Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage: A Practical Guide. Earthquake Hazards Reduction Series 1.

The purpose of this booklet is to provide practical information to owners, operators, and occupants of office and commercial buildings on the vulnerabilities posed by earthquake damage to nonstructural items and the means available to deal with these potential problems. Examples of dangerous nonstructural damages that have occurred in past earthquakes include broken glass, the overturning of tall and heavy shelves, falling overhead light fixtures, ruptured piping containing hazardous substances, and falling pieces of brickwork or precast concrete panels. Typical nonstructural items are described in terms of their earthquake damageability relative to different intensities of shaking. Charts illustrate high-moderate-low statements of life safety and outage risks and percent replacement cost estimates. The most promising countermeasures for protecting each item from earthquake damage are provided. Photographs illustrate actual instances of damage to each type of nonstructural item. Within the document are 23 figures; appended are 12 references and a 14-item annotated bibliography. (MLF)