To reduce seismic risk to new tall buildings, San Francisco should develop regulations to address foundation and geotechnical issues. The city also should set performance-based design standards. For existing high-rises, the city should enforce repair provisions of the building code, with respect to damage from 1989’s Loma Prieta earthquake, and amend the code to include triggers for seismic upgrades.
The advice to the city is among 16 recommendations from the nonprofit Applied Technology Council. The wishlist is summarized in ATC’s Tall Buildings Safety Strategy report, issued by San Francisco on Oct. 4.