National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

2009 NEHRP Recommended Provisions

The NEHRP Recommended Provisions have been the primary source of seismic design requirements for U.S. model building codes and design standards since the early 1990s. Beginning in 1997, emphasis was placed on translating the NEHRP Recommended Provisions into a form suitable for direct use in the nation’s model building codes and standards. This work successfully resulted in the seismic requirements that appeared in the first edition of the International Building Code (IBC) in 2000 and in a reorganized version of ASCE 7, the American Society of Civil Engineers consensus design loads standard issued in 2005. ASCE 7-05 now is referenced in the current model building codes (IBC and NFPA 5000); therefore, the Provisions no longer needs to maintain its code-like language and has resumed its role as a resource platform that focuses on the new knowledge, protocols, inventions, and innovative ideas that will move seismic design forward and improve future editions of codes and standards. The length of the update cycle has been changed from three years to five/six years to synchronize better with the model code update cycles.       

The current version of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions (FEMA 450) was published in 2003 and includes a volume of provisions, a commentary volume, and an accompanying CD with the design maps. Complementary materials include a CD featuring design examples for typical structural systems and nonstructural elements (FEMA 451) and a CD providing sets of annotated training and instructional materials (FEMA 451B). FEMA currently is funding the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) of National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) to produce the 2009 edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions. This new edition will be significantly different from earlier versions in that ASCE 7-05 and the standards cited therein have been adopted by reference and that material will no longer be contained in the Provisions.   

The 2009 Provisions will feature several parts:  An introductory part will summarize basic seismic design concepts for less technical audiences. Part 1 will identify additions and exceptions to ASCE 7-05, which represent the BSSC Provisions Update Committee’s modifications and clarifications of the seismic requirements in the standard. Part 2 will provide an up-to-date, user friendly commentary on how to design using the reference standard(s) with the Provisions’ exceptions. Part 3 will comprise a series of white papers presenting state-of-the-art information and procedures intended to generate feedback and stimulate preliminary consideration for future integration into the model building codes and standards.   

The proposals currently under consideration by the BSSC Provisions Update Committee appear on the BSSC website, www.bssconline.org. The 2003 NEHRP Recommended Provisions and its complimentary materials are available for download from the BSSC website or by calling the FEMA publication hotline 1-800-480-2520. Other FEMA NEHRP publications are listed at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/publications.shtm and all are available to the public free of charge.

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