California Seismic Safety Standards 101

In light of a recent report on the status of seismic safety for California hospitals, as well as some discussion about the expense involved, the following is a summary of the structural performance categories (SPC) established by California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OHSPD) for state-wide hospitals:

  • SPC-0 The hospital evaluated this building but did not provide any rating in its report to OSHPD.
  • SPC-1 These buildings pose a significant risk of collapse and a danger to the public after a strong earthquake. These buildings must be retrofitted, replaced or removed from acute care service by January 1, 2013 (or 2015 in some cases) for many hospital buildings.
  • SPC-2 These are buildings in compliance with the pre-1973 California Building Standards Code or other applicable standards, but are not in compliance with the structural provisions of the Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. These buildings do not significantly jeopardize life, but may not be repairable or functional following strong ground motion. These buildings must be brought into compliance with the Alquist Act by January 1, 2030 or be removed from acute care service.
  • SPC-3 These buildings are in compliance with the structural provisions of the Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. In a strong earthquake, they may experience structural damage that does not significantly jeopardize life, but may not be repairable or functional following strong ground motion. Buildings in this category will have been constructed or reconstructed under a building permit obtained through OSHPD. They can be used to 2030 and beyond.
  • SPC-4 These are buildings in compliance with the structural provisions of the Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act that may experience structural damage which could inhibit the building’s availability following a strong earthquake. Buildings in this category will have been constructed or reconstructed under a building permit obtained through OSHPD. They may be used to 2030 and beyond.
  • SPC-5 These buildings are in compliance with the structural provisions of the Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act, and are reasonably capable of providing services to the public following strong ground motion. Buildings in this category will have been constructed or reconstructed under a building permit obtained through OSHPD. They may be used without restriction to 2030 and beyond.

The following is a summary of non-structural performance categories (NPC): These ratings cover a building’s non-structural systems including communications, emergency power supplies, bulk medical gas, fire alarms and emergency lighting.

  • NPC-0 The hospital evaluated the building’s non-structural components but did not report any rating.
  • NPC-1 In these buildings, the basic systems essential to life safety and patient care are inadequately anchored to resist earthquake forces. Hospitals were required to brace the communications, emergency power, bulk medical gas and fire alarm systems in these buildings.
  • NPC-2 In these buildings, essential systems vital to the safe evacuation of the building are adequately braced. The building is expected to suffer significant nonstructural damage in a strong earthquake. Hospitals must meet this deadline by January 1, 2013 (or under new legislation (SB 499) apply for an extension through January 1, 2030).
  • NPC-3 In these buildings, nonstructural systems are adequately braced in critical areas of the hospital. If the building structure is not badly damaged, the hospital should be able to provide basic emergency medical care following the earthquake.
  • NPC-4 In these buildings, the contents are braced in accordance with current code. If the building structure is not badly damaged, the hospital building should be able to function, although interruption of the municipal water supply or sewer system may impede operations.
  • NPC-5 These buildings meet all the above criteria and have water and waste-water holding tanks—sufficient for 72 hours of emergency operations—integrated into the plumbing systems. They also contain an on-site emergency system and are able to provide radiological service and an onsite fuel supply for 72 hours of acute care operation.

Additional information can be found on OSHPD’s Website under seismic retrofit program.

Miscellaneous