Seismic Assessment Reports and Probable Maximum Loss (PML) Studies
VIE has performed seismic assessment reports and PML analyses for hundreds of buildings located throughout the Western United States, as well as in other states with moderate seismicity. This service is provided for property assessment consulting companies, financial institutions, facility owners, investors, and government entities.
About Seismic Assessments
Seismic assessments study the proximity of faults in a geographic location of a subject property, the expected possible strength, type of construction, geological conditions, and physical setting of a property in order to estimate a cost to restore the structure to pre-earthquake conditions. Probable maximum loss assessments provide statistical estimates of building damages based on user-defined risk tolerances.
FEMA states that seismic risks are harms or losses likely to result from exposure to seismic hazards. These are measured in expected casualties, direct economic losses, and indirect economic losses. More specific measures of risk, such as durations of utility outages and amount of debris likely to be generated are used for disaster planning.
Since not all clients view risks the same, PMLs take on different forms for different clients. Seismic assessments may include calculations of PMLs based on projections from current building codes. Certain properties may require more detailed assessments than others.
Minimize Exposure To Seismic Risk With VIE
VIE has performed these analyses using multiple techniques, including expert database methods (such as ATC 13, and Thiel/Zsutty); as well as using more detailed methods, such as those in ASCE 41 and FEMA P-58.
VIE has also developed customized seismic risk assessment methods, which have been used in client-specific evaluations. VIE has performed private sector and government sector seismic evaluations, such as for multi-family housing buildings which conform to HUD requirements, and government facilities conforming to project-specific criteria.
VIE has performed structural condition assessments in moderate and low seismicity areas of the United States. These assessments have focused on identification of the condition of structural systems, as well as assessments for non-seismic hazards, such as wind loads or snow loads.
These studies and design projects involved assessment of natural hazard effects, terrorism, blast, and development of mitigation alternatives. Dating back to 1985, Mr. Masek, VIE’s Principle Engineer, was the coauthor of one of the first FEMA documents to address earthquake hazard mitigation for lifeline systems in the United States. Since then, Mr. Masek has authored many seismic mitigation plans and developed seismic criteria for replacement or retrofit of public and private sector facilities.
Previous PML Clients
A partial list of previous VIE clients for whom seismic assessment reports were completed includes:
AEI
Role: Building Condition Assessment Engineer and Seismic Risk Analyst
Mr. Masek has performed approximately one hundred property condition assessments and probable maximum loss evaluations for AEI. Properties have included shopping malls, apartment facilities, industrial facilities, low-rise to high-rise office buildings, and parking structures. Reviews have been mostly in Utah, and Idaho.
EMG
Role: Building Condition Assessment Engineer and Seismic Risk Analyst
Mr. Masek has performed multiple property condition assessments and probable maximum loss evaluations for EMG. Properties have included shopping malls, apartment facilities, industrial facilities, low-rise to high-rise office buildings, and parking structures. Reviews have been mostly in Utah.
Partner Engineering
Role: Building Condition Assessment Engineer and Seismic Risk Analyst
Mr. Masek has performed approximately several hundred property condition assessments and probable maximum loss evaluations for PCA, LLC. Properties have included multi-story office buildings, parking structures, and apartment facilities (especially mid-rise student housing). Projects have been located in multiple east coast, mid-west, and western US states. Specific facilities are confidential.
PCA, LLC
Role: Building Condition Assessment Engineer and Seismic Risk Analyst
Mr. Masek has performed approximately fifty property condition assessments and probable maximum loss evaluations for PCA, LLC. Properties have included multi-story office buildings, parking structures, and apartment facilities (especially mid-rise student housing). Projects have been located in multiple east coast, mid-west, and western US states. Specific facilities are confidential.
NOVA
Role: Building Condition Assessment Engineer and Seismic Risk Analyst
Mr. Masek has design phase plan views, construction phase reviews, and probable maximum loss evaluations for NOVA. Mr. Masek’s role has included seismic evaluations of historical office and residential buildings. Additionally Mr. Masek has performed approximately forty seismic evaluations of HUD properties, which have entailed ASCE 41 calculations.
The Irvine Company Seismic Review Services
Role: Project Engineer, Project Manager, Engineer of Record
VIE Engineers have performed seismic assessments of the Irvine Company’s portfolio of 100+ major structures while employed by other consulting companies. Various seismic retrofit, insurance, and risk assessment alternatives were investigated. The end result was a restructuring of earthquake insurance, coupled with selective seismic retrofit of several facilities.