Course info

With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering, harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural building components becomes vital. Even if the structural components of a building achieve a continuous or immediate occupancy performance level after a seismic event, failure of architectural, mechanical or electrical components can lower the performance level of the entire building system. This reduction in performance caused by the vulnerability of nonstructural building components has been observed during recent earthquakes worldwide. Moreover, nonstructural damage has limited the functionality of critical facilities, such as hospitals following major seismic events. The investment in nonstructural building components and building contents is far greater than that of structural components and framing. Therefore, it is not surprising that in many past earthquakes, losses from damage to nonstructural building components have exceeded losses from structural damage. Furthermore, the failure of nonstructural building components can become a safety hazard or can hamper the safe movement of occupants evacuating or of rescue workers entering buildings. In ii comparison to structural components and systems, there is relatively limited information on the seismic design of nonstructural building components. Basic research work in this area has been sparse, and the available codes and guidelines are mostly based on experiences, engineering judgment and intuition, rather than on objective experimental and analytical results. Often, design engineers are forced to start almost from square one after each earthquake event: to observe what went wrong and to try to prevent repetitions. This is a consequence of the empirical nature of current seismic regulations and guidelines for nonstructural building components.