ATC-84 Project: Improved Seismic Performance Factors for Design of New Buildings

This paper summarizes studies of the ATC-84 Project related to the potential use of risk-based concepts and criteria in future editions of seismic codes. Risk-based concepts provide a quantitative basis to incorporate specific functional, economic and life-safety performance objectives in seismic codes. Risk-based concepts are part of the recommendations of the ATC-84 Project for re-formulation of seismic code design requirements that also include future development of improved values of seismic performance factors (SPFs) of current code-approved seismic force-resisting systems using the methodology set forth in FEMA P-695 Quantification of Building Seismic Performance Factors (FEMA 2009a). The findings of the ATC-84 Project are published in the National Institute of Standards and Technology report, NIST GCR 12-917-20 Tentative Framework for Development of Advanced Seismic Design Criteria for New Buildings (NIST 2012).