THE 2003 NEHRP EDITION
In early 2001, FEMA contracted with NIBS to permit the BSSC to explore
how best to make use of new technology (e.g., the Internet for balloting)
in the 2003 Provisions update cycle and beyond. Recommendations from
this effort, which involved meetings with several web development firms,
were accepted and included in the proposal for the development of the
2003 Provisions.
An additional task involved the convening of an expert group to formulate
how best to deal with nonbuilding structures in the 2003 Provisions
update process and beyond. This meeting was held in January 2001 and
a report on the results of the meeting was transmitted to FEMA in May
2001. These recommendations also were reflected in the proposal for
the 2003 update cycle.
The proposal for the 2003 update of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions
was submitted to FEMA in June. In order to keep the momentum of the
update process and with the concurrence of the FEMA Project Officer,
the membership of the 2003 update committees was established and was
reviewed and accepted by the BSSC Board in June 2001 along with a revised
procedures/goals statement for the effort developed to reflect the thoughts
expressed at the BSSC Annual Meeting in March. Letters of invitation
to serve on the update committees were mailed during the last week of
June 2001.
FEMA signed the contract with NIBS for the 2003 update project on September
28, 2001. This 30-month contract provides for conduct of a base series
of tasks and two options.
Under this contract, it is expected that current USGS work on revising
its seismic hazard maps may result in substantive changes, and 2003
PUC Technical Subcommittee (TS) 1 is expected to incorporate the new
seismic map information
In order to improve use of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions, especially
in areas of low and moderate seismic hazard, an attempt to produce a
simplified design procedure was made during development of the 2000
Provisions. This material was not sufficiently developed and was not
incorporated into the 2000 Edition of the Provisions. This work is being
continued in the 2003 update by a new Simplified Design Task Group that
reports to the PUC via TS2.
Other issues being considered during the update process include: the
redundancy factor, , introduced during the 2000 update, which appears
to have generated significant controversy; the significant advances
in foundation analysis and design that have resulted from recent efforts
on the study of existing buildings; improved criteria to allow for design
based on building performance, especially for critical facilities, reflecting
material developed for FEMA 273 and taking into account a plan presently
being developed for FEMA by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute;
and improved and integrated criteria to address low-rise construction.
Functioning under a procedures statement for the 2003 update project
adopted by the BSSC Board in May 2001, the BSSC, through the PUC and
its TSs, are reviewing the 2000 Edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions
and the related Commentary to identify needed changes for the 2003 Edition.
These changes will be prepared in accordance with the BSSC's established
procedures. In order to facilitate communication as well as save paper
and reproduction costs, the BSSC is utilizing e-mail to the greatest
extent practical to allow for electronic transmission of materials and
is expected to develop a revised website to provide wide access to project
update materials. It is anticipated that paper copies of electronically
available materials will be mailed only upon request.
The results of recent relevant research and lessons learned from earthquakes
occurring prior to or during the duration of this project is being given
consideration at all stages of this process. Particular attention is
being focused on technical problems identified, but not resolved during
the preparation of the 2000 Edition.
Further, the PUC is coordinating its efforts with those of the BSSC's
Code Resource Support Committee (CRSC) as its works with the ICC and
NFPA. Changes recommended by the CRSC will be submitted to the PUC for
early consideration and changes developed by the PUC will be provided
to the CRSC for submittal into the code development process.
In addition, to eliminate duplication of effort, a Joint Coordinating
Committee composed of members of the PUC and ASCE 7 representatives
is examining potential change items to determine whether they can best
be handled directly in the ASCE 7 process or the Provisions update process.
Late in 2001, the reformatted version of the Provisions prepared during
the 2000 update cycle to eliminate redundance and inconsistencies, has
been reviewed by the PUC and TSs and voted on by the BSSC member organizations.
It received consensus approval and, in January 2002, was accepted by
the BSSC Board for use as the base document for proposal changes
The 2003 PUC convened for the first time in July in conjunction with
a meeting of the Joint Correlating Committee established to eliminate
duplication of efforts by those working on the Provisions and those
working on ASCE 7.
By the end of calendar 2001, several of the 2003 Technical Subcommittees
me and several more were scheduled to meet early in 2002. In January
2002, the PUC met and established a revised schedule for the project,
which calls for the first balloting on proposals for change to the 2000
Provisions to be initiated in December 2002.
Thus, the TSs are expected to submit their proposed changes to the PUC
in late summer 2002 and the PUC will meet in November 2002 to consider
those proposed changes. The PUC-approved proposed changes then will
be submitted to the BSSC Board of Direction for acceptance for balloting
by the BSSC member organizations. Upon approval of the proposed changes,
a draft of the 2003 Edition reflecting these changes will be prepared
and the proposals and draft will be submitted to the BSSC member organizations
for consensus balloting.
As part of this task, the PUC will continue to coordinate its efforts
with those of the CRSC as its works with the ICC and NFPA. Changes recommended
by the CRSC will be submitted to the PUC for consideration and changes
developed by the PUC will be provided to the CRSC for submittal into
the code development process.
The TSs will remain active throughout the balloting period so as to
be able to revise any of the proposed changes that do not pass the ballot
or otherwise need to be revised.
The ballot process will be conducted as prescribed by the BSSC Charter
and will include resolution of all "negative" and "yes
with reservations" ballots. Two ballot cycles are anticipated.
Following the balloting, the BSSC will prepare a final draft of the
2003 Edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions and Commentary that
reflect the changes agreed upon as a result of the consensus review
and ballot.
The BSSC also will prepare a summary of the major differences between
the 2000 and the 2003 Editions of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions.
This report will be included as an appendix in the final edition of
the 2003 Edition. Unresolved issues and research needs also will be
identified in a letter report to FEMA.
The 2003 update effort will conclude with preparation of a tentative
project work plan for the 2006 update. This work plan will include a
description of how each of the following tasks will be accomplished
and a preliminary schedule showing the time needed for each.
The BSSC also will identify qualified individuals to serve on the 2006
Provisions Update Committee (PUC) and on its Technical Subcommittees
deemed necessary for development of the 2006 Edition of the Provisions.
The BSSC continues in its efforts to stimulate widespread use of the
Provisions. In addition to the issuance of a variety of publications
that complement the Provisions, over the past seven years the BSSC has
developed materials for use in and promoted the conduct of a series
of seminars on application of the Provisions among relevant professional
associations. To date, more than 90 of these seminars have been conducted
with a wide variety of cosponsors and more than 75,000 reports have
been distributed.
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