CHAPTER 1—GENERAL

components to determine structural resistance and that provides a complete load path capable of
performance characteristics. The review shall transferring loads from their point of origin to the
include the assumptions, criteria, procedures, load-resisting elements.
calculations, analytical models, test setup, test data,
1.4.4.3 The total lateral force shall be distributed to
final drawings, and reports. Upon satisfactory
the various vertical elements of the lateral-force-
completion, the peer reviewers shall submit a letter
resisting system in proportion to their rigidities
to the Building Official indicating the scope of their
considering the rigidity of the horizontal bracing
review and their findings.
system or diaphragm.
1.4.2 Serviceability. Structural systems, and
1.4.4.4 Rigid elements that are assumed not to be
members thereof, shall be designed to have
a part of the lateral-force-resisting system shall be
adequate stiffness to limit deflections, lateral drift,
permitted to be incorporated into buildings
vibration, or any other deformations that adversely
provided that their effect on the action of the system
affect the intended use and performance of
is considered and provided for in design.
buildings and other structures. See Section 12.12 for
drift limits applicable to earthquake loading. 1.4.4.5 Provisions shall be made for the increased
forces induced on resisting elements of the
1.4.2.1 Deflections. The deflections of structural
structural system resulting from torsion due to
members shall not exceed the more restrictive of the
eccentricity between the center of application of the
limitations of Sections 1.4.2.2 through 1.4.2.4 or
lateral forces and the center of rigidity of the lateral-
that permitted by Table 1-1.
force-resisting system.
1.4.2.2 Reinforced Concrete. The deflection of
1.4.5 Counteracting Structural Actions. All
reinforced concrete structural members shall not
structural members and systems, and all
exceed that permitted by SBC 304.
components and cladding in a building or other
1.4.2.3 Steel. The deflection of steel structural structure, shall be designed to resist forces due to
members shall not exceed that permitted by AISC earthquake, wind, soil and hydrostatic pressure and
360, AISI S100, ASCE 8, SJI CJ, SJI JG, SJI K or flood loads with consideration of overturning,
SJI LH/DLH as applicable. sliding, and uplift, and continuous load paths shall
be provided for transmitting these forces to the
1.4.2.4 Masonry. The deflection of masonry
foundation. Where sliding is used to isolate the
structural members shall not exceed that permitted
elements, the effects of friction between sliding
by SBC 305.
elements shall be included as a force. Where all or
1.4.3 Self-Straining Forces. Provision shall be a portion of the resistance to these forces is
made for anticipated self-straining forces arising provided by dead load, the dead load shall be taken
from differential settlements of foundations and as the minimum dead load likely to be in place
from restrained dimensional changes due to during the event causing the considered forces.
temperature, moisture, shrinkage, creep, and similar Consideration shall be given to the effects of
effects. vertical and horizontal deflections resulting from
1.4.4 Analysis. such forces.

1.4.4.1 Load effects on individual structural

members shall be determined by methods of 1.5 —General structural integrity
structural analysis that take into account 1.5.1 All structures shall be provided with a
equilibrium, general stability, geometric continuous load path in accordance with the
compatibility, and both short- and long-term requirements of Section 1.5.8 and shall have a
material properties. complete lateral force-resisting system with
1.4.4.2 Members that tend to accumulate residual adequate strength to resist the forces indicated in
deformations under repeated service loads shall Section 1.5.9 .
have included in their analysis the added 1.5.2 All members of the structural system shall
eccentricities expected to occur during their service be connected to their supporting members in
life. Any system or method of construction to be accordance with Section 1.5.10 .
used shall be based on a rational analy-sis in
accordance with well-established principles of 1.5.3 Structural walls shall be anchored to
mechanics. Such analysis shall result in a system diaphragms and supports in accordance with
Section 1.5.11 .

SBC 301-CR-18 5
 CHAPTER 1—GENERAL

1.5.4 The effects on the structure and its in each of two orthogonal directions. In each
components due to the forces stipulated in this direction, the static lateral forces at all levels shall
section shall be taken as the notional load, N, and be applied simultaneously.
combined with the effects of other loads in
1.5.9.2 For purposes of analysis, the force at each
accordance with the load combinations of Section
level shall be determined using Equation (1-3) as
2.3 or Section 1.5.7 .
follows:
1.5.5 Where material resistance is dependent on
load duration, notional loads are permitted to be 𝐹𝑥 = 0.01 𝑊𝑥 (1-3)
taken as having a duration of 10 minutes. where,
1.5.6 Structures designed in conformance with 𝐹𝑥 = The design lateral force applied at story 𝑥;
the requirements of this Code for Seismic Design 𝑊𝑥 = The portion of the total dead load of the
Categories B, C, D, E, or F shall be deemed to structure, 𝐷, located or assigned to level 𝑥.
comply with the requirements of Sections 1.5.8 , 1.5.9.3 Structures explicitly designed for stability,
1.5.9 , 1.5.10 and 1.5.11 . including second-order effects, shall be deemed to
1.5.7 Load Combinations of Integrity Loads. comply with the requirements of this section.
The notional loads, N, specified in Sections 1.5.8 1.5.10 Connection to Supports.
through 1.5.11 shall be combined with other loads
in accordance with Section 1.5.7.1 for strength 1.5.10.1 A positive connection for resisting
design and 0 for allowable stress design. a horizontal force acting parallel to the member
shall be provided for each beam, girder, or truss
1.5.7.1 Strength Design Notional Load either directly to its supporting elements or to slabs
Combinations designed to act as diaphragms.

1.2𝐷 + 1.0𝑁 + 𝐿 a 1.5.10.2 Where the connection is through a

(1-1) diaphragm, the member’s supporting element shall
0.9𝐷 + 1.0𝑁 b
also be connected to the diaphragm.
1.5.10.3 The connection shall have the
1.5.7.2 Allowable Stress Design Notional Load strength to resist a force of 5 percent of the
Combinations unfactored dead load plus live load reaction
imposed by the supported member on the
supporting member.
𝐷 + 0.7𝑁 a
1.5.11 Anchorage of Structural Walls.
𝐷 + 0.75(0.7𝑁) + 0.75𝐿 b 1.5.11.1 Walls that provide vertical load
(1-2) bearing or lateral shear resistance for a portion of
+ 0.75(𝐿𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑅)
0.6𝐷 + 0.7𝑁 c the structure shall be anchored to the roof and all
floors and members that provide lateral support for
the wall or that are supported by the wall.
1.5.8 Load Path Connections.
1.5.11.2 The anchorage shall provide a
1.5.8.1 All parts of the structure between direct connection between the walls and the roof or
separation joints shall be interconnected to form a floor construction.
continuous path to the lateral force-resisting
1.5.11.3 The connections shall be capable
system, and the connections shall be capable of
of resisting a strength level horizontal force
transmitting the lateral forces induced by the parts
perpendicular to the plane of the wall equal to 0.2
being connected.
times the weight of the wall tributary to the
1.5.8.2 Any smaller portion of the structure shall connection, but not less than 0.25 kN/m2 for walls
be tied to the remainder of the structure with of the structure assigned to seismic Category A and
elements having the strength to resist a force of not to Section 12.11 for walls of structures assigned to
less than 5% of the portion’s weight. all other seismic categories.
1.5.9 Lateral Forces. 1.5.11.4 Required anchors in masonry walls
1.5.9.1 Each structure shall be analyzed for the of hollow units or cavity walls shall be embedded
effects of static lateral forces applied independently in a reinforced concrete grouted structural element

SBC 301-CR-18 6
 CHAPTER 1—GENERAL

of the wall. See CHAPTER 12 and CHAPTER 26 for 1.6.3 Toxic, Highly Toxic, and Explosive
earthquake and wind design requirements, Substances.
respectively.
1.6.3.1 Buildings and other structures containing
1.5.12 Extraordinary Loads and Events. toxic, highly toxic, or explosive substances are
permitted to be classified as Risk Category II
1.5.12.1 When considered, design for
structures if it can be demonstrated to the
resistance to extraordinary loads and events shall be
satisfaction of the Building Official by a hazard
in accordance with the procedures of Section 2.5.
assessment as part of an overall risk management
plan (RMP) that a release of the toxic, highly toxic,
or explosive substances is not sufficient to pose a
1.6 —Classification of buildings and threat to the public.
other structures
1.6.3.2 To qualify for this reduced classification,
1.6.1 Risk Categorization. the owner or operator of the buildings or other
1.6.1.1 Buildings and other structures shall be structures containing the toxic, highly toxic, or
classified, based on the risk to human life, health, explosive substances shall have an RMP that
and welfare associated with their damage or failure incorporates three elements as a minimum: a hazard
by nature of their occupancy or use, according to assessment, a prevention program, and an
Table 1-2 for the purposes of applying flood, wind, emergency response plan.
earthquake. 1.6.3.3 As a minimum, the hazard assessment shall
1.6.1.2 Each building or other structure shall be include the preparation and reporting of worst-case
assigned to the highest applicable risk category or release scenarios for each structure under
categories. consideration, showing the potential effect on the
public for each. As a minimum, the worst-case
1.6.1.3 Minimum design loads for structures shall event shall include the complete failure
incorporate the applicable importance factors given (instantaneous release of entire contents) of a
in Table 1-3 as required by other sections of this vessel, piping system, or other storage structure. A
Code. worst-case event includes (but is not limited to) a
1.6.1.4 Assignment of a building or other structure release during the design wind or design seismic
to multiple risk categories based on the type of load event. In this assessment, the evaluation of the
condition being evaluated (e.g., wind, seismic, etc.) effectiveness of subsequent measures for accident
shall be permitted. mitigation shall be based on the assumption that the
complete failure of the primary storage structure
1.6.1.5 When the building code or other referenced has occurred. The offsite impact shall be defined in
standard specifies an Occupancy Category, the Risk terms of population within the potentially affected
Category shall not be taken as lower than the area. To qualify for the reduced classification, the
Occupancy Category specified therein. hazard assessment shall demonstrate that a release
1.6.2 Multiple Risk Categories. of the toxic, highly toxic, or explosive substances
from a worst-case event does not pose a threat to the
1.6.2.1 Where a building or other structure is
public outside the property boundary of the facility.
occupied by two or more occupancies not included
in the same risk category, it shall be assigned the 1.6.3.4 As a minimum, the prevention program
classification of the highest risk category shall consist of the comprehensive elements of
corresponding to the various occupancies. process safety management, which is based upon
accident prevention through the application of
1.6.2.2 Where buildings or other structures are
management controls in the key areas of design,
divided into portions with independent structural
construction, operation, and maintenance.
systems, the classification for each portion shall be
Secondary containment of the toxic, highly toxic, or
permitted to be determined independently.
explosive substances (including, but not limited to,
1.6.2.3 Where building systems, such as required double wall tank, dike of sufficient size to contain a
egress, HVAC, or electrical power, for a portion spill, or other means to contain a release of the
with a higher risk category pass through or depend toxic, highly toxic, or explosive substances within
on other portions of the building or other structure the property boundary of the facility and prevent
having a lower risk category, those portions shall be release of harmful quantities of contaminants to the
assigned to the higher risk category. air, soil, ground water, or surface water) are

SBC 301-CR-18 7