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Cripple Wall Retrofit: Seismic Retrofit of Wood-Frame Cripple Walls and Unreinforced Masonry Chimneys

In this training, participants learn how to seismically strengthen two of the most common vulnerabilities found in one- and two-family dwellings: wood-frame cripple walls and unreinforced masonry chimneys. In an earthquake, cripple walls with inadequate anchorage may allow the dwelling to slide off its foundation, or, if inadequately braced, the cripple wall itself may collapse. Unreinforced masonry chimneys can fall out onto exterior areas, endangering passersby, or into the home, endangering occupants. Retrofitting of these vulnerabilities minimizes the risk of earthquake damage and increases the probability that these homes are available to provide shelter immediately following an event.

The training explains how to check if a dwelling has cripple walls or a chimney that are vulnerable to earthquake damage, introduces prescriptive, preengineered plan sets that are available to address the vulnerabilities, and explains how to determine if the plan sets are applicable to a given dwelling.

Duration: 2 hours in person | 2 hours online

Related Documents

FEMA P-1100, Vulnerability-Based Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings

FEMA P-1024-RA1, South Napa Earthquake Recovery Advisory: Repair of Earthquake-Damaged Masonry Fireplace Chimneys

FEMA P-1024-RA2, South Napa Earthquake Recovery Advisory: Earthquake Strengthening of Cripple Walls in Wood-Frame Dwellings