scope:

General

This Standard applies to OFCs in buildings with significant seismic hazards as defined in Clause 4.1.8.1 of the NBCC.

This Standard provides information and methodologies to identify and evaluate seismic hazards associated with OFCs and to undertake appropriate mitigation strategies and techniques. While seismic risk reduction of OFCs is affected by the structural performance of a building, this Standard does not address structural integrity.

This Standard is intended for use by building owners, building officials, facility managers, engineers, architects, and other stakeholders for improving the safety and serviceability of OFCs subjected to earthquakes.

Application

This Standard identifies types of OFCs, their failure modes and consequences, and design/retrofit approaches. This Standard applies to new or existing buildings (including renovations), and to most major occupancy classifications listed in Appendix A of the NBCC, including commercial and residential buildings, schools, health facilities, and laboratories.

Special use of buildings, hazardous materials storage, and building contents and processes requiring special protective measures can require additional considerations beyond the scope of this Standard. For example, penitentiaries might not permit certain types of attachment materials and systems that could serve as potential assault items, and museums might not tolerate certain types of fastening materials and systems that could damage an exhibit or interfere with the display characteristics of museum objects. In these instances, additional considerations might be necessary (see Annex F).

OFCs located in heritage buildings should be given additional consideration in accordance with the requirements of the relevant heritage authorities during the assessment and mitigation process.

Exclusions and limitations

This Standard does not address the integrity of the structural systems of buildings; structural aspects are covered by the building codes and other publications referenced in Clause 2.

This Standard does not address "lifeline" systems and utilities outside the building. These systems require special interfacing design and details at the building junction to allow for differential movements between the building and its surrounding environment. It is important that building owners, building designers, utility designers, and geotechnical experts coordinate the interface design and details.

This Standard does not explicitly address the characteristics of OFCs and/or their integral components either during or after an earthquake, as this requires complex engineering analysis and/or seismic qualification testing. However, the application of the Standard can result in continued functionality and operation for certain OFCs, depending on the intensity of shaking and the level of over-design introduced in the mitigation scheme.

Terminology

In CSA Standards, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and "can" is used to express possibility or capability. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.