FEMA E-74 Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage

The nonstructural portions of a building, such as interior walls, ceilings, utilities, fixtures, and contents, can account for up to 75 to 80 percent of a building’s total cost. The recent earthquakes in Chile, New Zealand, and Japan have once again provided many examples of buildings that performed well structurally but still suffered significant nonstructural damage and were rendered unusable for long periods of time. Given the importance of nonstructural building components, it is critical to raise awareness of nonstructural risks, the costly consequences of nonstructural failures, and opportunities to limit future losses.

explains the sources of nonstructural earthquake damage in simple terms and provides methods for reducing potential risks. The Guide is intended for non-technical audiences, including building owners, facility managers, maintenance personnel, store or office managers, corporate or agency department heads, and homeowners. FEMA E-74 includes more than 70 examples of different nonstructural components, complete with photos of actual damage and details illustrating correct mitigation and installation measures. The newweb format of FEMA E-74 makes it simple to browse and to print out details and sections of interest. MORE INFO