Civil Engineering Association

In recent years the importance of failure of non-structural building components during earthquake has generated considerable concern. Experience is well documented of cases where the building structure has survived an earthquake with no damage but the facility is rendered unusable due to extensive non-structural damage. Risk to life safety of the occupants of the building from failure of the non-structural components can be considerable even when the building structure has performed well. The cost of non- structural damage is also far greater than previously expected. These costs include loss of function and disruption costs as well as the costs for repair or replacement of damaged components and articles. Also the extent of non-structural damage to buildings in low seismic zones can be considerably greater than structural damage costs. Many buildings throughout Canada were constructed before a full understanding of these risks existed and methods to reduce such risks were well understood. The Guideline was prepared to help engineers and architects evaluate non-structural building components for seismic hazards and to recommend upgrading when such hazards exist. The Guideline may also be used by building owners to help identify non-structural building components which may be potentially hazardous, but specific recommendations for seismic upgrading should be provided by a qualified engineer or architect.

This guideline addresses the risk due to failure of non-structural components during earthquake. The present publication restricts itself to normal office buildings and libraries and does not include sensitive equipment or critical operations.

This document may be applied to existing buildings, including renovations of existing buildings. In the case of building contents, it may also be applied to new buildings. It should not, however, be applied to verify compliance of architectural building components in new buildings with the building code.