Field Manual: Safety Evaluation of Buildings after Windstorms and Floods

This guide will help you assess whether buildings that are damaged or potentially are damaged can still be used or if they need to be restricted. This is a perfect help guide for building inspectors, engineers, or any other field that checks the safety of buildings. All the information is presented to you in a handy pocket guide format.

Table of Contents

Preface

List of Figures

List of Tables

1. Introduction
   1. Purpose and Scope
   2. Report Contents and Organization
2. Overview of Building Safety-Evaluation Procedures
   1. Basic Building Safety-Evaluation Procedures
   2. Other Inspection Consideration
      1. Personnel Requirements
      2. Geotechnical Conditions
      3. Hazardous Materials
      4. Right to Inspect
   3. Posting Categories
   4. Posting Criteria
   5. Evaluation Forms
   6. Posting and Barricading Procedures
   7. Changing Posting Classification
   8. Use of Judgment Required
3. Rapid Evaluation Procedure
   1. Introduction
   2. Rapid Evaluation Criteria
   3. Rapid Evaluation Damage Assessment
      1. Examples of Building Postings
      2. Difficult Posting Decisions
      3. Substantial Damage Determination
   4. Inspection Process
4. Detailed Evaluation and Posting of Wind-Damaged Buildings
   1. Introduction
   2. Building Categories
      1. Low-Rise Residential Buildings
      2. Low-Rise Commercial Buildings
      3. Mid-Rise and High-Rise Commercial Buildings
   3. Detailed Postwind Evaluation Criteria
   4. Detailed Postwind Evaluation Procedure
      1. Building System Considerations
      2. Inspection Process
      3. When the Structural System is not Viewable
5. Detail Evaluation and Posting of Flood-Damaged Buildings
   1. Introduction
   2. Building Classification for Flood Damage Evaluation
   3. Typical Building Damage
      1. Damage Due to Inundation and Hydrostatic Forces
      2. Damage Due to Velocity (Hydrodynamic Forces)
      3. Damage Due to Waves
      4. Damage Due to Erosion and Scour
      5. Damage Due to Other Geological Conditions
   4. Detailed Postflood Evaluation Criteria
   5. Detailed Postflood Evaluation Procedure
      1. Building System Considerations
      2. Inspection Process
      3. When the Structural System is Not Viewable
6. Detailed Evaluation and Posting of Nonstructural Hazards
   1. Introduction Evaluation Criteria
   2. Essential Facilities – Operational Considerations
7. Engineering Evaluation Method
8. Field Safety for Inspectors
   1. Safety in the Field
   2. Hazardous Materials
      1. Recognition of Hazardous Materials
      2. Actions to be Taken
      3. Field Equipment
9. Human Factors Following Disasters
   1. Introduction
   2. Dealing with the Owners of Damaged Property
   3. Coping with Stress in the Field

Appendix A: Project Participants

Appendix B: Evaluation Forms and Posting Placards

Appendix C: Example 1 – Rapid Evaluation

Appendix D: Example 2 – Detailed Evaluation

Appendix E: Guidance for Owners and Occupants of Damaged Buildings

References

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