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Building Resilience

The National Institute of Building Sciences has a number of resources available to help communities improve the resilience of their buildings against potential natural and man-caused disasters.

Below is a list of councils, committees and programs that have documents specifically related to disaster risk:

Building Seismic Safety Council  – The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) develops earthquake risk mitigation and regulatory provisions for the nation’s buildings. BSSC works with federal agencies and private industry to improve seismic safety.

BSSC Resources:

Multihazard Mitigation Council  – The Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) works to reduce the total losses associated with buildings and other structures as a result of natural disasters and other hazards.

MMC Resources:

Multihazard Risk Assessment / HAZUS®-MH – The Institute completed the first nationally-applicable risk assessment methodology in the 1990's and now is responsible for independent verification of the software program used by emergency managers to estimate damage and loss from potential disasters.

HAZUS® Resources:

National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities – The National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) website is the largest source of school facilities information in the world. 

NCEF Resources:

  • Earthquakes and Schools: This NCEF publication discusses earthquake basics, preparing a school for an earthquake, reducing nonstructural hazards and seismic upgrading.

WBDG Whole Building Design Guide® – A free online resource for the building industry, the WBDG is the gateway to up-to-date information on integrated ‘whole building’ design techniques and technologies.

WBDG Resources:

  • Resist Natural Hazards  – This page within the Design Guidance section under the Secure/Safe subsection of the WBDG site contains an overview of natural hazards, recommendations, emerging issues, relevant codes and standards, and additional resources.
  • WBDG 10: Seismic Design Basics  – This free online continuing education course provides an introduction to the concepts and principles of seismic design, including strategies for designing earthquake-resistant buildings to ensure the health, safety and security of building occupants and assets.
*These links will direct you to the FEMA website. The Institute is not responsible for its content.
 

 

The National Institute of Building Sciences has a number of resources available to help communities improve the resilience of their buildings against potential natural and man-caused disasters.

 

Below is a list of councils, committees and programs that have documents specifically related to disaster risk:

 

Building Seismic Safety Council [link to www.nibs.org/bssc] – The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) develops earthquake risk mitigation and regulatory provisions for the nation’s buildings. BSSC works with federal agencies and private industry to improve seismic safety.

 

BSSC Resources (through FEMA):

 

-          NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (FEMA P-750) [link to http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=4103]

-          Earthquake-Resistant Design Concepts:  An Introduction to the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions (FEMA P-749) [link to http://www.nibs.org/index.php/bssc/news/Entry/new_fema_pub_749]

 

Multihazard Mitigation Council [link to www.nibs.org/mmc] – The Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) works to reduce the total losses associated with buildings and other structures as a result of natural disasters and other hazards.

 

MMC Resources:

 

-          Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities  [link to http://www.nibs.org/index.php/mmc/projects/nhms ]

-          Guidance developed by the American Lifelines Alliance (ALA), a public-private partnership project that was funded by the FEMA and managed by the Institute’s MMC [http://www.americanlifelinesalliance.org]

-          The Journal of Hazard Mitigation and Risk Assessment (JHAZ) – this bi-annual publication focuses on decreasing the nation’s losses from disaster events while also promoting community preparedness, sustainability and resilience. [pdf sent to Bob]

 

Multihazard Risk Assessment/ HAZUS®-MH –The Institute completed the first nationally-applicable risk assessment methodology in the 1990s and now is responsible for independent verification of the software program used by emergency managers to estimate damage and loss from potential disasters.

 

HAZUS® Resources (through FEMA):

           

-          FEMA HAZUS Website [link to http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/]

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WBDG Whole Building Design Guide® – A free online resource for the building industry, the WBDG is the gateway to up-to-date information on integrated ‘whole building’ design techniques and technologies.

 

WBDG Resources:

 

-          Resist Natural Hazards page [link to http://www.wbdg.org/design/resist_hazards.php] – This page within the Design Guidance section under the Secure/Safe subsection of the WBDG site contains an overview of natural hazards, recommendations, emerging issues, relevant codes and standards, and additional resources.

-          WBDG 10: Seismic Design Basics [link to http://www.wbdg.org/education/seismicdesignbasics.php] – This free online continuing education course provides an introduction to the concepts and principles of seismic design, including strategies for designing earthquake-resistant buildings to ensure the health, safety, and security of building occupants and assets.