Seismic Rehabilitation Guidelines and Maps Available Online

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's publication FEMA 273-National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings, and the related FEMA 274-NEHRP Commentary, are now available at WWW.DEGENKOLB.COM/FEMA273/.

Both documents can be viewed and downloaded in their entirety. The seismic maps that accompany FEMA 273 are available at http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/eq/html/nehrp_maps.shtml

FEMA and the American Society of Civil Engineers are converting FEMA 273 into a prestandard-the first step in turning FEMA 273 and 274 into an ASCE/American National Standards Institute national consensus standard that can be referenced by building codes and contracts. The prestandard will be completed by June 2000. The principal investigator for the project is Chris Poland, president and senior principal, Degenkolb Engineers, San Francisco. For more information, contact Jim Rossberg, ASCE, at (703) 295-6196 or JROSSBERG@ASCE.ORG.