Establishing a Federal Earthquake Risk Management Standard
Federal Government Ordered to Strengthen Earthquake Resilience of Buildings
What it does
Agencies must ensure federal buildings meet updated earthquake-resistant codes, adopt seismic standards, designate coordinators, and report progress.
Real-world impact
- Changes design and construction requirements for new federal buildings.
- Adds retrofit and safety standards for existing federal buildings.
- Requires agencies to name coordinators and file progress reports.
Topics
Summary
This order requires federal departments and agencies to strengthen earthquake resilience for buildings the government owns, leases, finances, or regulates. New and altered buildings must follow updated earthquake-resistant building codes, and existing buildings must meet adopted seismic safety Standards.
Agencies must designate Seismic Safety Coordinators, follow implementing guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and submit progress reports on implementation. The order applies only within the United States and revokes prior federal seismic safety orders.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”