Linda Noson AGRA Earth & Environmental (425) 820-4669

Nonstructural Protection Guide for Schools

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Nonstructural Protection Guide: Purpose

Improve the safety of the school community

Provide a tool for District Staff and School Site Teams for developing, implementing, and maintaining a school nonstructural protection program

Learning Objectives

Recognize the potential for earthquake-induced damage to WA schools

Identify nonstructural building elements

Visualize the potential impacts of damaged nonstructural elements

Evaluate and select nonstructural protective measures

Take action RIVET

Why protect nonstructural elements from earthquakes?

Casualties and building closures may result from nonstructural damage even when structural damage is absent or slight

Low levels of earthquake shaking can severely damage nonstructural elements

Costs to repair nonstructural damage may equal building replacement costs

Nonstructural Protection Guide

Section A Background

Information

Section B Inventory Process

Section C Protective Measures

Section A Background Information

Earthquake Threat

Nonstructural Elements

Definition

Earthquake Damage

Nonstructural Protection Program

Earthquakes damaged Washington schools in the past and will in the future

90% of all earthquakes occur at the boundaries of slowing moving slabsof rock, called plates

Three plates interact in the Pacific Northwest and B.C.

Graphic: Garry Rogers, PGC, Canada

Earthquake Source Zones

1

23

North America PlateNorth America Plate

PacificPacific PlatePlateJuan de Juan de Fuca Fuca PlatePlate

Maximum size earthquake for each Zone:

Zone 1 - Deep Magnitude 7.5

Zone 2 - Shallow Magnitude 7+

Zone 3 CascadiaSubduction ZoneMagnitude 8 - 9

(Graphic: Garry Rogers, Pacific Geoscience Centre, Canada)

Notable Washington EarthquakesZone (1) - Deep, Puget Sound

1949 Olympia • M=7.1 MMI = VIII

• Total State loss $100-165 million

• WA School loss $60 million

• 30 closed temporarily

• 10 permanently

Seattle Schools• $28 million loss

• 21 schools damaged

• 5 closed temporarily

• 3 permanently

1965 Seattle-Tacoma• M=6.5 MMI = VII

• Total State loss $60 million

Seattle schools• 8 closed temporarily

• 2 damaged severely

All losses in 1998 dollars MMI = Modified Mercalli Intensity

Scale (I-XII) M = Magnitude

Zone 1 - Deep Earthquakes

Maximum magnitude = 7.5 (1949: M = 7.1)

Castle Rock High School 1949Lafayette School, Seattle 1949

Zone 2 - Shallow EarthquakesMaximum magnitude ~ 7

OlympiaOlympia

Seattle Fault

UpUp

UpUpUpUp

UpUp

DownDown

TacomaTacoma

UpDow

n

Seattle Fault - recent small earthquakes

Zone 3 - Cascadia Subduction Zone Maximum magnitude = 9

Tsunamis SandsTsunamis Sands

Old marsh

Last subduction zone earthquake January 26, 1700

Top of new march

Nonstructural Elements

Definition of nonstructural elements

Causes of nonstructural damage

Benefits of nonstructural protection

Limitations of nonstructural guide

Risk Control Program

NonstructuralElementsSupports building useand enhances appearance:

•Architectural•Mechanical•Electrical•Furniture & Equip.•Hazardous Materials

StructuralElementsPrevents building collapse under gravity, wind, earthquake, and other forces

Graphic: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Causes of nonstructural damageImposed Deformation

Distortion of window frameshattering windows

Distortion of suspended ceilingcausing recessed lights to fall

Photos: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Causes of nonstructural damageImposed Deformation

Door jammed shut bydistortion of wall. Victimaccessed through wall.

Photo: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Causes of nonstructural damageOverturning

Photos: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Causes of nonstructural damageSliding and Falling

Science Equipment

Mixing of hazardouschemicals

Photos: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Causes of nonstructural damage Swaying and falling

Photos: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Causes of nonstructural damage Pounding

Collision between two buildings or two building wings

Damage to structural and nonstructural elements intensified where buildings or building sections join

Nonstructural damage• piping• wiring• wall finishes

Nonstructural Program Benefits

Earthquake safety• reduces casualties• improves exit safety• accelerates recovery

Safety & Security• reduces theft• promotes team work• improves normal

operational safety

Guide Limitations

Protective measures cannot guarantee safe performance

Specialized expertise will be required for some elements

Available resources inadequate to eliminate all hazards

Failure of Reinforced and Braced Masonry Chimneys

Photos: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Risk Control Program

Preparedness• A capability to

respond and recover to emergencies

• Planning• Training• Emergency supplies

• Actions initiated by emergency

• Drop, cover and hold

Prevention and Mitigation• Reduce damage and

injuries by making the physical environment more hazard resistant

• Actions completed prior to earthquake emergency

• Nonstructural retrofit