials and
inspectors, and government agency and private-sector building
owners, to identify, inventory, and rank buildings that are
potentially seismically hazardous. Although RVS is applicable to
all buildings, its principal purpose is to identify (1) older
buildings designed and constructed before the adoption of adequate
seismic design and detailing requirements, (2) buildings on soft or
poor soils, or (3) buildings having performance characteristics
that negatively influence their seismic response. Once identified
as potentially hazardous, such buildings should be further
evaluated by a design professional experienced in seismic design to
determine if, in fact, they are seismically hazardous. The RVS uses
a methodology based on a "sidewalk survey" of a building and a Data
Collection Form, which the person conducting the survey (hereafter
referred to as the screener) completes, based on visual observation
of the building from the exterior, and if possible, the interior.
The Data Collection Form includes space for documenting building
identification information, including its use and size, a
photograph of the building, sketches, and documentation of
pertinent data related to seismic performance, including the
development of a numeric seismic hazard score. Once the decision to
conduct rapid visual screening for a community or group of
buildings has been made by the RVS authority, the screening effort
can be expedited by pre-planning, including the training of
screeners, and careful overall management of the process.
Completion of the Data Collection Form in the field begins with
identifying the primary structural lateral-load-resisting system
and structural materials of the building. Basic Structural Hazard
Scores for various building types are provided on the form, and the
screener circles the appropriate one. For many buildings, viewed
only from the exterior, this important decision requires the
screener to be trained and experienced in building construction.
The procedure presented in this Handbook is meant to be the
preliminary screening phase of a multi-phase procedure for
identifying potentially hazardous buildings. Buildings identified
by this procedure must be analyzed in more detail by an experienced
seismic design professional. Because rapid visual screening is
designed to be performed from the street, with interior inspection
not always possible, hazardous details will not always be visible,
and seismically hazardous buildings may not be identified as such.
Conversely, buildings initially identified as potentially hazardous
by RVS may prove to be adequate.
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