Residential Seismic Strengthening

The Seismic Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Oregon has spent the past year reviewing prescriptive methods for seismic strengthening of residential wood-frame dwellings in the State of Oregon. Prescriptive methods allow homeowners, contractors and other non-engineers to perform voluntary seismic strengthening of cripple walls and anchor bolts. The Seismic Committee has published a committee statement, which recommends the use of an updated prescriptive method for Oregon jurisdictions which is simple to implement yet technically founded in engineering design.