Commentary on the Use of ATC-13 Earthquake Damage Evaluation Data for Probable Maximum Loss Studies of California Buildings

The ATC-13-1 report, Commentary on the Use of ATC-13 Earthquake Damage Evaluation Data for Probable Maximum Loss Studies of California Buildings, was funded by the ATC Henry J. Degenkolb Memorial Endowment Fund (Published 2002, 66 pages).

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this Commentary is to provide guidance to consulting firms who are using ATC-13 expert-opinion data (published by ATC in 1985) for probable maximum loss (PML) studies of California buildings. This report explains the development of the ATC-13 expert-opinion estimates of physical damage caused by earthquakes, the limitations of the ATC-13 data, and the issues associated with using the data for PML studies.

The ATC-13-1 Commentary contains:

• a discussion of the scope and results of the ATC-13 project,
• a description of the most common type of PML study,
• a discussion and some examples of how ATC-13 is typically used as a basis for a PML study,
• recommended improvements to the ATC-13 data, and
• three appendices containing information and data not included in the original ATC-13 report:

1. 1. ATC-13 model building type descriptions, including methodology for estimating the expected performance of standard, nonstandard, and special construction;
   2. ATC-13 Beta damage distribution parameters for model building types; and
   3. PML values for ATC-13 model building types.

Click here to view the Title Page, Preface, and Contents.