VHA DIRECTIVE 2005-019
May 19, 2005
ATTACHMENT A
DEFINITIONS FOR THE SEISMIC SAFETY OF DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) BUILDINGS
1. H-18-8: VA Earthquake Design Requirements (formerly known H-08-8). The document
H-18-8 is regularly reviewed and updated by the Office of Facilities Management (FM). A
major upgrade was implemented in 1995 to H-08-8, and retitled as H-18-8. National Model
Building Codes have also been revised periodically since 1975, and now have merged into a
single International Building Code (IBC). Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Earthquake
Design Requirements closely align with IBC.
2. Essential Facilities. Essential buildings are buildings which house functions that are required
to remain operational after an earthquake or other natural disaster. They include patient bed
buildings, nursing homes, domiciliaries, outpatient clinics, psychiatric care facilities, research
facilities, and boiler plants.
3. Exceptionally High Risk (EHR) Buildings. In general, an EHR building is a large main
hospital building located in a high-seismic zone, and constructed before the adoption of H-08-8
in 1975. Specific definitions of EHR buildings' are described as:
a. Buildings located in high seismic zones;
b. Building is an essential facility;
c. Buildings designed prior to adoption of H-18-8; and
d. Buildings whose area is greater than 10,000 feet.
4. High Risk (HR) Buildings. The HR buildings, the second tier category, have been added to
identify buildings just below EHR level. They are defined as meeting one of the following:
a. Buildings that meet the definition of EHR except they are located in an area of moderate-
high seismicity; or
b. Buildings that meet the definition of EHR, except they are smaller than 10,000 square feet
and greater than 1,000 square feet.
5. Applied Technology Council (ATC). ATC is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation
established in 1971 through the efforts of the Structural Engineers Association of California.
ATC assists design practitioners in structural engineering in keeping abreast of, and effectively
utilizing, technological developments. Funding for projects is obtained from government
agencies and the private sector in the form of tax-deductible contributions.
A-1
Previous Page
