14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

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S20 Seismic Risk Reduction of Operational and Functional Components for Buildings

Description:
Building components can be categorized into two main groups: structural and operational/functional. Structural components provide the load-carrying capacity of a building’s structure such as beams, columns and walls. Operational and Functional Components, or OFCs, provide the operational and functional capacities for the building such as architectural components, mechanical and electrical systems and communication equipment. OFCs are often referred to as non-structural components.

Past earthquakes have demonstrated that most casualties and property damage are due to failure of OFCs. In most cases, a building, which suffered only minor structural damage, is deemed unusable because of the extensive damage to its OFCs. A number of studies have shown that the economic losses due to failure of OFCs and damage to the building contents far exceed the losses due to structural damage and can exceed 70% of the total economic losses in buildings.

The seismic protection community is realizing that the protection of a building must include both the building’s structural components and its OFCs, and that the protection of a building’s OFCs (or non-structural components) requires the attention of structural engineers. Benefits of seismic protection of OFCs are tangible: direct improvement of life safety, better property protection, reduced economic and financial impact, and enhanced search and rescue operations.

The proposed Special Session is to provide the seismic protection communities with the latest knowledge and technology development in the area of seismic risk reduction of OFCs for buildings. The following topics are being considered:

- Performance of OFCs in earthquakes
- Research and development
- Qualification testing and criterion
- Seismic risk assessment and mitigation of OFCs
- Standards and codes development

Convener:
Simon Foo,
Ph.D., P.Eng.
Public Works & Government Services Canada (PWGSC)
Real Property Branch, Headquarters
11 Laurier Street, Portage 3, Room 8B1, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada K1A 0S5
Tel: (819) 956-3402
Fax: (819) 956-3875
E-mail: simon.foo@pwgsc.gc.ca