Update on Special Seismic Certification

April 28, 2010

Facilities Development Division

The Building Department for California’s Hospitals

HBSB Ad Hoc Committee on Non-Structural Regulations

Hospital Seismic Safety

• The Sylmar Earthquake (aka 1971 San Fernando

Earthquake) caused the collapse of several hospitals
• Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Seismic Safety Act (HSSA
1973 - SB 519)
– ...
– Required the state to review and inspect the structural system
of hospital buildings
– Required GAC hospitals be designed and constructed to
withstand a major earthquake and remain operational
immediately after the quake
• The Northridge Earthquake (1994) caused damage to
several hospitals that necessitated their closure
• The Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety
Act was amended in 1994 (SB 1953) to mandate
additional requirements for hospital seismic safety

1
 1971 San Fernando Earthquake
(Sylmar Earthquake)
•Olive View Medical Center (Magnitude 6.6 – 3 Fatalities at OVMC)

Godden Collection, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley

1971 San Fernando Earthquake

(Sylmar Earthquake)
• Olive View Medical Center (Magnitude 6.6 – 3 Fatalities at OVMC)

Godden Collection, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley

2
 1971 San Fernando Earthquake
(Sylmar Earthquake)
• Sepulveda VA Hospital (Magnitude 6.6 – 47 Fatalities at SVA)

Godden Collection, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley

1994 Northridge Earthquake

(Magnitude 6.7)

3
 WHO Report on Hospitals After Chile
Earthquake (Magnitude 8.8)

Six Hospitals in Southern Chile Collapsed and two

others were Damaged Severely

Drivers of Change
Earthquake Lessons Learned

4
 Special Seismic Certification is Also
Known As (AKA)

Seismic Certification of Nonstructural Components

(IBC 2009 Section 1708.4 and the CBC 2010
Section 1708A.4)
•Special Certification for Designated Seismic System
(ASCE 7-05 Section 13.2.2)

Codes and Standards Relationship

5
 What is Designated Seismic System?

•Any Component or System with Importance

Factor (Ip) is Greater than 1.0 is called
Designated Seismic System (CBC 2010 Section
1702A)

Nonstructural Component
Importance Factor
• Component Importance (Ip) is either
1.0 or 1.5 (ASCE 7-05 Section 13.1.3)

• Component Importance (Ip) is 1.5 if:

– Component is required to function for life-
safety
– Component contain hazardous materials
– Components is in essential facilities and
its failure could impair the continued
operation of the facility.

6
 Intent of Building Code

• Provide reasonable
assurance of seismic
performance that will:
1. Avoid serious injury and life
loss,
2. Avoid loss of function in
critical facilities,
3. Minimize structural and
nonstructural repair costs
where practical to do so.

Statutory Mandate for OSHPD

HOSPITAL FACILITIES
SEISMIC SAFETY ACT 1983 (HSSA 83)

Hospital buildings that house patients

who have less than the capacity of
normally healthy persons to protect
themselves… must be reasonably
capable of providing services to the public
after a disaster

7
 Seismic Performance of
Nonstructural Components
• Damage to nonstructural components can result
in:
– Significant economic losses
• Cost of building contents exceeds building cost
– Temporary partial/total loss of operation/functionality
– Injuries and Loss of Life

• Past Emphasis: Life Safety and Position

Retention only

• Present Focus: Maintaining Functionality

Capital Investment in Modern Building

100%
2 0 .0 % 1 7 .0 %
80% 4 4 .0 %

60% C o n te n ts
6 2 .0 % 7 0 .0 % N o n s tru c tu ra l
40% S tr u c tu r a l
4 8 .0 %
20%
1 8 .0 % 1 3 .0 % 8 .0 %
0%
O ffic e H o te l H o s p ita l
E. Miranda, 2003

8
 Northridge Earthquake

Performance of all Buildings at 23 Hospital Sites with One or More

Yellow or Red Tagged Buildings
Number (%) of Buildings
Pre-1973 Code 1973 or Later Code
Type of Damage
Buildings Bldgs.
Structural Damage
Red tagged 12 (24%) 0 (0%)
Yellow tagged 17 (33%) 1 (3%)
Green tagged 22 (43%) 30 (97%)
Nonstructural Damage
Major 31 (61%) 7 (23%)
Minor 20 (39%) 24 (77%)
Total Buildings 51 31

Quantification of Seismic Resilience for a

Critical Facility
Quality of
Building %
Significant Seismic
Pre-EQ Event Occurs Without the Earthquake
Level =100%
Robustness Vulnerability

Earthquake Effects
e.g. Patients/Day

(Damaged systems
or equipment)

Δt = Rapidity
Rebuilding of Capacity (Repair,
Retrofit, Replacement)
0 t0 t1 Time
Parking lot palliative interim measures until Hospital building
weather inclement or National Guard
withdraws Recovers

9
 Quantification of Seismic Resilience for a
Critical Facility
Quality of
Building % Enhancement of resilience
Significant Seismic
Pre-EQ Vulnerability Event Occurs Without the Earthquake
Level =100%
Earthquake Effects
(Damaged systems
or equipment)
e.g. Patients/Day

Robustness

Δt = Rapidity
Rebuilding of Capacity (Repair,
Retrofit, Replacement)
0 t0 t1 Time
Hospital building
Recovers

What are Components, Supports,

and Attachments?

10
 Special Certification for
“Designated Seismic Systems”
Section 13.2.2 of ASCE 7-05
• Special Certification is required for
Designated Seismic Systems assigned
to Seismic Design Categories C
through F as follows:
– Active mechanical and electrical
equipment that are required to
function following the Design
Earthquake
– Components containing hazardous
contents

Active Equipment and Components

• Active Equipment and Components.

Equipment and Components containing
moving or rotating parts, electrical parts
such as switches or relays, or other internal
components that are sensitive to
earthquake forces and critical to the function
of the equipment.

• Significant Loss of Function. Significant

loss of function for equipment or
components means the equipment or
component cannot be restored to its original
function by competent technicians after a
design earthquake because the equipment
or component require parts that are not
normally stocked by the hospital or not
readily available.

11
 Seismic Certification of Nonstructural
Components

CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4:

• The registered design professional

shall state the applicable seismic
certification requirements for
nonstructural components and
designated seismic systems on the
construction documents.

CONT’D

Seismic Certification of Nonstructural

Components
CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4

• The manufacturer of each designated

seismic system components subject to
the provisions of ASCE 7 Section 13.2.2
shall test or analyze the component and
its mounting system or anchorage and
submit a certificate of compliance for
review and acceptance by the
registered design professional
responsible for the design of the
designated seismic system and for
approval by the building official.
CONT’D

12
 Seismic Certification of Nonstructural
Components
CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4

• Certification shall be based on:

– An actual test on a shake table,
– By three-dimensional shock tests,
– By an analytical method using
dynamic characteristics and forces,
– By the use of experience data (i.e.,
historical data demonstrating
acceptable seismic performance), or
– By more rigorous analysis providing
for equivalent safety.

NEHRP Commentary

...

13
 Seismic Certification by Analysis

Seismic Certification by Analysis

• Seismic Certification of Tanks by Analysis

Using ASME BPVC
– Tanks (without vibration isolators) designed by:
1. A registered design professional in accordance with ASME
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 2007 (BPVC 2007); and,
2. Satisfying the force and displacement requirements of
Sections 13.3.1 and 13.3.2 of ASCE 7-05 having an
importance factor, I = 1.5; and,
3. Reviewed and approved by OSHPD
– Shall be considered to satisfy the Special Seismic
Certification requirements on the basis of ASCE 7-
05 Section 13.6.9.

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 Seismic Certification by Analysis

• Seismic Certification of Tanks by Analysis

Using ASCE 7-05 Chapter 15
– Tanks Classified as Nonbuilding Structures in ASCE
7-05 shall be considered to satisfy Special Seismic
Certification requirements if all of the following
conditions are satisfied:

1. Tank design is in accordance ASCE 7-05 Chapter 15 with R

= 0 = Cd = 1, and
2. Attachments and Supports are designed in accordance with
ASCE 7-05 Chapter 15 with R, 0, and Cd values provided
therein, and
3. Tank design is reviewed and approved by OSHPD.

Seismic Certification by Analysis

• Analyzing a large Electrical and Mechanical equipment is

as complex as designing a hospital building.
– Where complex mathematical models are based solely on
calculated structural parameters, the use of verification testing
shall be utilized for validation of structural dynamic parameters
(system identification).
– Seismic qualification by analysis is generally limited to
verification of structural integrity (framework).
– Functional qualification is generally not possible solely by
analysis.
– Electrical issues such as those resulting from short circuits,
electro-mechanical device trips, leaks, etc. during the shaking
cannot in general be captured by analysis.
– Dynamic analysis can be used to ascertain in-equipment seismic
simulation testing (response amplification due to frame/panel
flexibility).

15
 Seismic Certification by Analysis

• For a product line with multiple products analysis

is too time consuming.

• Analyzing a custom 40-units HVAC product line

will be similar to designing 40-hospital buildings.

• Same HVAC product line can be qualified by just

two shake table test. Shake Table test is not a
destructive test, hence tested unit may be
installed and used

Seismic Qualification by Testing

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 Demand In Accordance with ASCE 7-05

0.4a p S DSW p  z
Fp  1  2 
Rp  h
Amplification Ip
Factor Amplification
over height of
Component
structure
Response
Factor

Translating Building Code Requirement

to Test Protocol

Transform

Building Code Design

Seismic Force on Non-
Structural Components
(Static Demand) Shake Table Test
Dynamic Demand
Illustration by Jeff Gatscher & Scott Littler

17
 ICC-ES AC 156 Shake Table
Test Criteria & RRS

*UUT response
Accelerometers to be

*
Used to Capture
Component Response
i.e. Resonant frequency
etc.
30 Seconds

Typical Shake Table Input Time History

• Testing Time History

– The duration of the record was set to 30 sec

18
 Typical Shake Table Achieved
Test Response Spectra (TRS)
• Comparison of Achieved (TRS) 5% Damped Spectra
and AC156 RRS

ICC-ES AC 156 Acceptance Criteria

(Based on 1/6th Octave Band Analysis)
Max. of two non
10
successive points of
RRS the 1/6-octave may fall
TRS below the RRS but not
Spectral Response Acceleration, A   (g's)

1.3RRS more than 10%

0.9RRS

1 f =?

TRS shall envelop the RRS in

the rage of 1.3 Hz >f >33.3 Hz

0.1
0.1 1 10ZPA Region, RRS 100
Amplified Region, RRS

Frequency, f  (Hz)
1.3 5.0 8.3 33.3

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 Seismic Certification by Experience

• Requirements for Qualification

by Experience Data (for
OSHPD)
– Characterization of experience
motions as measured by
instruments
– Verification of post-earthquake
Functionality and Structural
Integrity
– Equipment must be of equal or
better construction
– Project seismic demand must be
less than Certification basis
– Requires maintenance of data
base for continuous evaluation of
the performance of installed
equipment experiencing new
earthquake

HOSPITAL FACILITIES
SEISMIC SAFETY ACT 1983 (HSSA 83)

§129680. Hospitals housing patients less able to protect

themselves; Legislative intent

It is the intent of the Legislature that hospital buildings that

house patients who have less than the capacity of normally
healthy persons to protect themselves, and that must be
reasonably capable of providing services to the public after a
disaster…. In order to accomplish this purpose, the office shall
propose proper building standards for earthquake resistance
based upon current knowledge…

20
 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS LAW
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

§ 18941 Standards; administration and enforcement; performance

basis.

All building standards shall be …written… consistent with state and

nationally recognized standards for building construction in view of
the use and occupancy of each structure to preserve and protect
the public health and safety.

Public Participation in Code

Development

• OSHPD’s structural code change proposals are

reviewed by HBSB Structural Regulations Sub-
Committee

• Based on recommendation by HBSB Structural

Regulations Sub-Committee, full HBSB make
recommendation to OSHPD

21
 Public Participation in Code
Development (Continued)
• California Building Standards Commission’s (CBSC)
Structural Design/Lateral Forces (SDLF) Advisory
Committee review and approve structural code change
proposal(s)

• CBSC opens structural code change proposal(s) for 45-

day public written comment period

• OSHPD address all public comments, which may lead to another CBSC SDLF
Advisory Committee meeting

• California Building Standards Commission gives final

approval to code change proposal(s)

CBC 2010, Section 1708A.4

List of Systems Requiring Special Seismic Certification

1. Emergency and standby power systems including generators,

turbines, fuel tanks, and automatic transfer switches.

2. Elevator equipment (excluding elevator cabs).

22
 CBC 2010, Section 1708A.4

• List of Equipment and Components Requiring

Special Seismic Certification:

3. Components with hazardous contents (excluding pipes, ducts,

and underground tanks).
4. Smoke control fans.
5. Exhaust fans – New addition in the CBC 2010 to Ensure That
Pressurization in Building will not Interfere with Opening or
Closing of Exit Doors.
6. Switchgear.
7. Motor control centers.
8. X-Ray machines in fluoroscopy rooms.
9. CT (Computerized Tomography) Scanners – New addition in
the CBC 2010 to Ensure that Stroke/Head Injury Patients and
Trauma Center/Emergency Rooms will have Adequate Access
to Imaging

CBC 2010, Section 1708A.4

• List of Equipment and Components Requiring

Special Seismic Certification:

10. Air conditioning units.

11. Air handling units.
12. Chillers.
13. Cooling Towers (excluding Cooling Towers designed as
nonbuilding structures).
14. Transformers.
15. Electrical substations.
16. UPS (Inverters) and associated batteries.
17. Distribution panels including electrical panelboards,
18. Control panels including fire alarm, fire suppression, preaction,
and auxiliary or remote power supplies.

23
 CBC 2010, Section 1708A.4

• Components Exempt from Special Seismic

Certification:
1. Equipment and components installed in nonconforming
buildings unless the equipment or component provides a
service/system or utility to conforming buildings, or building is
designated as SPC 3 or higher.

2. Equipment and components weighing not more than 20lbs.

supported directly on structures (and not mounted on other
equipment or components) with supports and attachments in
accordance with a SCE 7 Chapter 13 as modified by Section
1615A.

CBC 2010, Section 1708A.4

• Special Seismic Certification for OSHPD 2 and 3

Buildings:
– Special Seismic Certification is required for
Designated Seismic System (components with
importance factor equal to 1.5). Typical components
that require special seismic certification in OSHPD 2
& 3 buildings include:
• Emergency generators
• Automatic transfer switches
• Smoke control fans
• Medical gas systems
• Fire alarm panels

24
 Position Retention vs. Special Seismic
Certification

General Seismic Design Requirements for

Nonstructural Components ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section 13.2
and CBC 2010 Section 1613A/1615A

Requirements for Position Special Seismic Certification of

Retention (Design of Supports and Designated Seismic System
Attachments) ASCE/SEI 13.2.1 ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section 13.2.2 and
CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4

CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4: Position

Retention/Manufacturer’s Certification

Requirements for Position Retention

(Design of Supports and Attachments)
ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section 13.2.1

Project Specific Design Manufacturer’s Certification ASCE/SEI 7-05

ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section 13.2.1.1 Section 13.2.1.2/CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4

Analysis Testing Experience Data

ASCE/SEI7-05 Sections ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section 13.2.5 ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section
13.3, 13.4, 13.5, & 13.6 13.2.6

Project Specific Submittal to OSHPD Pre-Approval of Anchorage

OSHPD (OPA)

25
 CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4/ASCE 7-05 Section
13.2.2: Special Seismic Certification

Special Seismic Certification for Designated

Seismic System, ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section
13.2.2 and CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4

Analysis Testing Experience Data

ASCE/SEI7-05 Sections ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section 13.2.5 ASCE/SEI 7-05 Section
13.3, 13.4, 13.5, & 13.6 13.2.6

Project Specific Submittal to OSHPD Special Seismic Certification

OSHPD Preapproval (OSP)

OSHPD Special Seismic Certification

Preapproval (OSP)
• OSP requirements of a product line with
similar structural configuration:
– Testing of at least two units (typically the
smallest & largest units), and
– Verification of similarities for interpolated units
(CBC 2010 Section 1708A.4).

26
 Special Seismic Certification By a Single
Test
• One dynamic test is Acceptable when:
– A single product is certified
• NOT a product line with more than one product
with variations; and,
– Manufacturing process is ISO 9001 certified

OSP Requirements (Continued)

 If the units are to be certified

for conditions with and
without vibration
isolators/different mounting
types (e.g. wall mounted vs.
floor mounted, etc.), they shall
be tested for those
configurations (see ICC-ES
AC 156 Section 6.4.3).

27
 OSP Requirements (Continued)

• Multiple units can be

tested on a single
shake table
simultaneously
– Provided table is
capable of achieving
the RRS with total
payload.

Test Facility Requirements

• All tests shall be performed by

an independent laboratory
having accreditation to the
International Standards
Organization (ISO) accreditation
standard 17025; or,

• Shall be under the responsible

charge of a California Licensed
structural, civil or mechanical
engineer.

28
 Test Report Requirements

• Test reports shall be prepared by a

California Licensed structural, civil
or mechanical engineer.

• If test reports are prepared by a

California Licensed civil or
mechanical engineer, they shall be
reviewed and accepted by a
California licensed structural
engineer.

OSP Requirements (Continued)

• OSHPD strongly recommends:

– The Owner and his California licensed
structural engineer meet and review the
proposed test plan with OSHPD prior to any
testing to ensure that there will be no issues
with the OSP approval when submitted.

29
 Statutory OSHPD Review Requirements

§129680. Hospitals housing patients less able to protect

themselves; Legislative Intent
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that hospital buildings that house patients who have less than the
capacity of normally healthy persons to protect themselves, and that must be reasonably capable of
providing services to the public after a disaster, shall be designed and constructed to resist, insofar as
practical, the forces generated by earthquakes, gravity, and winds. In order to accomplish this purpose,

the office shall propose proper building standards for earthquake resistance based upon
current knowledge, and provide an independent review of the

design and construction of hospital buildings.

Regulatory OSHPD Approval

Requirements

CBC 2010
1601A.3 Enforcement Agency Approval. In addition to requirements of California Code of
Regulations (C.C.R.) Title 24, Parts 1 & 2, any aspect of project design,
construction, quality assurance, or quality control programs for which this code

requires approval by the design professional, are also

subject to approval by the enforcement agency.

30
 Is Third Party Review Subject to OSHPD
Review and Approval?
• Yes

• Required by Statute

• Required by the CBC 2010 Section

1601A.3

Can the Analysis be Bookended Similar

to Testing?
• No
• Analysis is only good for the unit analyzed
– limited variations and/or grouping may be acceptable
– i.e. analysis of the smallest and largest buildings
(under OSHPD jurisdiction) can’t be used for
permitting all OSHPD buildings (of a given structural
configuration).
– However, testing of a few connections to verify an
analysis methodology can justify all connections of
similar configurations

31
 What Rp Can be Used for Special Seismic
Certification?

•Rp = 1.0 & Ip= 1.5 for Special Seismic Certification by

Analysis (Attachments design can use Rp in ASCE 7),
Since Functionality can’t be Verified by Analysis

•Rp/Ip = 1.0 for Special Seismic Certification by Shake Table

Test. Both Structural Integrity and Functionality
shall be maintained after shake table test.

Why is Rp based on the AC-156

Requirements?
• ASCE 7-05 does not provide Rp values for special
seismic certification of active electrical and mechanical
equipment, since it does not provide analysis as an
option for special certification of active mechanical and
electrical equipment.

• ICC-ES AC 156 requires Rp/Ip = 1 for Shake Table Test.

– Require Post-Test Structural Integrity for Ip = 1
– Require Post-Test Structural Integrity and Functionality for Ip
= 1.5

• Critical equipment and components should remain

essentially elastic for post-earthquake functionality

32
 Can the Active Mechanical and Electrical
Equipment get an OSP by analysis alone?
• No

• Active and energized components must be

certified by shake table testing or experience
data.

• ONLY connecting elements, attachments,

and supports can be justified by supporting
analysis for active and energized components

Is the Component Design at Global Level

only Enough?
• No
• All components shall be
designed in accordance with
the CBC requirements
– Both demand and capacity shall
be based on the CBC and
referenced material standards.
• Stability and local affects shall
be part of the design as
required by the code.
• The CBC does not permit 1/3rd
allowable stress increase for
most materials, including steel
and concrete.

33
Using Existing Test Data for Special Seismic
Certification - Front to Back

Using Existing Test Data for Special Seismic

Certification – Side to Side

34
Using Existing Test Data for Special
Seismic Certification – Vertical

Using Existing Test Data for Special Seismic

Certification – Back Calculation

35
 OSHPD Special Seismic Certification
Preapproval (OSP) at OSHPD Website

OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Preapproval (OSP) Requirements and

Application form is available at:

http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/FDD/Pre-Approval/index.html

List of Equipment and Components with OSHPD Special Seismic Certification

Preapproval (OSP) is available at:

http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/FDD/Pre-Approval/special_seismic_cert_pre-approval.html

OSP Requirements at Web Page

36
 OSP Listing at OSHPD Web Page

Progress in OSHPD Special Seismic

Certification Preapproval (OSP)
• More than Sixty (61) Special Seismic
Certification Pre-Approvals to date (OSP
Program started in July, 09).
10,000 Equipment
• Currently processing on average more
than two (2) new OSP’s per week.
• Most Categories have Multiple Pre-
approvals.

37
 Thin OSP Categories

• Air-Handling/Conditioning Units
– Some HVAC Manufacturers are near
completion w/ their Special Seismic
Certification efforts.

Example of Vendor-X Fan Test Schedule

T es tin g
D a tes T es t Se tup T ested M odel F am ilies C o vere d
1 BS Q -42 0 C e ntr ifug al Inline Fa ns
6 BS Q -70 C e ntr ifug al Inline Fa ns
2 SQ - 160 C e ntr ifug al Inline Fa ns
6 SQ - 60 C e ntr ifug al Inline Fa ns
7 R SF - 90 C e ntr ifug al R oof S upply F ans
8 R SF P -2 00 C e ntr ifug al R oof S upply F ans
5 SF B -25 C e ntr ifug al U tility F ans
5 SF D - 10 C e ntr ifug al U tility F ans
5/10/2010 - 5 SF D - 6 C e ntr ifug al U tility F ans
5/31/2010 6 SW B -106 C e ntr ifug al U tility F ans
6 SW B -227 C e ntr ifug al U tility F ans
5 SW B -236 C e ntr ifug al U tility F ans
4 R BE -3 L/H 72 H o oded R oo f P ropeller F ans
7 R BF - 1L/H 20 H o oded R oo f P ropeller F ans
7 R E2 -18 H o oded R oo f P ropeller F ans
3 R PD R - 54 H o oded R oo f P ropeller F ans
7 R BU M O -1L/H 2 0 P rope ller U pblas t R oof F ans
8 R BU M O -3L/H 6 0 P rope ller U pblas t R oof F ans
9 73-A F SW S eries 2 1 an d 4 1C entrifugal F ans
6/2/2010- 10 33-B IS W S eries 2 1 an d 4 1C entrifugal F ans
6/14/2010 10 30-A F SW S eries 2 1 an d 4 1C entrifugal F ans
10 7-B IS W S eries 2 1 an d 4 1C entrifugal F ans

38
 Potential Air Handler/Conditioner Approval in
the Next Couple of Months

•Carrier Medium Size Roof Top Units

•Emerson Liebert Data Room Coolers

•Mitsubishi Split (DX) System

•Loren Cook Fans

•Climate Craft Custom Air-Handlers

•Energy Labs Custom Air-Handlers

Options When No Equipment with Special

Seismic Certification is Available
• Defer the Special Seismic Certification and
Require the Manufacturer to Provide the
Certification
– Certification must be complete prior to installation.
• Emergency Waiver – OSHPD may waive the
requirements for emergency replacements

39
 Does HVAC Unit for CT Scanner Room Require
Special Seismic Certification for the CBC 2007?

• Yes
• The CBC 2007 Section 1708A.5 require special seismic certification of
all equipment with importance factor (Ip) of 1.5.
• The CBC 2010 will require CT Scanners to have special seismic
certification.
• If CT Scanners are out of service, that room can be converted to
another service following earthquake provided all support equipment
are functional. All rooms may become essential after an earthquake.
• Loss of equipment such as acid filled UPS batteries may create a
hazardous materials situation, which may affect other functions in the
hospital.

Does OSHPD require Special Seismic Certification for

Equipment in Non-Conforming Buildings?

• Yes, When equipment in non-conforming building provides a service/system

or utility to conforming OSHPD 1 buildings or buildings designated as SPC 3
or higher, then Special Seismic Certification is required.
• Significant number of nonconforming buildings are Life Safe. Equipment in these
buildings can continue to provide support to hospitals.
• In buildings that are at significant risk of collapse, equipment are often located in
basements or other fortified part of the buildings, which may not be affected by partial
collapse. Most building collapse will be partial, they are unlikely to completely
“pancake”.
• Significant number of nonconforming buildings are not evaluated and/or are located in
very low seismic areas. Some of these buildings are expected to survive the earthquake
and should not loose their service because of lack of non-functioning equipment.
• NPC requirements are for anchorage and bracing ONLY. Most non-conforming building
will be upgraded to conforming buildings, hence having conforming equipment is crucial.
• Conforming equipment can quickly be relocated after an earthquake to provide service.

40
 OSHPD Educational/Information Outreach
Activities for Special Seismic Certification
• SEAONC - June 2009
• CUMMINS WEST- September 2009
– Sacramento
– San Francisco
• TRANE - October 2009
– Los Angeles
– San Diego
– Sacramento
• SEAOCC, Sacramento – March 2010
• IEEE/Industrial Applications, San Francisco – March
2010
• SEAOSC, Los Angeles – April 2010

California’s Seismic Risk*

• California has a 99% chance of experiencing an earthquake of magnitude

6.7 or greater in the next 30 years
• The chance is 97% in Southern California
• The chance is 93% in Northern California

•California has a 23% chance of a magnitude 6.7+ EQ

between 2013 and 2020
• Chance of even larger EQs in California in the next 30 years:
> 7.0: 94%
> 7.5: 46%
> 8.0: 5%
*Data from USGS estimates

41