years (2%/50 years). On the other hand, the hazard level
4.6 Seismic Requirements
used for a rehabilitation design in FEMA 356 is based on
for Leased Buildings
compliance with the Basic Safety Objective (BSO). The
BSO requires compliance with both the BSE-2 earthquake
(2%/50 years earthquake accelerations) at the Collapse
Prevention Performance Level and with the BSE-1
New Construction
earthquake (the lesser of the accelerations from the
New buildings or the construction of an addition to
10%/50 years earthquake or 2/3 of the 2%/50 years
an existing building shall conform to the IBC. For
earthquake) at the Life-Safety Performance Level. The
additional information see the latest edition of GSA's
earthquake accelerations associated with the 2/3 of the
Solicitation for Offers (SFO).
2%/50 years earthquake will result in significantly higher
seismic design values than those resulting from a 10%/50
Existing Buildings
years earthquake in some areas of the country.
Existing buildings shall meet the seismic requirements
of the Standards of Seismic Safety for Existing Federally
an entire structure to current requirements at any one
Owned and Leased Building and Commentary, ICSSC RP 6,
time. Whenever upgrading is only partially done, the first
as modified by the latest edition of GSA's Solicitation for
priority should be given to items that represent the
Offers (SFO).
greatest life safety risk, such as the lateral force-resisting
system, unreinforced masonry bearing walls or both.
ICSSC RP 6 can be downloaded as a PDF at
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build01/PDF/b01056.pdf.
Seismic Upgrades for Historic Buildings. Historic
buildings should meet the same life safety objective as
other buildings. Decisions made to preserve essential
historic features should not result in a lesser seismic
performance than that required by ICSSC RP 6. See
Chapter 1.
Seismic Strengthening Criteria for Nonstructural
Elements. Where deficiencies in the attachment of
elements of structures, nonstructural components and
equipment pose a life safety risk, they should be
prioritized and those elements with the greatest life safety
risk strengthened first to meet current code requirements.
Workmen on the roof of the Winder Building, Washington, D.C. install a
window as part of a renovation project.
116 F A C I L I T I E S
STANDARDS
FOR
THE
PUBLIC
BUILDINGS
SERVICE
4.6 Seismic Requirements for Leased Buildings
Revised March 2005 PBS-P100
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