A team of researches at Colorado State University have found that earthquake retrofitting significantly lessens the probability of a soft-story building’s collapse. While the stronger earthquakes that were tested caused some damage to the model buildings, the structures remained safe for occupancy, unlike the models that had not been strengthened prior to testing. To read […]
New Research on Soft-Story Retrofitting
Posted by admin on August 8, 2013
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=328
Public Meeting to Discuss Proposed Required Retrofit of Soft Story Buildings in Berkeley
There will be a public meeting on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 7 PM in the North Berkeley Senior Center (1901 Hearst Avenue). This meeting will introduce and discuss a proposed ordinance that requires residential buildings with five or more units to be seismically retrofitted if the building is constructed with soft, weak, or open […]
Posted by admin on July 11, 2013
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=309
SF’s Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Soft-Story Buildings
Below is a summary of what you need to know about the new ordinance in plain words. IS MY BUILDING A SOFT-STORY BUILDING? If the following four requirements apply to your building, then it is a suspect for a soft story building. 1) Wood-frame building with either 3+ stories, OR 2 stories over a basement/underfloor […]
Posted by admin on May 8, 2013
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=253
Mandatory Retrofitting of SF’s Soft Story Buildings
Last week, San Francisco’s Mayor Ed Lee and the Board of Supervisors and City Officials signed the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program for Soft Story Wood Frame Buildings. This measure will strengthen thousands of San Francisco’s buildings and assure a faster recovery from future earthquakes. Over 55,000 San Franciscans live in wood-frame buildings built before 1978, […]
Posted by admin on April 25, 2013
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=183
D/B or not D/B, that is the question
The term “soft story” building describes a building with a level or story that is significantly more flexible than stories above it, such as an open parking area or a commercial space, which can be hazardous in the event of an earthquake. The Bay Area has thousands of these building. Damage to soft story buildings […]
Posted by admin on March 14, 2012
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=153
All members of Berkeley’s city council agreed to start working on a phase two ordinance mandating retrofit of remaining 203 unretrofitted soft story buildings.
More than 14,000 Berkeley residents could be displaced if a major earthquake hits the Hayward fault line. People that will be mostly affected are those living in soft story buildings, which are structures vulnerable to collapse during an earthquake. There are 269 buildings identified as soft story buildings in Berkeley and only 66 owners have […]
Posted by admin on October 6, 2011
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=144
East Bay Earthquake Preparedness
Click the link below to view a map of soft story buildings in Oakland along with other earthquake information relevant to the East Bay. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?entry_id=96071
Posted by admin on August 26, 2011
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=141
Voluntary San Francisco Seismic Retrofit Is Faster and Cheaper If Done Now
“If you own a soft-story building, it may be advantageous for you to take voluntary measures that will save you a considerable amount of money in the end. Owners of pre-1973 soft story buildings can sign up for voluntary retrofitting and get their building permit expedited and fees waived. Being pro-active may also help you […]
Posted by admin on August 24, 2011
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=137
What did we learn from the SF voluntary soft story ordinance – Voluntary programs don’t work!
Voluntary programs don’t work!
Posted by admin on May 3, 2011
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=134
Best Wishes to Japan
Our hearts and minds are with the Japanese people as they continue to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. We are in awe of the resilience they have shown and wish them a better and brighter future.
Posted by admin on March 23, 2011
http://enginious-structures.com/softstoryblog/?p=130