On-demand Webinar

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This webinar was co-sponsored by ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and ASCE Continuing Education

Instructor:  Robert G. Pekelnicky, P.E., S.E., M.ASCE

Course Length: 1.5 Hours

Purpose and Background

Significant changes to how seismic evaluations and retrofits will be carried out are just around the corner with the publication of the 2017 edition of ASCE/SEI 41 Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings. This webinar highlights the significant updates to the general provisions including specific discussions on revisions to the Basic Performance Objective for Existing Buildings (BPOE), the introduction of a new nonstructural performance level, and how the seismic hazard parameters and ground motion selection and scaling has changed from previous editions. The webinar contains high-level examples illustrating how the changes in the BPOE will affect building evaluations in various parts of the country.

Primary Discussion Topics

  • Revisions to the basic performance objective for existing buildings
  • Computation of seismic hazard parameters for existing buildings
  • Comparison of BPOE evaluation between ASCE 31-03, ASCE 41-13 and ASCE 41-17
  • The new hazards reduced nonstructural performance level
  • High level summaries of changes to the construction material specific provisions in ASCE 41-17

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Recognize how the changes to the BPOE may affect seismic evaluation and retrofit in different parts of the country
  • Determine why the provisions for seismic hazard parameter were changed to be more consistent with ASCE 7
  • Examine changes to the nonstructural provisions, including significant revisions to how the most dangerous hazards are considered

Webinar Benefits

  • Avoid using a seismic hazard that under-predicts the hazard of your building site
  • Become conversant in the ASCE 41 vernacular for performance-based evaluation and design for earthquake hazards
  • Be able to explain to building owners the most significant reason the Basic Performance Objective for Existing Buildings was changed
  • Prepare high-level calculations to compare ASCE 41-17 with previous editions of the standard
  • Learn how to specify target seismic performance objectives for existing buildings that you are tasked with evaluating
  • Name the most significant nonstructural hazards that a building may have
  • Prepare calculations to mitigate significant dangerous nonstructural hazards

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

  • Structural engineers
  • Building officials
  • Architectural engineers
  • Research professors

Webinar Outline

  • Introduction to the updated standard
  • ASCE 41 performance levels
    • Structural performance levels
    • Nonstructural performance levels
    • Building performance levels
  • Seismic hazard parameters
    • Pointing to ASCE 7 for consistency
    • High-level summary of ASCE 7 changes
    • Computing BSE-1e and BSE-2e parameters
    • Ground motion selection and scaling
  • Performance objective revisions
    • Issue with BPOE in the central & eastern u
    • Tier 1 and 2 BSE-2e performance objective revisions
    • Nonstructural hazards reduced performance level
  • Examples of changes to BPOE structural evaluation in:
    • San Francisco
    • Los Angeles
    • Seattle
    • Memphis
  • Nonstructural hazards reduced
    • How hazards are reduced differently from life safety and position retention
    • What components are considered hazards reduced

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]