July 2006
H-18-8
2.0 GENERAL
These requirements cover all VA facilities including those of national Cemetery
Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and Veterans Health
Administration.
2.1 New Critical and Essential Facilities
All new Critical and Essential Facilities shall be designed and constructed in full
compliance with the earthquake design and detailing requirements of IBC as
modified in these provisions. Critical and Essential Facilities shall be assigned to
Occupancy Category IV (buildings and other structures that are intended to remain
operational after an earthquake or other natural disaster such as tornado or
hurricane, etc.) as defined in ASCE 7, Section 1.5.
2.2 New Ancillary Facilities
All new Ancillary Facilities shall be designed and constructed in full compliance
with the earthquake design and detailing requirements of IBC with no additional
modifications. Ancillary Facilities shall be assigned to Occupancy Category II as
defined in ASCE 7, Section 1.5.
2.3 Existing Facilities Rehabilitation
a. All Critical and Essential Existing Facilities shall be rehabilitated using nonlinear
static procedures described in FEMA 356 to achieve the following rehabilitation
objectives.
i. Immediate occupancy performance level at BSE-1 (Basic Safety Earthquake
Level 1, Earthquake Hazard Level having a probability of exceedance of 10
percent in 50 years) as defined in FEMA 356.
ii. Collapse Prevention performance level at BSE-2 (Basic Safety Earthquake
Level 2, Earthquake Hazard Level having a probability of exceedance of 2
percent in 50 years) as defined in FEMA 356.
b. All Ancillary Facilities shall be rehabilitated using nonlinear static procedures
described in FEMA 356 using the requirements to achieve Basic Safety
Objectives.
2.4 Existing Facilities Rehabilitation Alternative Approach
An alternative approach may be permitted on a case-by-case basis upon approval
by Facilities Management for Critical and Essential Facilities to be strengthened
according to procedures in FEMA 356.
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