Building Science Resource Library
The Building Science Resource Library contains all of FEMA’s hazard-specific guidance that focuses on creating hazard-resistant communities.
You can search for a document by its title, or filter the collection to browse by:
- Topic: High winds, flood, earthquake, etc.
- Document Type: Brochure, report, fact sheet, infographic, etc.
- Audience: Building professionals & engineers, individuals & homeowners, teachers & kids, etc.
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This handbook assists local government officials in developing seismic retrofit incentive programs. The handbook summarizes several case studies that describe the steps that seven California cities have taken to promote and implement retrofitting in their communities. Included are sections on using zoning as an incentive to retrofit; local government finance options; a description of the Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URM) law and of recent legislation; and liability implications and considerations in the event of an earthquake.
The compressed file contains the PDF file and a text file for use with screen readers.
This brochure discusses some things homeowners can do to before the next hurricane strikes. Including improvements or temporary wind protection. It is important that these projects are completed before a hurricane threatens.
On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck the island of Kauai, Hawaii. With wind speeds exceeding those of Hurricanes Iwa (1982) and Dot (1959), Iniki was the strongest and most destructive hurricane to strike the Hawaiian Islands in recent memory. The MAT was tasked with surveying the performance of primarily residential structures under wind and water forces generated during Hurricane Iniki. The team investigated primary structural systems (i.e., systems in a building that resist lateral and vertical forces). For all buildings, the performance of exterior architectural systems, such as roofing, windows, and doors was analyzed. The analysis also included the effects of windborne and waterborne debris and the quality of construction and materials.
On August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck southern Dade County, Florida. In conducting its survey, the MAT investigated primary structural systems of buildings (i.e.; systems that support the building against all lateral and vertical loads experienced during a hurricane).
This publication is just the code capability report, for the appendices see FEMA numbers 297, and 298. This report provides a comparison between the NFIP technical guidelines and standards and the model code and standards. The report's recommendations provide a basis for coordinating NFIP documents with model code and standards. This report is a resource document.
This publication is just appendices A and B for the code capability report, for the report or other appendices see FEMA 296 and 298. This report provides a comparison between the NFIP technical guidelines and standards and the model code and standards. The report's recommendations provide a basis for coordinating NFIP documents with model code and standards. This report is a resource document.
This publication is just appendices C through F for the code capability report, for the report or other appendices see FEMA 296 and 297. This report provides a comparison between the NFIP technical guidelines and standards and the model code and standards. The report's recommendations provide a basis for coordinating NFIP documents with model code and standards. This report is a resource document.
This report summarizes the vulnerability of gas and liquid fuel pipeline systems to damage in past earthquakes. The report lists the available standards and technologies that can protect such facilities against earthquake damage. An overview of measures taken by various federal agencies to protect pipeline systems is presented. The appendix presents summaries of statements made by representatives of federal agencies and other organizations contacted during the study.
The compressed file contains two files, the PDF file and a text file for use with screen readers.
This report provides an inventory of the major lifeline systems in the Cajon Pass. The report describes the earthquake and geologic analysis tools available to identify and define the level of seismic risk to those lifelines. The vulnerabilities occurring from the siting of multiple lifeline systems in confined and at risk areas due to their interactions from natural and manmade disasters are evaluated. Potential mitigation techniques for communication lifelines, electrical power lifelines, fuel pipelines, and transportation lifelines are identified. Detailed maps indicate lifeline locations. The report also discusses seismic hazards and predictive models for evaluating the damage potentials associated with the various seismic hazards.
There are two files in the compressed file, the PDF file and a text file for use with screen readers.
This report presents a new analysis method to identify the increase in the seismic vulnerability of individual lifeline systems (communication systems, electric power systems, fuel pipelines, and transportation lifeline) due to their proximity to other lifelines in the Cajon Pass. The method calculates a parameter that can be used to adjust the damage state values for shaking as determined by the ATC 13 damage probability matrices. The primary objective of the study was to determine how the time to restore full service would be affected by the collocation of several types of lifelines in the same congested corridor. The new method is applied to the Cajon Pass lifelines. The design program, AutoCAD, is used to develop overlays of the lifeline routes with seismic and geologic information presented in the inventory report (FEMA 225).
The compressed file contains the PDF file and a text file for use with screen readers.