Torrance Seismic Retrofit Program.Non-ductile concrete, pre-Northridge steel moment frame, and tilt-up buildings.
Torrance Ordinance O-3916 requires owners of covered concrete, steel moment frame, and rigid wall flexible diaphragm buildings to evaluate and retrofit on fixed timelines from the City notice. We prepare the screening, the ASCE 41 engineering report, and the retrofit plans.
Written scope within one business day.
Three building types, three timelines.
- RWFD (tilt-up)
- Reinforced concrete or masonry walls with flexible diaphragms, built under codes before the 1997 UBC as locally amended June 1, 1999. Scope is the wall anchorage system (815.2.020).
- Non-ductile concrete
- Concrete buildings built under codes before the 1979 UBC as locally amended April 28, 1981. Excepted: concrete shear wall with flexible diaphragms, single-story without concrete moment frame elements, wood over a podium without a Major Deficiency, and steel lateral systems encased in concrete (815.3.020).
- Steel moment frame
- Built under codes before the 1997 UBC as locally amended June 1, 1999. Excepted: URM previously strengthened with steel moment frames, and wood-frame residential buildings using steel moment frames (815.4.020).
The clock starts with the City notice.
- RWFD
- Screening report 1 yr; retrofit plans 2 yrs; permit 3 yrs; start construction 4 yrs; complete 5 yrs (815.2.050).
- NDC and steel, Phase 1
- ASCE 41 engineering report 3 yrs; Major Deficiency mitigation plans 5 yrs; permit 7 yrs; complete 10 yrs. Completion may be extended 3 years under conditions.
- NDC and steel, Phase 2
- Plans 13 yrs; permit 15 yrs; complete 20 yrs (815.3.050, 815.4.050).
Start with the screening and the ASCE 41 report.
For RWFD buildings: screening report, wall anchorage evaluation, and retrofit plans. For non-ductile concrete and steel moment frame buildings: the Phase 1 ASCE 41 engineering report identifying all deficiencies and the Major Deficiencies, then mitigation plans when you are ready. Work is prepared by a California licensed civil engineer (PE).
Torrance seismic program FAQ.
Which Torrance buildings are covered (other than soft story)?
Rigid wall flexible diaphragm buildings built under codes before the 1997 UBC with local amendments adopted June 1, 1999 (wall anchorage system); non-ductile concrete buildings built under codes before the 1979 UBC with local amendments adopted April 28, 1981, with listed exceptions; and steel moment frame buildings built under codes before the 1997 UBC with local amendments adopted June 1, 1999 (TMC 815.2.020, 815.3.020, 815.4.020).
How long do owners have?
Deadlines run from the City's notice. RWFD: screening report 1 year, retrofit plans 2 years, permit 3 years, start construction 4 years, complete 5 years. Non-ductile concrete and steel moment frame are two-phase: Phase 1 engineering report under ASCE 41 at 3 years, Major Deficiency mitigation plans 5 years, permit 7 years, complete 10 years; Phase 2 plans 13 years, permit 15 years, complete 20 years (TMC 815.2.050, 815.3.050, 815.4.050).
What is a Major Deficiency?
Load path, weak or soft story, vertical irregularity, and torsion; captive columns also count for non-ductile concrete. These are mitigated in Phase 1. Remaining deficiencies are addressed in Phase 2.
Who may do the work?
The investigation and analysis must be performed by a Licensed Design Professional in the State of California. H2 Seismic Pro work is prepared by a California licensed civil engineer (PE), and we confirm eligibility with the City at the start of each project.
Source: Torrance Municipal Code Division 8, Chapter 15, added by Ordinance O-3916 (codepublishing). Confirm current requirements with the City of Torrance Building & Safety Division.
Send the address and your City notice. Get a written scope.
Every request is reviewed by a licensed PE. Include the notice date and building type if you have them.
- Response
- Written scope and fee within one business day.
- Turnaround
- Screening or Phase 1 report scoped in writing before work begins.
- Fee
- Fixed fee, confirmed in writing before work begins. No hourly billing.
- Phone
- (510) 288-9352
- Office
- Dublin, CA 94568