Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Seismic Retrofit

Information
On October 23, 2019, Portland City Council passed two items involving earthquakes and unreinforced masonry buildings.

Previous URM reports and resources

Council resolutions

Original URM Resolution June 2018 155.85 KB
Appoint members and adopt bylaws for Unreinforced Masonry Building Workgroup
Seismic Design Requirements related to placarding and tenant notification for unreinforced masonry buildings repeal 189201, 189309, 189399 and 189479 amend PCC 24.85 ordinance

Committee reports

URM Policy Report Dec 2017 7.4 MB
URM Cost Benefit Report 2016 5.65 MB
Final URM Retrofit Support Committee Report 658.28 KB
Final URM Retrofit Standards Committee Report 1.85 MB
URM Steering Committee Scope of Work Report 407.56 KB

Public comment

October 2018 URM Testimony 682.62 KB
September 2018 URM Testimony 807.74 KB

Case studies

California Statewide Unreinforced Masonry Building Policy

California Report on Unreinforced Masonry Law (2004) —link to external PDF, 1.2Mb

Berkeley, California Seismic Hazard Mitigation Program for Unreinforced Masonry Buildings

Recommendations from the Unreinforced Masonry Policy Committee to the City of Seattle —link to external PDF, 2Mb

Performance of Reinforced Concrete Frames with Unreinforced Masonry Infill During the 2016 Ecuadorian Earthquake

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