Forensic Engineering

Seismic Engineering Services

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We assess seismic risk to advise clients on property vulnerabilities, analyze applicable code and statutory requirements, evaluate structures against mandatory and voluntary performance-based objectives, and provide tailored retrofit solutions to meet unique client needs.

Our expertise includes seismic risk assessment, disaster preparedness planning, building code and statutory compliance, structural evaluation, seismic retrofit, and earthquake damage inspection and repair advisory. 

Our team advises in matters covering a wide range of structures and contributes to the development of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards for seismic evaluation and retrofit, as well as American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) guides for seismic risk assessment.

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Seismic Risk Assessment Services
  • Building Performance Assessment Metrics – Safety, Recovery Time & Business Interruption
  • Earthquake Preparedness Planning
  • Portfolio Evaluations
  • Scenario Expected Loss (SEL) & Scenario Upper Loss (SUL) Determinations (Formerly Known as Probably Maximum Loss)
  • Seismic Risk Assessments (SRA) – ASTM Guides, Level 0-3
Seismic Evaluation & Retrofit Services
  • Energy Dissipation Devices
  • Nonlinear Structural Analysis Methods
  • Seismic Evaluation – ASCE 41 Standard, Tier Procedures 1-3
  • Structural Retrofit Design – Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Pricing, Schematic Retrofit Alternatives, Seismic Retrofit Implementation Plans
  • Voluntary Upgrades, Mandatory Retrofit Ordinances, Code Compliance, & Adaptive Reuse
Earthquake Damage Inspection & Repair Advisory Services
  • Building Occupancy Resumption Programs (BORP)
  • Post-Earthquake Damage Assessments & Evaluations
  • Post-Earthquake Safety Evaluations Using ATC-20
  • Post-Earthquake Structural Failure Analysis & Investigation
  • Structural Repair Recommendations
  • United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeCast Implementation (Near Real-Time Earthquake Monitoring)
Expert Services
  • Expert Witness Testimony & Litigation Support
  • Peer Review, in Accordance with ASCE Standard Requirements
  • Third-Party Review of Design Documents
Who We Advise
  • Owners
  • Developers
  • Commercial Property Managers
  • Insurance Companies
  • Legal Counsel
  • Lenders
Comprehensive Solutions Addressing Seismic Risk

We have the experience and expertise to deliver comprehensive seismic solutions from pre-event risk assessment and statutory compliance, to evaluation, retrofit, and post-event damage assessment and repair.

Our experts perform seismic risk assessment of individual buildings and portfolios to support due-diligence processes, financial planning, insurance underwriting, disaster preparedness, and business continuity planning. Our expertise in seismic risk includes assessment of building damage, occupant safety, recovery time, and business interruption.

As building codes and legislation continue to evolve, we analyze jurisdictional requirements to identify applicable modifications and develop retrofit solutions tailored to each property. Our expertise in seismic evaluation and retrofit includes utilization of nonlinear structural analysis methods, energy dissipation devices, and performance-based design. Our experts provide peer review services to support third-party structural engineers with jurisdictional requirements.

Following an earthquake, we are called upon to deliver rapid response services for the public and private sectors. Our post-event inspection services include evaluation of building damage and development of repair recommendations. Our post-event inspection services are supported by our capability to implement USGS ShakeCast for near-real-time earthquake monitoring of building portfolios.

Building Code & Statutory Requirements

As regulatory bodies adopt new building codes and legislation to protect people and properties in areas with heightened seismic risk, building owners, developers, and property managers must continually assess new mandates to evaluate property compliance.

Our experts analyze building code requirements and statutes across jurisdictions to identify applicable mandates and support clients to fully understand their property’s seismic compliance and applicable seismic retrofit measures.

Mandatory Versus Voluntary Seismic Retrofits

The purpose of a seismic retrofit is to protect the safety of building occupants, reduce the likelihood of partial or full building collapse, and mitigate the potential for extensive physical damage, business interruption, and exposure to financial loss. 

In the article below, we discuss:

  • The differences between mandatory and voluntary seismic retrofits
  • What triggers mandatory improvements 
  • Who elects to have voluntary improvements done and why
  • Common reasons for implementing seismic retrofits on existing structures
  • The improved performance of structures through seismic retrofitting

> To read the article, click here.

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