Design Values for Buildings

Information About the Application

The Java Application includes hazard curves, uniform hazard response spectra, and design parameters for sites in the 50 states of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Design parameters are also available for Guam and American Samoa. Parameters are searchable by zip code or latitude and longitude, can be graphed, saved, and printed for later use.

For information on anticipated updates to the seismic design values for buildings, please click the following link to a recap of the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) Seismic Design Procedures Reassessment Group (SDPRG – a.k.a., Project ‘07) Workshop.

Available Ground Motion Parameters

1. USGS Probabilistic Hazard Curves (1996 and 2002 for the 48 conterminous states, 1998 Alaska, 1998 Hawaii, 2003 for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands)
2. USGS Uniform Hazard response Spectra Curves (1996 and 2002 for the 48 conterminous states, 1998 Alaska, 1998 Hawaii, 2003 for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands)
3. NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures (1997, 2000, and 2003 editions)
4. ASCE 7 Standard, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (1998, 2002, and 2005 editions)
5. International Building Code (2000, 2003, and 2006 editions)
6. International Residential Code (2000, 2003, 2004 supplement, and 2006 editions)
7. NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code (2003 and 2006 editions)