ASHRAE Journal - April 2011 - 48

Qualification/ Certification Level 1 2 3 4

Basis of Evaluation

Explanation of Basis Manufacturer Provides Certificate of Compliance Without Independent Verification Manufacturer Qualifies Products by Nonaccredited Agency Or by Other Means Such as Analysis Testing is Performed Under a Test Program that Meets ISO 17025 and the Agency is Accredited Independent Agency Ensure Product is Qualified to Industry Standards and Has Quality Program Independent Agency Reviews Qualification and Performs an In-Plant Inspection by an Accredited Inspection Body (IB) to Minimum Quality Criteria Listing Service Verifies Qualification to Industry Adopted Standards and Performs Accredited IB In-Plant Inspection For an ISO 9001 Quality Program

Credibility

Self Certification Testing or Analysis Testing at Accredited Laboratory Certified Qualification Agency QA Record Verification Factory Inspection by Accredited Inspection Body (IB)

Low

Qualified By Test or Analysis

5 Certified 6

High

Table 1: Qualification/certification level and resulting credibility based on quality elements. explanation of the hierarchy of certification supporting documentation and applies a level of credibility to the equipment qualification/certification process. year-old embassy in Port-au-Prince sustained very little damage, including its mechanical spaces. The facilities manager attributed success to the attention to details. This facility demonstrates how effective site inspection to ensure code compliance results in successful earthquake resistance. Attention to detail is essential. Special inspections and certification of product seismic compliance are perhaps the most overlooked tools of the code that help reduce the vulnerability of our buildings. To ensure compliance, many building officials are now beginning to require accredited seismic inspectors for jobs.

How Are We Doing?
The 1971 San Fernando earthquake and previous earthquakes revealed inadequacies that resulted in advancement of earthquake engineering and code changes. This era of building construction fared better in subsequent earthquakes. Although the emphasis is on saving lives and not necessarily on lowering levels of economic loss, the earthquake showed that investments in building codes and good engineering practice did prove effective. Even with improved building codes since 1971, there has been huge economic loss and building damage from more recent earthquakes. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake was the most damaging earthquake and produced the largest earthquake insurance loss to date. Investigations on the performance of buildings spawned new knowledge on vulnerability based on empirical studies of damage and loss. There was widespread welding failures at the beam-column connections of steel movement resisting frame structures and the widespread failure of non-structural components (MEP equipment). Some reports estimated 40% to 80% of earthquake damages were associated with the failures of nonstructural components. Lessons learned from past earthquakes were captured in the newer building codes. Ground motion data (earthquake maps) were increased and new detailing requirements, special Inspection, quality procedures, and equipment seismic certification were added to the IBC. Enforcement and implementation of these new requirements has lagged, but have recently increased in compulsory. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti was built to new building codes and performed well during the 2010 earthquake. The two48 ASHRAE Journal

Are We Ready?
We are more prepared now than ever before. Earthquake engineering has advanced considerably in the last decade. There has been a tremendous effort to improve the IBC with better code language, clarification of confusing text, more comprehensive requirements, and development of commentary. New construction in full compliance with the IBC will reduce the risk for future earthquakes. The infrastructure for designing new construction, performing special inspections, and certifying equipment is now available by competent services. The local building officials are growing in their understanding of the IBC seismic requirements. Local, state, and federal response are continually improving with large scale exercises. Past construction is a major risk for future earthquakes. In many areas, the maximum credible earthquake maps were ignored. Building codes were predominantly addressed in the building structure but ignored for nonstructural components, specifically the HVAC and electrical systems. Areas for improvement in the future include focus on comprehensive special inspection programs, certification of equipment using the highest level of credibility, and revisiting older facilities.
ashrae.org April 2011

ASHRAE Journal - April 2011

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