What is Retrofitting and Why it is Mandatory?

What is Seismic Retrofit Work?

It is construction work mandated by Ordinance 183893 which involves reinforcing a building in order to decrease the impact of a major earthquake. This work is an important part of improving public safety.

What is a soft-story building?

A soft-story building is a structure which has a weaker first floor and is unable to carry the weight of the stories above during an earthquake. The first floor generally would have large openings in the perimeter walls such as garages, tuck under parking or even large windows.

What is this retrofit program about?

The purpose of this program is to reduce the risk of injury or loss of life that may result from the effects of earthquakes on wood frame soft-story buildings. In the Northridge Earthquake, many wood frame soft- story buildings caused loss of life, injury, and property damage. This program creates a guide for property owners on strengthening their building to improve performance during an earthquake.

What is the scope of this program?

This program applies to all existing buildings with the following criteria:

1. Two or more stories wood frame construction wood frame construction

2. Built under the building code standards enacted before January 1, 1978

3. Contains ground or other similar open floor space that causes soft, weak or open wall lines.

Exception: The program does not apply to residential buildings with 3 or less units.

What is plan check?

Plan check is a process of which the plans are reviewed for compliance to current codes. For this program, the plans will be reviewed for compliance to the mandatory retrofit ordinance 183983 and 184081. Once plans have been reviewed and approved, permit can be issued.

What is inspection?

All construction work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by authorized City inspectors.

Work is generally inspected and approved in succession and no work may continue beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the inspector.

Common items to be inspected are foundation excavations, concrete work, wood framing, shear wall nailing, and several other tasks depending on each project. When completed, there shall be a final inspection and approval of the completed project.