Portfolio: Project Details
Emergency Operations Centers
Seismic Evaluations and Risk Analysis
Richmond, CA
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Interactive Resources conducted seismic evaluations and risk analyses
for 21 city-owned buildings in Richmond, California.
The City of Richmond is located astride the Hayward Fault, one of the most
active earthquake faults in California. The City contacted Interactive
Resources to conduct the evaluations after learning that the northern segment
of the Hayward fault, which runs through the City, has a 28% probability of a
major earthquake in the next 30 years (and this is only one of the faults that
threatens the City). City officials recognized this potential threat and
the importance of preparedness, and wanted to know how their emergency
operations buildings would perform in the event of a major earthquake and what
structural upgrades, if any, they may need to continue to provide planned
services during an emergency.
Richmond was faced with severe budgetary limitations that precluded a
comprehensive analysis of expected building performance, and
therefore retained Interactive Resources to help them answer questions of
seismic vulnerability for 21 specific facilities. The buildings targeted
for evaluation where included in the City's earthquake emergency response plan
and are owned by the City.
The resulting seismic safety evaluation provided information needed for planning
and budgeting purposes. The project team analyzed each building to
determine its expected performance in the event of a magnitude 7 earthquake on
the northern segment of the Hayward Fault. Recommended conceptual
upgrades were developed and analyzed to meet acceptable seismic performance
for:
-
life safety--the upgrade required to reduce the risk of serious
injuries and loss of life to acceptable levels
-
serviceability--the upgrade required to improve the
survivability of the building so it will be functional soon after the
earthquake
-
damage control--the upgrade required to reduce damage to the
building to an acceptable level
Priorities were assigned for structural upgrades based on the improvement in
performance estimates per unit cost. The levels of performance for each
building were evaluated using the Markov Model developed by Thiel and Zsutty as
published in the technical journal, Earthquake Spectra, which provides
estimates of the performance statistics of how buildings are expected to
perform in an earthquake with a given magnitude.
The seismic weaknesses of each building were identified through field inspection
and limited drawing review, conducted with the assistance of City technical
staff. Seismic upgrade modifications were suggested, and order of
magnitude cost estimates prepared. A total of 21 seismic upgrade options
were developed: 8 for life safety, 9 for serviceability improvement, and 4 for
damageability control. Priority ranking of the options required a
benefit/cost index. Separate indices were developed for each type of
performance.
Following the completion of this evaluation, Interactive Resources performed a
detailed seismic analysis of the Richmond City Hall Building, which also
included the development of two earthquake retrofit schemes.
Structures reviewed included the following: • City Hall • Art Center •
Auditorium • Hall of Justice • Human Services Department • Main Library •
Community Services Center • Engineering Division • Parchester Community Center
• Fire Station No. 68 • Shields-Reid Community Center • Fire Station No. 66 •
Eastshore Community Center • Fire Station No. 64 • Fire Station No. 62 • Nevin
Community Center • Corporation Yard - Carpenter Shop • M.L. King Community
Center • Fire Station No. 67 • Fire Station No. 61 • Wastewater Treatment Plant
