Applied Technology Council A Nonprofit Corporation Advancing Engineering Applications for Hazard Mitigation California - Washington, DC Area

NEWS RELEASE March 19, 1997

For More Information, Contact: Patty Christofferson, 415/595-1542 E-mail: atc@atcouncil.org

The Applied Technology Council (ATC) is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the ATC-20-3 Report, Case Studies in Rapid Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings. The report illustrates 53 case studies using the ATC-20 Rapid Evaluation procedure, including 21 from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, 12 from the 1994 Northridge event, and 20 from other events. Rapid Evaluation is the first, and many times the only, safety evaluation performed. Each case study is illustrated with photos and describes how a building was inspected and evaluated for safety, and includes a completed safety assessment form and placard.

The document represents over two years work by a distinguished team of structural engineers and building officials and is the only report of its type. It is intended to be used as a training and reference manual for building officials, building inspectors, civil and structural engineers, architects, disaster workers, and others who may be asked to perform safety evaluations after an earthquake.

The ATC-20-3 Report includes these highlights:

• Describes updates of the Rapid Evaluation procedure
• Illustrates the case studies with over 200 photos and 112 figures
• Shows the use of the new Rapid Evaluation assessment form
• Illustrates the use of the new Restricted Use Placard
• Provides examples for:
  • Single family dwellings
  • Multi-unit wood frame dwellings
  • Unreinforced masonry buildings
  • Older concrete buildings
  • Tilt-up buildings
  • Older steel frame buildings
  • Modern and difficult-to-classify buildings
  • Mobile homes
  • Buildings damaged by ground movement
• Furnishes guidelines for barricading
• Provides advice on retrieval of possessions and salvage
• Discusses conservative versus nonconservative safety evaluation
• Discusses damage that is difficult to detect, including that to newer steel frame structures
• Speeds inspections and promotes more uniform evaluations and postings.

Copies of the ATC-20-3 report are available from the Applied Technology Council, 555 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 550, Redwood City, California 94065 (Phone: (415) 595-1542, Fax: (415) 593-2320, E-mail: atc@atcouncil.org. Price: $48.00 per copy (within California, please add applicable local sales tax; for destinations outside of the United States, actual shipping charges apply. Contact ATC office for quote).

 

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