Applied Technology Council (ATC) is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the ATC-20-1 Field Manual: Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings, Second Edition.  The Second Edition includes new information not previously included in the original Field Manual (first edition), which was published by ATC in 1989.  The new information has been drawn from (1) the ATC-20-2 Report, Addendum to the ATC-20 Building Postearthquake Safety Evaluation Procedures, which was published by ATC in 1995, (2) the ATC-20-3 Report, Case Studies in Rapid Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings, which was published by ATC in 1996 and provides more than 50 detailed case studies of safety evaluation on a wide range of building types and damage conditions; (3) ATC TechBrief 2, Earthquake Aftershocks—Entering Damaged Buildings, which was published by ATC in 1999; and (4) other sources. 

The procedures and guidelines provided in the ATC-20-1 Field Manual, Second Edition, are written specifically for volunteer structural engineers, as well as building inspectors and structural engineers from city building departments and other regulatory agencies, who would be required to make on-the-spot evaluations and decisions regarding the continued use and occupancy of damaged buildings.

The Second Edition includes:

• updated rapid evaluation forms and updated detailed evaluation forms;
• the updated yellow RESTRICTED USE placard, which was introduced in 1995 (replacing the LIMITED ENTRY placard);
• new examples;
• more information on steel moment-frame buildings;
• a chapter on mobile homes and manufactured housing;
• guidance on aftershocks and entering damaged buildings;
• new information on barricading; and
• resources available on the internet pertaining to postearthquake safety evaluation.

Copies of the ATC-20-1 Field Manual: Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings, Second Edition, can be obtained by contacting the Applied Technology Council, 201 Redwood Shores Parkway, Suite 240, Redwood City, CA 94065 (650/595-1542; fax 650/593-2320; email ATC@ATCouncil.org ; and web site www.ATCouncil.org. Click here to order from our online store).  Price:  $24.00 per copy (plus shipping and sales tax).