INFORMATION DISSEMINATION/TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

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 80,000 reports have been distributed.

Other information dissemination efforts have involved the participation of BSSC representatives in a wide variety of meetings and conferences, BSSC participation in development of curriculum for a FEMA Emergency Management Institute course on the Provisions for structural engineers and other design professionals, issuance of press releases, development of in-depth articles for the publications of relevant groups, work with Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA) that resulted in use of the Provisions in the BOCA National Building Code and the Southern Building Code Congress International's Standard Building Code, and cooperation with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) that resulted in use of the Provisions in the 1993 and 1995 Editions of Standard ASCE 7. In addition, many requests for specific types of information and other forms of technical support are received and responded to monthly.

During 1996, as part of the efforts of a joint committee of the BSSC, Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, Southern Building Code Congress International and Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction to develop mechanisms for the seismic training of building code officials, the BSSC contributed its expertise in the development of a manual for use in such training efforts.

Information dissemination efforts during 1997 have been somewhat curtailed so that resources could be devoted to introduction of the 1997 Provisions and related efforts. In this regard, NIBS has requested and received an extension of its existing information dissemination contract with FEMA through September 1998. Work currently is under way to update the Nontechnical Explanation of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions to reflect the 1997 edition. In addition, Seismic Considerations for Communities at Risk is being updated to reflect the 1997 Provisions as well as the new NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings, the new HAZUS loss estimation methodology, and FEMA's Project Impact.

Further, the instructional course materials (with the exception of the Guide to Application of the Provisions) developed to reflect the 1991 edition of the Provisions are being updated to reflect changes made for the 1997 edition and it is anticipated that the Guide will update during the coming fiscal year.

Finally, planning for the development of an Internet/Web site devoted to the 1997 Provisions and the 2000 update effort has been initiated.

Address: 1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005-4905
Local Phone: (202) 289-7800
Fax: (202) 289-1092      Email: bmurphy@nibs.org