Post Storm Safety Evaluation

Design of Buildings in Coastal RegionsDesign of Buildings in Coastal Regions

Post Storm Safety EvaluationPost Storm Safety Evaluation

ATC-45 Based AssessmentsATC-45 Based Assessments

William L. Coulbourne, P.E.

[email protected]


ObjectivesObjectives

Establish drivers for post storm assessmentsEstablish drivers for post storm assessments

Review assessment procedures outlined in Review assessment procedures outlined in ATC-45ATC-45

Examine practical concerns for inspectors Examine practical concerns for inspectors including safetyincluding safety

Look at examples of recent storm damageLook at examples of recent storm damage


Unique EnvironmentUnique Environment

After the storm and immediate search/rescue After the storm and immediate search/rescue activities, next focus will be on re-establishing activities, next focus will be on re-establishing services and determining when it is safe for services and determining when it is safe for evacuees to returnevacuees to return

The task of doing building assessments can The task of doing building assessments can overwhelm pre-existing building official staffoverwhelm pre-existing building official staff


Qualified PersonnelQualified Personnel

Rapid EvaluationRapid Evaluation

Building Design ProfessionalsBuilding Design Professionals

Building InspectorsBuilding Inspectors

Disaster workers and Technical Staff familiar with Disaster workers and Technical Staff familiar with building constructionbuilding construction

Detailed EvaluationDetailed Evaluation

Building Design ProfessionalsBuilding Design Professionals

Building InspectorsBuilding Inspectors


ATC-45ATC-45

Applied Technology Council – ATC-45 Field Applied Technology Council – ATC-45 Field Manual: safety evaluation of buildings after Manual: safety evaluation of buildings after wind-storms and floodswind-storms and floods

Audience – building officials, volunteer design Audience – building officials, volunteer design professionals, and other emergency response professionals, and other emergency response personnelpersonnel

Modeled after ATC-20 for post earthquake Modeled after ATC-20 for post earthquake evaluationsevaluations


ATC-45ATC-45

Evaluation proceduresEvaluation procedures

Rapid and Detailed evaluation proceduresRapid and Detailed evaluation procedures

Posting criteria and formsPosting criteria and forms

Evaluation of non-structural hazardsEvaluation of non-structural hazards

Field safety for inspectorsField safety for inspectors

Human factors discussionHuman factors discussion

ExamplesExamples



10 to 30 minutes10 to 30 minutes

Used to quickly post Used to quickly post unsafe and unsafe and apparently safe apparently safe structuresstructures

Identify need for Identify need for further actionfurther action

Table 3-1 provides Table 3-1 provides criteriacriteria







Links to further action including need for a detailed Links to further action including need for a detailed evaluationevaluation



30 min. to 4 hours30 min. to 4 hours

Careful visual Careful visual examinationexamination

Used to identify Used to identify necessary restrictions necessary restrictions on building use or need on building use or need for engineering for engineering evaluationevaluation

Table 4-4 provides Table 4-4 provides criteriacriteria










Detailed Inspection ProcessDetailed Inspection Process

Step 1 – Survey Building from OutsideStep 1 – Survey Building from Outside

Look for signs of roof upliftLook for signs of roof uplift

Look for signs of foundation movementLook for signs of foundation movement

Look for visible signs of connection failure (gaps, Look for visible signs of connection failure (gaps, cracks, vertical discontinuities)cracks, vertical discontinuities)

Look at non-structural elementsLook at non-structural elements

Look for signs of water level at flooding eventsLook for signs of water level at flooding events



Step 2 – Examine site for geotechnical Step 2 – Examine site for geotechnical hazardshazards

Slope failureSlope failure

Sink holesSink holes

Risk may extend outside of a single buildingRisk may extend outside of a single building



Step 3 – Inspect Structural System from InsideStep 3 – Inspect Structural System from Inside

Before entering, look for falling hazards and risk of Before entering, look for falling hazards and risk of collapse – Don’t enter obviously unsafe areascollapse – Don’t enter obviously unsafe areas

Look above ceiling panels, expose as much as you Look above ceiling panels, expose as much as you cancan

Examine vertical and lateral load carrying systemExamine vertical and lateral load carrying system

Examine every floorExamine every floor



Step 4 – Inspect for Non-structural HazardsStep 4 – Inspect for Non-structural Hazards

Look for signs of damage to partitions, finishes, Look for signs of damage to partitions, finishes, utilitiesutilities

Look for spills or leaks of chemicals Look for spills or leaks of chemicals

Don’t restart electrical system, elevators, etc.Don’t restart electrical system, elevators, etc.

If building was inundated, make sure power is If building was inundated, make sure power is secured, and building marked unsafe until secured, and building marked unsafe until electrical system can be inspectedelectrical system can be inspected



Step 5 – Complete checklist and post buildingStep 5 – Complete checklist and post building

Mark estimated damageMark estimated damage

Ballpark , not preciseBallpark , not precise

Not meant to require significant extra workNot meant to require significant extra work

Complete checklistComplete checklist

Post structurePost structure

Make sure any restrictions are clearMake sure any restrictions are clear

Communicate to occupants if presentCommunicate to occupants if present


Engineering EvaluationEngineering Evaluation

When visual inspection is not sufficientWhen visual inspection is not sufficient

May require removing finishes to access May require removing finishes to access structurestructure

Normally supported by building owner as part Normally supported by building owner as part of repair processof repair process

Highest level of detail of three levels of Highest level of detail of three levels of evaluationevaluation


Posting CategoriesPosting Categories


InspectedInspected

No apparent hazard foundNo apparent hazard found

Repairs may be requiredRepairs may be required

Original lateral- and vertical-load capacity not Original lateral- and vertical-load capacity not significantly decreasedsignificantly decreased

No evidence of significant foundation damageNo evidence of significant foundation damage

No falling or other life safety risksNo falling or other life safety risks

If localized issues are addressed, okay to post inspectedIf localized issues are addressed, okay to post inspected

No restriction on use or occupancyNo restriction on use or occupancy


Restricted UseRestricted Use

Safety is questionable or hazardous conditions exist Safety is questionable or hazardous conditions exist that require restrictions on occupancy or use of that require restrictions on occupancy or use of structurestructure

Doubts only resolved by removal of elements or Doubts only resolved by removal of elements or engineering evaluationengineering evaluation

Interior finishes or ceilings are water saturated – Interior finishes or ceilings are water saturated – falling hazards or air quality issuesfalling hazards or air quality issues

Potentially only portion of building impactedPotentially only portion of building impacted

Indicate restrictions on placardIndicate restrictions on placard


Restricted UseRestricted Use

Examples of restriction statementsExamples of restriction statements

““Brief entry allowed to retrieve possessions only”Brief entry allowed to retrieve possessions only”

““Do not enter or use the following areas:”Do not enter or use the following areas:”

““Entry permitted to secure and repair structure”Entry permitted to secure and repair structure”

Need to make sure approach to mold issues is Need to make sure approach to mold issues is well plannedwell planned


Restricted Use?Restricted Use?


Restricted Use?Restricted Use?


UnsafeUnsafe

Extreme hazard or unsafe situation presentExtreme hazard or unsafe situation present

Significant risk of further damage or collapse for Significant risk of further damage or collapse for static conditions, subsequent winds or other events, or static conditions, subsequent winds or other events, or addition of occupant loadaddition of occupant load

Another unsafe condition Another unsafe condition Hazmat Hazmat

Unsafe for occupancy or entry, except as authorized Unsafe for occupancy or entry, except as authorized by the local building officialby the local building official

Not a demolition order!Not a demolition order!


Unsafe?Unsafe?


Unsafe?Unsafe?


Posting and BarricadingPosting and Barricading

Only one posting type per buildingOnly one posting type per building

Post all entrances for “Restricted Use” and Post all entrances for “Restricted Use” and “Unsafe”“Unsafe”

Use barricades to mark unsafe areasUse barricades to mark unsafe areas

Prompt barricading can prevent further injury or deathPrompt barricading can prevent further injury or death

Yellow caution tape, cones, fencing, etc.Yellow caution tape, cones, fencing, etc.


How can the information be How can the information be leveraged?leveraged?Although life safety is priority, don’t Although life safety is priority, don’t underestimate importance of assessing underestimate importance of assessing magnitude of damagemagnitude of damage

Estimating the “percent damage” on the formEstimating the “percent damage” on the form

Requires prior planning and developmentRequires prior planning and development

Requires training for personnel to ensure sufficient Requires training for personnel to ensure sufficient consistency in applicationconsistency in application


Safety for InspectorsSafety for Inspectors

Your safety is first priorityYour safety is first priority

Many potential field safety risksMany potential field safety risks

If in doubt, avoid the potential hazardIf in doubt, avoid the potential hazard

Let trained rescue and emergency response Let trained rescue and emergency response personnel handle hazardous situationspersonnel handle hazardous situations

Maintain effective communicationMaintain effective communication


Field Safety RisksField Safety Risks

Downed power linesDowned power lines

Leaning, broken, or uprooted treesLeaning, broken, or uprooted trees

Breached gas linesBreached gas lines

DebrisDebris

Scour holes, unstable soilScour holes, unstable soil

Displaced animalsDisplaced animals

Snakes, scorpions, escaped zoo animalsSnakes, scorpions, escaped zoo animals


Field RisksField Risks


Safety TipsSafety Tips

Always travel in teams of at Always travel in teams of at least two least two

Always wear hard hat and Always wear hard hat and bootsboots

Always survey the Always survey the entireentire building exterior prior to building exterior prior to enteringentering

Enter building only if Enter building only if deemed safe to do sodeemed safe to do so

Avoid all areas of potential Avoid all areas of potential hazmat releasehazmat release

Be alert for falling Be alert for falling hazardshazards

Avoid downed power Avoid downed power lines and buildings under lines and buildings under themthem

In case of gas leak, shut In case of gas leak, shut off if possible and alert off if possible and alert authoritiesauthorities


Supporting Inspection PersonnelSupporting Inspection Personnel

Due to difficult conditions, team has to be Due to difficult conditions, team has to be supported with logisticssupported with logistics

Inspectors don’t want to become burden on Inspectors don’t want to become burden on already overburdened emergency response already overburdened emergency response systemsystem

Timing criticalTiming critical

Need organized effort to task inspectors, Need organized effort to task inspectors, collect data, and process datacollect data, and process data


Supporting Inspection PersonnelSupporting Inspection Personnel

Frequently provided resources for inspectorsFrequently provided resources for inspectors

Official IdsOfficial Ids

Inspection forms and placardsInspection forms and placards

Caution TapeCaution Tape

Office goodsOffice goods

Food/Water **Food/Water **

Communication EquipmentCommunication Equipment

BerthingBerthing


What Should the Inspector Bring?What Should the Inspector Bring?

Personal ItemsPersonal Items

Personal ID / Driver’s LicensePersonal ID / Driver’s License

Cash! / Credit CardsCash! / Credit Cards

BackpackBackpack

Eye Protection, Gloves, Boots, HardhatEye Protection, Gloves, Boots, Hardhat

Sunscreen, HatSunscreen, Hat

Rain Gear/Extra ClothingRain Gear/Extra Clothing

Dust MaskDust Mask

Personal Hygiene Supplies (Two weeks of any prescription Personal Hygiene Supplies (Two weeks of any prescription

meds)meds)


What Should the Inspector Bring?What Should the Inspector Bring?

Field EquipmentField Equipment

Cell Phone or radioCell Phone or radio

MapsMaps

Data Recording gear – clipboardData Recording gear – clipboard

CameraCamera

Tape measure, laser measurerTape measure, laser measurer

Battery powered radioBattery powered radio

Flashlight(s) / Lantern (extra batteries)Flashlight(s) / Lantern (extra batteries)

Compass / Multi-ToolCompass / Multi-Tool


Human Factors - InspectorsHuman Factors - Inspectors

Weather conditions harshWeather conditions harsh

Physically difficultPhysically difficult

Long hoursLong hours

Must watch for “burnout” and overstressMust watch for “burnout” and overstress

Need to plan cycling of personnel if expected Need to plan cycling of personnel if expected work time passes one weekwork time passes one week

Eat well, get plenty of restEat well, get plenty of rest


Human Factors - ResidentsHuman Factors - Residents

Residents will have a range of emotionsResidents will have a range of emotions

Inspector may be first person representing Inspector may be first person representing authorities the person seesauthorities the person sees

No where to send people for aidNo where to send people for aid

Answer what you are confident in, provide factsAnswer what you are confident in, provide facts

Clearly explain reasonsClearly explain reasons

for actionsfor actions

Beware of potential hostilityBeware of potential hostility


Rescue Engineering?Rescue Engineering?

The intent of this material is The intent of this material is not emergency search and not emergency search and rescue responserescue response

The inspections should occur The inspections should occur after rescue activities, but after rescue activities, but before return of evacueesbefore return of evacuees

Search and rescue requires Search and rescue requires specialized training and specialized training and accepts different level of riskaccepts different level of risk


Where to get PublicationsWhere to get Publications

Get ATC-45 from Applied Technology CouncilGet ATC-45 from Applied Technology Council

http://www.atcouncil.org/ATC45.shtmlhttp://www.atcouncil.org/ATC45.shtml

($27 per copy), free download of forms($27 per copy), free download of forms

Some organizations such as Navy have developed Some organizations such as Navy have developed custom variants of ATC-45 approach for use on their custom variants of ATC-45 approach for use on their facilitiesfacilities

Can also get ATC-20 for post earthquake evaluations Can also get ATC-20 for post earthquake evaluations including PDA system for data entryincluding PDA system for data entry


How to get involved in this type of How to get involved in this type of workworkIn Virginia, one method is Professional In Virginia, one method is Professional Engineers Emergency Response TeamEngineers Emergency Response Team

VSPE, VDEM, and VA DPOR working together to VSPE, VDEM, and VA DPOR working together to identify and inventory engineers/firms available on identify and inventory engineers/firms available on volunteer or contract basisvolunteer or contract basis

VSPE/VDEM plans to provide trainingVSPE/VDEM plans to provide training

http://www.vaemergency.com/programs/engineers/http://www.vaemergency.com/programs/engineers/index.cfmindex.cfm

Documents

Post Storm Safety Evaluation