Seismic Retrofit

Our seismic retrofit team consists of highly expert structural Engineers with long-term experience in retrofit design of more than hundred buildings in South California

Our specialized retrofit design build team provide our clients with the most optimized and cost-efficient retrofit solutions

CES4 has been one the leading retrofit companies in Southern California involved in the structural assessment and retrofit of buildings identified for mandatory seismic retrofit program in the region.

City of Los Angeles Mandatory Retrofit Programs

Ordinance 183893 requires the retrofit of pre-1978 wood-frame soft-story buildings and non-ductile concrete buildings. The goal of the mandatory retrofit programs, under the ordinance, is to reduce these structural deficiencies and improve the performance of these buildings during earthquakes. Without proper strengthening, these vulnerable buildings may be subjected to structural failure during and/or after an earthquake:

Soft-Story Program:

Priority Categories Start date of Sending Out Orders
I. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units 3-story and above May 2, 2016
2-story July 22, 2016
II. Buildings with 3 or more stories with less than 16 units October 17, 2016
Ill. Buildings not falling within the definition of Priority I or II with 9-15 units July 24, 2017
with 7-8 units August 21, 2017
with 4-6 units September 25, 2017
Condos/Commercial November 6, 2017 i

Timeline:

2 years: Submit proof of previous retrofit, or plans to retrofit or demolish

3.5 years: Obtain permit to start construction or demolition

7 years: Complete construction

Non-ductile Concrete Retrofit Program

Buildings that are within the scope of this ordinance and require retrofitting are concrete buildings with a roof and/or floor supported by a concrete wall or concrete column, constructed before January 13, 1977.

Timeline:

3 years: Submit completed checklist for review to determine if building is a non-ductile concrete building

10 years: Submit proof of previous retrofit, or plans to retrofit or plans to demolish building

25 years: Complete construction

City of Santa Monica Retrofit Program

City of Santa Monica’s Seismic Retrofit Ordinance was approved on March 28, 2017 which encompasses 20 years of work to increase the safety of earthquake-vulnerable buildings in the event of a large quake. As part of this ordinance, nearly 2,000 commercial and multi-family residential buildings need to be assessed for possible structural improvement.

Compliance Time Frame

Potentially Seismically Vulnerable Buildings Type Structural Evaluation Report Due Retrofit Must be Completed Within
Unreinforced Masonry Buildings 3 Months 2 Years
Concrete Tilt-Up Building 4 Months 3 Years
Soft-Story Buildings 2 Years 6 Years
Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings 3 Years 10 Years
Steel Moment Frame Buildings 3 Years 20 Years
Single Family Voluntary

City of West Hollywood

Ordinance 17-1004

Mandatory Strengthening for Existing Wood-Frame Buildings with Soft, Weak, or Open-Front Walls.

Voluntary Strengthening Provisions for Cripple Walls and Sill Plate Anchorage in Existing Wood-Frame Buildings.

Ordinance 17-1004 Ordinance 17-1011

for existing Non-Ductile Concrete and Pre-Northridge Steel Moment Frame Buildings

Timeline

The ordinance for Soft Story buildings will become effective on April 1, 2018.

The ordinance for Non-Ductile Concrete and Pre-Northridge Steel Moment Frame Buildings will become effective on August 7, 2018.

City of Beverly Hills Retrofit Program

Timeline

MILESTONE TIER I
Buildings with 3+ stories
TIER II
Buildings with 2 stories, with 6+ units
TIER III
Buildings not included in Tier I or Tier II
Submit Screening Form December 30, 2019 July 6, 2020 January 4, 2021
Submit completed permit application with detailed
retrofit plans and structural calculations
June 30, 2020 January 5, 2021 July 6, 2021
Obtain all necessary permits for the retrofit of the
building
June 30, 2021 January 5, 2022 July 6, 2022
Commence construction and schedule required building
inspections
December 29, 2021 July 6, 2022 January 4, 2023
Complete construction work under all necessary permits
and obtain Final Inspection approval
June 30, 2022 January 5, 2023 July 6, 2023