School Seismic Upgrade Program

In 2004, the Ministry of Education (MOE) engaged the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC with support from the University of British Columbia Civil Engineering Department, to assist with the implementation of a seismic upgrade program for BC schools.  The form of this assistance included the development of seismic assessment tools and Bridging Guidelines for the Performance-based Seismic Retrofit of BC School Buildings (Bridging Guidelines).

APEGBC’s advice and technical assistance in this area has been provided to the MOE through the APEGBC Seismic Peer Review Committee (SPRC).  The SPRC is comprised of professional engineers, appointed by the APEGBC Council, with specific expertise in seismic assessment and retrofits of buildings.

The MOE has also worked with APEGBC to fund the establishment of a Technical Review Board (TRB) consisting of structural engineers, which responds to questions and comments regarding the application of the Bridging Guidelines and advises the SPRC on innovative seismic retrofit techniques which should proceed to formal testing. 

Technical Guidelines on Seismic Retrofitting of Schools Endorsed

APEGBC has endorsed technical guidelines for the seismic retrofitting of schools in BC, the Technical Guidelines, 1st Edition, for the Performance Based Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of BC Low Rise School Buildings (Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, 1st Edition ). The guidelines utilize a performance-based methodology for the seismic assessment and retrofit of BC school buildings.

In partnership with UBC, APEGBC has been assisting the Ministry of Education to implement the Seismic Mitigation Program since 2004. Under the direction of the APEGBC Seismic Peer Review Committee, risk assessment and mitigation strategies for the seismic upgrading of schools in BC were developed, and the interim Bridging Guidelines for the Performanced-based Seismic Retrofit of BC Schools were created in 2006 to provide consistent and rational retrofit methodologies for APEGBC members undertaking work on seismic assessment and retrofit of BC schools. 

The Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, 1st Edition, replace the interim 2006 Bridging Guidelines. The Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, 1st Edition, apply the same performance-based methodology used in the 2006 Bridging Guidelines, and include enhanced information on seismicity by community, common school construction types, prioritizing structural elements that are at greatest risk, as well as a complementary web based tool which will allow practitioners to instantly generate seismic resistance criteria for specific types of construction.

The Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, 1st Edition are currently being prepared for publication. A training session on the guidelines is in development and will be available to members in the Fall of 2011. For more information on the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, 1st Edition, please contact Peter Mitchell, Director, Professional Practice, Standards and Development at pmitchell@apeg.bc.ca or (604) 412-4853.

APEGBC Members: for information and clarification on issues related to the use and application of the Bridging Guidelines developed for the BC School Seismic Upgrade Program please click here and login using your APEGBC username and password.