Third Edition Update of FEMA P-154: Rapid Visual Screening for Potential Seismic Hazards

FEMA P-154 Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards: A Handbook and the companion publication FEMA P-155: Supporting Documentation provide a methodology for rapid visual screening of buildings for potential seismic hazards. The Handbook provides a “sidewalk survey” approach that enables classification of buildings into two categories: those that appear to be adequately safe and those that may be seismically hazardous and should be evaluated in more detail. The first edition of the Handbook was published in 1988, and it was updated to the second edition in 2002. The methodology has been used extensively throughout the United States by private sector organizations and government agencies to screen buildings, and it has served as a model for similar efforts in other countries. In a project funded by FEMA, the Applied Technology Council updated both FEMA P-154 and FEMA P-155. Major enhancements in the third edition include improvements in the screening form; an added optional more detailed level of screening; updates of the scoring methodology; more refined seismicity regions; new reference guides for vertical and plan irregularities; additional building types; improved consideration of additions, adjacent structures, and retrofits; an optional electronic scoring methodology; new insight into risk; and more detailed discussion on how to run an effective screening program.