Welcome to BSSConline !

The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), established by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), develops and promotes building earthquake risk mitigation regulatory provisions for the nation.

Below you will find the latest publications developed by BSSC
To order call 1-800-480-2520

View the latest BSSC
Activities Report

NEHRP Recommended Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures:
Training and Instructional Materials

FEMA 451B

Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake-Resistant
Design and Construction

FEMA 232

Please note:

While it is anticipated that the new 2008 USGS hazard data will be the starting point for new seismic design maps in future editions of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions, the ASCE/SEI 7 Standard, and the International Building and Residential Codes, it is also anticipated that the values on those seismic design maps will be materially different than the values on the 2008 USGS hazard maps, for several reasons.  As such, by themselves the 2008 USGS hazard maps should not be used for building code design or for ASCE/SEI 41 or 31 rehabilitation or evaluation purposes.

Proposal PUC-1(2009) and Ballot — Content of Entire Provisions and Commentary

PUC Mail Ballot Comments on Integrating ASCE 7-05

Detailed Comparison of Structural Provisions of 2005 ASCE 7 to 2003 NEHRP

Report on Differences

First batch of proposals voted on from April 2 through May 2, 2007
PROPOSAL 5-25R (2009)        PROPOSAL 8-4 (2009)

Second batch of proposals being voted on from September 18 through October 18, 2007

Third Batch of proposals being voted on from October 9 through November 9, 2007

Proposals for Change to the NEHRP Recommended Provisions Submitted to the PUC for Ballot (February 26 - March 26, 2008)

View the second ballot of the 2009 NEHRP Recommended Provisions submitted to the BSSC member organizations. (June 10 - August 10, 2008)

View the PUC Ballot for 2008 Proposals to the 2009 NHERP Provisions (July 15 - August 15)

RESEARCH NEEDS IDENTIFIED

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has charged the BSSC to identify research needed
to advance the state of the art of earthquake-resistant design and serve as the basis for future refinement of the Provisions. Specific research needs that are beyond the scope of the Provisions update effort were identified during the development of the 2003 edition. Click on the adjacent link for a pdf outlining the
basic research needs and specific topics proposed for investigation during preparation
of the 2009 Provisions.

For additional information write Claret Heider at cheider@nibs.org.

Also read the Research & Development Needs Summary, which identifies important
needs pertaining to the future development and improvement of inelastic seismic
analysis procedures. The summary is part of the ATC-55 Project: Evaluation and Improvement of Inelastic Seismic Analysis Procedures.

RESEARCH
NEEDS

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