There have been many articles and discussions about the misconceptions between the public and the profession regarding the performance level of code-compliant buildings. Historically, Building Codes (and ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures) have focused on ensuring life safety. For hazards that do not offer much advanced warning (e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornadoes), a focus on life safety saves lives. Still, it is not sufficient to make communities resilient to these hazards. After an earthquake, for example, many buildings are tagged as needing substantial work before they are safe to enter, leaving communities displaced and distressed for long periods. Looking at ASCE 7 today, a practitioner sees many pages dedicated to the design of elements beyond the primary structural system, which may not tie as directly to life safety.
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Author Archives : A. Christopher Cerino, P.E., SECB, F.SEI, DBIA
A. Christopher Cerino is the Director of Structural Engineering in STV’s New York office and a member of the NCSEA Board of Directors (anthony.cerino@stvinc.com).
Ways to Ensure Deployed Flood Barriers Work
Imagine spending millions of dollars on flood protection but, when a storm approaches, the deployable flood barriers cannot be installed in time. Learning from experience and adding some common sense helps reduce the risk of improperly deploying flood barriers. Storage, maintenance, and deployment execution are the primary considerations for barrier selection and must be vetted fully during preliminary and final design to reduce operational challenges. Labeling and storing components in a readily accessible position and having deployment plans that are well thought out promote the flood mitigation system’s overall success. Deployment-related risks can be decreased by minimizing the number of components assembled in the field.
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West Coast Seismic System Invades NYC
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), in association with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), is implementing a major modernization program for the Bronx Psychiatric Center, including a new 180,000 square feet, 156-bed, Adult Behavioral Healthcare facility. …