The ordinance of 183893 and 184081 was passed by Los Angeles City Council in which buildings with soft-story has to implement the new seismic code. The retrofit program was implemented under the ordinances in 2015 so as to reduce damages that can be caused following an earthquake. If the buildings aren’t retrofitted, then they might have structural damages on or after an earthquake and may make damages of properties as well as lives.
Ordinance 183893
As per this ordinance structures that need that falls under the seismic retrofit program will be identified. Following are the structures that would fall under a mandatory retrofit program:
- Structures of wooden-frame that was permitted to be built, or built before 1st January 1978.
- The ground floor is an open space or has a parking area.
- The structure consists of four or even more dwelling units.
Regulation 183893 likewise uses three various top priority classifications as follows:
- Priority I – Structures with 16 residential units or more.
- Priority II – Buildings with 3 or more stories, yet contain less than 16 dwelling units.
- Priority III – All structures not falling within Top priority I or Priority II
Ordinance 184081
This ordinance identifies the Time Limits for Compliance for the Soft-Story Retrofit program.
- Within two years, the owner needs to submit an architectural evaluation for review and so authorization to:
- Submit architectural analysis to show existing compliance
- Send a structural analysis to show a suggested architectural modification to meet seismic retrofit demands
- Prepare for the demolition of the structure.
- Within three and a half years after service of the order obtain all needed permits for rehabilitation or demolition.
Within seven years after service of the order, complete building or demolition job under all necessary permits.
For more information, please visit http://www.retrofitting360.com/blog/los-angeles-soft-story-retrofit-program.
