SOFT STORY RETROFIT LOS ANGELES
Soft story retrofit Los Angeles building owners can rely on is very important because of the mandatory soft story retrofit required for certain buildings in Los Angeles by the city of Los Angeles. A soft story building is a type of building with three or more stories located over a ground level with large openings such as parking garage, windows or series of retail businesses with large windows. Soft story buildings are not adequately braced hence they are susceptible to collapse during an earthquake. Soft story retrofit involves the addition of reinforcement beams, structural joints and joists. Construction & Development Group Inc is an expert and licensed contractor in providing compliant soft story retrofitting services to structures throughout Los Angeles. Construction & Development Group Inc will handle everything from permitting to the actual retrofitting.
WHY US FOR SOFT STORY RETROFIT IN LOS ANGELES?
LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED
WE PROVIDE FINANCING
WE HANDLE ENGINEERING
WE HANDLE PERMITTING
OVER 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE
FREE INSPECTIONS
SOFT STORY PROGRAM ( ORDINANCE 183893)
The purpose of the soft story mandatory program or ordinance 183893 which was adopted by the city of Los Angeles in October 2015 is to economically and feasibly reduce the structural deficiencies of soft story buildings throughout Los Angeles. There are a number of buildings in Los Angeles which the city believes are structurally deficient with the following criteria :
(1.) built before 1978
One of the criteria used by the city of Los Angeles to decide which buildings are soft story buildings and need to be retrofitted is the age and code standards used. Buildings built under code standards enacted before January 1, 1978 are deemed not structurally adequate to withstand an earthquake. Code standards enacted before January 1, 1978 were not up to date with the current new technologically advanced techniques and materials that help to withstand earthquakes.
(2.) two or more stories wood frame construction
Having two or more stories wood frame construction is another criteria used by the city in deciding whether a building should have mandatory soft story retrofit done on it or not. This is important because most of the two or more wood frame buildings had weak points without adequate support
(3.) contains open space ground floor
Having an open ground floor is one of the main reasons soft story buildings as susceptible to damage from earthquakes. The open ground floor can come in many ways such as garages, stores or large windows. These open spaces have little to no reinforcement, hence it’s easier for the structure to crumble during an earthquake.
