Reclamation Building Seismic Safety Program

Briefing Bulletin No. 4

Risk Identification in Leased Buildings

Reclamation Regional Resource Managers requested in June 1999 that the Reclamation Building Seismic Safety Program (Program) consider additional risk identification activities. It was determined that the requirements outlined in Executive Order 12941 "Seismic Safety of Federally Owned or Leased Buildings" did not provide consistent risk identification and risk reduction for all Reclamation employees or all occupants of Reclamation-owned buildings. Inconsistencies in risk identification were identified and resolutions implemented for a number of building or occupant groups including employees in leased buildings.

Reclamation leases buildings from the Federal Government through the General Services Administration (GSA) and from private building management services. GSA did not perform comprehensive seismic risk identification activities on their entire building inventory and as a result cannot provide updated seismic safety certification for these buildings. Most of the privately owned buildings that are either leased through GSA or through a private service have not been evaluated for seismic risk. Some of the more recent Reclamation leasing contracts require the certification of seismic safety in the leased space but, for older leases or for some of the contracts where seismic safety certification is not required, the level of seismic risk is not assessed.

Building data is currently being obtained regarding these leased buildings. The data evaluated so far confirms that a comprehensive risk identification program has not been completed for buildings leased by Reclamation. Exemption criteria were applied to the inventory to remove unoccupied or other low-risk buildings from consideration. Approximately 48 leased buildings have been identified as requiring the Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) Process. The RVS process is completed on-site in about an hour by a structural engineer to gain an understanding of the potential seismic risk of any given building. This activity has been approved by the GSA Seismic Safety Manager and coordinated through both the GSA and Reclamation property contacts. As with all RVS evaluations, the cost of performing these evaluations will be funded by the Program.

If buildings are found with suspected seismic safety deficiencies, as a result of the RVS Inspections, documentation will be provided to the responsible Reclamation leasing official. The Program will then request, through this official, that the building owner conduct a comprehensive seismic evaluation and certify to Reclamation that the building meets or exceeds current seismic safety provisions. In rare cases, at the discretion of the leasing official and the Program Manager, the Program may perform the seismic evaluations at Program cost.

For more information, please contact:

John R. Baals, P.E.

Bureau of Reclamation Seismic Safety Program Manager

Structural Analysis Group, D-8110

Bureau of Reclamation

PO Box 25007

Denver, CO 80225

Phone: 303-445-3222 Fax: 303-445-6490

E-Mail: jbaals@do.usbr.gov

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