Life safety protection of the public can be improved by statutes requiring seismic design, by policies adopted by government agencies and private industry, or, in the case of buildings, by the adoption of model building codes. The cost of designing and constructing new structures to conform with current codes is usually small, i.e., 1 to 5 percent of the construction cost.
Legislation
Chapter 319 to 319.200, Earthquakes - Seismic Building and Construction Ordinances, of the Revised Statutes of Missouri contains seismic design requirements. Beginning January 1, 1991 each city, town, village or county in Missouri which can be expected to experience an intensity of ground shaking equivalent to a Modified Mercalli Intensity of VII or greater from an earthquake along the New Madrid Fault with a potential magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale shall adopt an ordinance or order requiring that new construction and additions to existing buildings and structures comply with the standards for seismic design and construction of the UBC or BOCA Codes. Seismic design criteria for additions apply only to structural components constituting the alteration and shall not be applied to require reconstruction or fortification of existing structures proposed to be altered.
Most small municipalities and rural counties do not have the resources to properly review plans and specifications to assure compliance with a building code. Consideration could be given to having the Division of Design and Construction in Jefferson City assume this responsibility for jurisdictions that do not have the resources.
.ne 1.0i
Revise Section 319,200 of the Missouri Statutes "Earthquakes - Seismic Building and Construction Ordinances," to require buildings in the State of Missouri to be designed in accordance with building codes based upon the latest version of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) provisions for the design of new buildings.
Require local governments to comply with these seismic design provisions. Identify resources to assure that the code provisions are enforced.
The City of St. Louis and St. Louis county have adopted a 25-50 rule pertaining \f2 to upgrading of existing buildings to meet seismic design requirements. The rule is as follows:
\f2If the cost of renovation exceeds 50 percent of the assessed valuation of the property, the building must meet all requirements of the building code, including seismic. If the cost of the renovation work is between 25 and 50 percent, the buildings commissioner shall make a determination as to what extent the buildings must meet the current code. If the cost of renovation is less than 25 percent of the assessed value, then no upgrading of the facility is required.
Local governments besides the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County should be encouraged to adopt this approach to reducing seismic risk.
Encourage all engineering and architectural schools in Missouri to include seismic design in their curricula and the respective registration boards to include seismic design on licensing exams. Encourage professional societies to provide appropriate continuing education courses on earthquake resistant design.