National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

2009 NEHRP Recommended Provisions

The NEHRP Recommended Provisions have been the primary source of seismic design requirements for U.S. model building codes and design standards since the early 1990s.

FEMA is currently funding the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) to produce the 2009 edition. Proposals under consideration by the BSSC Provisions Update Committee are available at BSSConline.

The 2009 edition will be significantly different from earlier versions in that ASCE 7-05 and the standards cited therein have been adopted by reference and that material will no longer be contained in the Provisions. The 2009 Provisions will feature several parts:

• An introductory part will summarize basic seismic design concepts for less technical audiences.
• Part 1 will identify additions and exceptions to ASCE 7-05, which represent the BSSC Provisions Update Committee’s modifications and clarifications of the seismic requirements in the standard.
• Part 2 will provide an up-to-date, user friendly commentary on how to design using the reference standard(s) with the Provisions’ exceptions.
• Part 3 will comprise a series of white papers presenting state-of-the-art information and procedures intended to generate feedback and stimulate preliminary consideration for future integration into the model building codes and standards.

The 2003 Provisions (FEMA 450) and its complimentary materials (FEMA 451 and FEMA 451B) are available online and can be ordered, free of charge. Visit FEMA Earthquake Publications and Resources for more information.

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