Introduction to 2024 Edition

Seismic Design Category Maps

& FEMA’s Building Code Strategy and the
National Initiative to Advance Building Codes
Kelly Cobeen S.E., Wiss Janney Elstner Associates
Jonathan Westcott, P.E., Civil Engineer,
Building Science Branch, FEMA-Resilience
7/11/2024

BSSC
Federal Emergency Management Agency 2
Building Codes Save

Key Highlights

 Hazards: flood, hurricane wind, seismic

 $1.6 Billion Average Annualized Loss

Avoidance

 $32 Billion saved over 20 years

 $132 Billion in savings possible by 2040

 Building and contents damages only

Federal Emergency Management Agency 3

FEMA Policies and Regulations: Building Codes and Standards

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA Building Codes Strategy: Vision and Mission

Federal Emergency Management Agency 5

Building Codes Strategy: Goals and Objectives

Federal Emergency Management Agency 6

National Initiative to Advance Building Codes (NIABC)
Key Priorities Key Activities

Modernize  Comprehensively review federal funding and financing to

Building Codes ensure federally-supported building construction projects
follow modern building codes to the greatest extent feasible.
Improve Climate
Resilience
 Provide incentives and support for communities to adopt
current building codes by providing technical assistance,
Reduce Energy implementing proven strategies and best practices.
Costs
 Lead by example across the federal building portfolio by
Prioritize seizing opportunities to advance “above-code” resilience and
Underserved energy efficiency standards in new projects, to achieve net-
Communities
zero emissions across federal buildings by 2045.
Create Good
Jobs  Click to access SharePoint

Federal Emergency Management Agency 7

Introduction to 2024 Edition
Seismic Design Category Maps
Kelly Cobeen S.E., Wiss Janney Elstner Associates

BSSC
 New Seismic Design Category Information!!

 Brochure:
Introduction to 2024 Edition This is a
Seismic Design Category Maps placeholder for a
 Publication: graphic of the
brochure. If
FEMA P-2192-4 possible, a web
link for the
 For: brochure will
 The general public also be provided.
 Earthquake program managers
 Designers using the IRC and IBC

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-
2192-nehrp-provisions-seismic-design-maps-2024-irc-ibc.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency 9

Outline

 Introduction to the Seismic Design Category Maps

 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) Seismic Design Category Maps
 2024 International Building Code (IBC) Seismic Deign Category Maps
 2024 Updates to The National Seismic Hazard Models and the SDC Maps
 References and Other Resources

Federal Emergency Management Agency 10

Introduction – What the Maps Illustrate

 The varying seismic hazard in

the US and territories as used by
our building codes for design of
new structures

 Expressed as colored contours

that assign Seismic Design
Categories (SDCs)

 Considers potential EQ ground

motion, site soil amplification,
structure size, configuration,
occupancy and use
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-
2192-nehrp-provisions-seismic-design-maps-2024-irc-ibc.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency 11
Introduction – What the Maps Illustrate

 The varying seismic hazard very high hazard and

in the US and territories as the possibility of very
significant earthquake
used by our building codes
damage, even to
for design of new structures robust structures
 Expressed as Seismic
Design Category (SDC)
 Considers potential EQ
ground motion, site soil
amplification, structure size,
configuration, occupancy
the lowest hazard
and use
with little to no
anticipated damage
due to earthquakes
Federal Emergency Management Agency 12
Introduction – Why Seismic Hazard is Of Interest

 A national issue as described

in FEMA P-366

Federal Emergency Management Agency 13

Introduction – Where the Maps Come From

Federal Emergency Management Agency 14

Introduction - Map Use in the International Residential Code (IRC)

 One- and two-family

detached dwellings
 Townhouses up to three
stories
 Prescriptive
pre-engineered seismic
design provisions,
mostly tabulated
 Maps Identify SDC A, B,
C, D0, D1, D2, E

Federal Emergency Management Agency 15

Introduction - Map Use in the International Building Code (IBC)

 Structures not addressed

by IRC
 Engineered seismic
design provisions
 SDC A, B, C, D, E, F

Federal Emergency Management Agency 16

Introduction - Differences Between IRC and IBC Maps

IRC Maps Apply To:

 Buildings constructed using IRC provisions
 Low-rise buildings controlled by short period
(stiff building) behavior
 IRC SDC E is triggered by SDS greater than
1.25g
 IRC SDCs divided into A, B, C, D0, D1, D2 & E
IBC Maps Apply To:
 All Other Structures
 Assignment uses SDS and SD1
 IBC SDC E is triggered by S1 greater than
0.75g
 IBC SDCs divided into A, B, C, D, E and F
2024 IBC 2024 IRC
Federal Emergency Management Agency 17
Introduction - Other Uses of the Maps

 General information on seismic hazard

 NEHRP use to determine high seismic hazard states and territories eligible for
Individual State Assistance Grant Programs
 FEMA tracks the building code adoption status for state, local, tribal and territorial
governments across the nation to evaluate several important aspects of a
community’s natural hazard risks and building code adoption.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 18

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps

Federal Emergency Management Agency 19

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – What Has Been Updated

 The most current hazard data and design map procedures have been incorporated –
 Updated 2018 USGS National Seismic Hazard Models (NSHMs),
 The site-specific ground motion procedures of the 2020 NEHRP Recommended Provisions
 In the 2024 update, the two sets of maps previously included in the 2018 and 2021
IRC editions have been reduced to a single 2024 edition map set
 Consistent with the 2020 NEHRP Provisions and ASCE/SEI 7-22, an expanded set or
site classes is included in the mapping, providing more specific identification of site
soil effects

Federal Emergency Management Agency 20

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – Where the Maps Can Be Used

Site soils can have a significant impact on the earthquake demands on buildings,
 The IRC SDC maps can be used for the majority of dwelling sites because they reflect
seismic hazard for the most critical of standard site soil conditions (Site Class C, CD,
D)
 The IRC SDC maps cannot be used for poor soil sites as discussed in IRC Section
R401. Per IRC Section R401, the already required geotechnical study is required to
include determination of SDS for purposes of seismic design, from which IRC Table
R301.2.2.1.1 can be used to assign SDC.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 21

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps - How to Use The IRC Maps

 In print and pdf in several publications including:

 2024 IRC and
 FEMA P-2192-4
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-
2192-nehrp-provisions-seismic-design-maps-2024-irc-ibc.pdf
The state and county lines on these maps provide adequate detail for assignment of the SDC
in some but not all locations.
 When more detailed information on the IRC SDC is needed:
 As referenced in the 2024 IRC maps, USGS guidance on available tools can be found at:
https://doi.org/10.5066/F7NK3C76 . This link provides guidance on determination of SDC.
A step-wise explanation follows in this presentation.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 22

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps - How to Use the IRC Maps

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-
2192-nehrp-provisions-seismic-design-maps-2024-irc-ibc.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency 23
2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as assigned by the IRC SDC maps (incorporating default Site Class):
1. Go to the ASCE Hazard Tool site: https//ascehazardtool.org,
2. Enter property address,
3. Standard Version: Select ASCE 7-22,
4. Risk Category: Select Risk Category II,
5. Site Soil Class: Select Default,
6. From results (summary, detailed, or full report), determine spectral response acceleration at
short periods (SDS) value, and
7. Using the SDS value, select the appropriate SDC per IRC Table R301.2.2.1.1.
DO NOT USE the SDC assigned by the ASCE Hazard Tool, as it is an IBC SDC, and may not be
correct for IRC use.
IRC Maps – Default Site Class (Soil Conditions)
Federal Emergency Management Agency 24
2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as

assigned by the IRC SDC
maps (incorporates default
Site Class):
1. Go to the ASCE Hazard
Tool site:
https//ascehazardtool.
org,
2. Enter property
address,

Federal Emergency Management Agency 25

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

3. Standard Version:
Select ASCE 7-22
4. Risk Category:
Select Risk Category II
5. Site Soil Class:
Select Default

Federal Emergency Management Agency 26

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

6. From results (summary, detailed, or full

report), determine spectral response
acceleration at short periods (SDS)
value, and

SDS = 0.77g

Federal Emergency Management Agency 27

 2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

7. Using the SDS value, select the appropriate SDC per IRC Table R301.2.2.1.1.
DO NOT USE the SDC assigned by the ASCE Hazard Tool, as it is an IBC SDC, and may
not be correct for IRC use.

SDS = 0.77g
SDC = D1

Federal Emergency Management Agency 28

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as assigned by the IRC SDC maps (incorporating known Site Class):
1. Determine Site (soil) Class from site-specific geotechnical report or other reliable source
acceptable to the building official,
2. Go to the ASCE Hazard Tool site: https//ascehazardtool.org,
3. Enter property address,
4. Standard Version: Select ASCE 7-22,
5. Risk Category: Select Risk Category II,
6. Site Soil Class: Select Class identified in Step 1
7. From results (summary, detailed, or full report), determine spectral response acceleration at
short periods (SDS) value, and
8. Using the SDS value, select the appropriate SDC per IRC Table R301.2.2.1.1.
DO NOT USE the SDC assigned by the ASCE Hazard Tool, as it is an IBC SDC, and may not be
correct for IRC use.
IRC Maps – Known Site Class (Soil Conditions)
Federal Emergency Management Agency 29
2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

Steps to determine SDC

(incorporates known Site
Class):
1. Determine Site (soil) Geotechnical
Class from site-specific Report
geotechnical report or
other reliable source
acceptable to the
building official,

Federal Emergency Management Agency 30

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as

assigned by the IRC SDC
maps (incorporates default
Site Class):
2. Go to the ASCE Hazard
Tool site:
https//ascehazardtool.
org,
3. Enter property
address,

Federal Emergency Management Agency 31

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

4. Standard Version:
Select ASCE 7-22
5. Risk Category:
Select Risk Category II
6. Site Soil Class:
Select Site Class
identified in Step 1
(example uses BC)

Federal Emergency Management Agency 32

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

7. From results (summary, detailed, or full

report), determine spectral response
acceleration at short periods (SDS)
value, and

SDS = 0.57g

Federal Emergency Management Agency 33

2024 IRC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IRC Maps

8. Using the SDS value, select the appropriate SDC per IRC Table R301.2.2.1.1.
DO NOT USE the SDC assigned by the ASCE Hazard Tool, as it is an IBC SDC, and
may not be correct for IRC use.

SDS = 0.57g
SDC = D0

Federal Emergency Management Agency 34

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps

Federal Emergency Management Agency 35

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – What Has Been Updated

New in the 2024 edition, IBC seismic hazard maps are now presented as SDC maps,
similar but not identical to IRC SDC maps.
 Replace spectral response acceleration maps that were provided in previous editions
of the IBC.

2021 IBC Seismic Design Map 2024 IBC Seismic Design Map
Federal Emergency Management Agency 36
2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – What Has Been Updated

 The user of the IBC is no longer required to multiply mapped spectral response
accelerations by Site Coefficients Fa and Fv. The Site Coefficients have been deleted
from both the IBC and ASCE/SEI 7, and the site adjustments are applied in the USGS
database. The user simply needs to select the applicable Site Class when using the
ASCE Hazard Tool.
GONE FROM 2024 IBC AND ASCE 7-22

Federal Emergency Management Agency 37

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – What Has Been Updated

 Includes the most current seismic hazard data and design map procedures via the
USGS’s 2018 National Seismic Hazard Models (NSHMs) and the site-specific ground
motion procedures of the 2020 NEHRP Recommended Provisions.
 Under the 2024 IBC, designers have the choice to use the IBC SDC maps or the
provisions of ASCE/SEI 7 to determine SDC.
 It is anticipated that many design professionals will use the ASCE/SEI 7 provisions,
particularly where Site Classes A through BC are applicable in which case a lower SDC
might be assigned.
 Consistent with the 2020 NEHRP Provisions and ASCE/SEI 7-22, an expanded set or
site classes is included in the mapping, providing more specific identification of site
soil effects

Federal Emergency Management Agency 38

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – Where the Maps Can Be Used

The site soils can have a significant impact on the earthquake demands on buildings,
with buildings on soft soils seeing increased demands.
 The IBC SDC maps can be conservatively used for most sites, the IBC maps are
developed based on default site (soil) conditions (most critical of Site Classes C, CD,
and D).
 IBC SDC maps are not permitted to be used for Site Classes DE, E, or F. For these Site
Classes the IBC requires that the SDC be determined in accordance with ASCE/SEI 7.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 39

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps - How to Use The IBC Maps

 The maps can be found in print and pdf in several publications including:
 2024 IBC and
 FEMA P-2192-4.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-
2192-nehrp-provisions-seismic-design-maps-2024-irc-ibc.pdf
The state and county lines on these maps provide adequate detail for assignment of the SDC
in some but not all locations.
 When more detailed information on the IBC SDC maps are needed, USGS guidance on
available tools can be found at:
 https://doi.org/10.5066/F7NK3C76. This link provides guidance on determination of SDC.
The following is a step-wise explanation:

Federal Emergency Management Agency 40

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps - How to Use the IBC Maps

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-
2192-nehrp-provisions-seismic-design-maps-2024-irc-ibc.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency 41

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as assigned by the IBC SDC maps (incorporating default Site
Class):
1. Go to the ASCE Hazard Tool site: https//ascehazardtool.org,
2. Enter property address,
3. Standard Version: Select ASCE 7-22,
4. Risk Category: Select applicable Risk Category based on IBC Table 1604.5
5. Site Soil Class: Select Default,
6. From results (summary, detailed, or full report), determine the Seismic Design
Category

IBC Maps – Default Site Class (Soil Conditions)

Federal Emergency Management Agency 42
2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as

assigned by the IRC SDC
maps (incorporates default
Site Class):
1. Go to the ASCE Hazard
Tool site:
https//ascehazardtool.
org,
2. Enter property
address,

Federal Emergency Management Agency 43

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

3. Standard Version:
Select ASCE 7-22
4. Risk Category:
Select applicable Risk Category
(Risk Category II selected for this
example)
5. Site Soil Class:
Select Default

Federal Emergency Management Agency 44

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

6. From results (summary, detailed, or full

report), determine the Seismic Design
Category

SDC = D

Federal Emergency Management Agency 45

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as assigned by the IBC SDC maps (incorporating known Site
Class):
1. Determine Site (soil) Class from site-specific geotechnical report or other reliable
source acceptable to the building official,
2. Go to the ASCE Hazard Tool site: https//ascehazardtool.org,
3. Enter property address,
4. Standard Version: Select ASCE 7-22,
5. Risk Category: Select applicable Risk Category from IBC Table 1604.5
6. Site Soil Class: Select Default,
7. From results (summary, detailed, or full report), determine Seismic Design Category
(SDC)
IBC Maps – Known Site Class (Soil Conditions)
Federal Emergency Management Agency 46
2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as

assigned by the IBC and
ASCE 7 (incorporates
known Site Class): Geotechnical
1. Determine Site (soil) Report
Class from site-specific
geotechnical report or
other reliable source
acceptable to the
building official,

Federal Emergency Management Agency 47

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

Steps to determine SDC as

assigned by the IRC SDC
maps (incorporates default
Site Class):
2. Go to the ASCE Hazard
Tool site:
https//ascehazardtool.
org,
3. Enter property
address,

Federal Emergency Management Agency 48

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

4. Standard Version:
Select ASCE 7-22
5. Risk Category:
Select applicable Risk
Category II (RC II used
for example)
6. Site Soil Class:
Select Site Class
identified in Step 1
(example uses BC)

Federal Emergency Management Agency 49

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps – How to Use the IBC Maps

6. From results (summary, detailed, or full

report), determine the Seismic Design
Category

SDC = D

Federal Emergency Management Agency 50

2024 IBC Seismic Design Category Maps

Federal Emergency Management Agency 51

2024 Updates to The National Seismic Hazard Models and the SDC Maps

The updates to the IRC and IBC maps are based on:
(1) Recommendations of the Project 17 collaboration between the Building Seismic
Safety Council (BSSC) and the USGS (BSSC, 2019), and
(2) The 2018 update of the USGS NSHM for the conterminous U.S..
Included are the following:
 The Project 17 recommendations include improvements to site-class effects,
 Spectral periods defining short-period and one-second ground-motion parameters,
 Deterministic caps on the otherwise probabilistic ground motions, and
 Maximum-direction scale factors.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 52

2024 Updates to The National Seismic Hazard Models and the SDC Maps

The updates in the 2018 USGS NSHM from the previous (2014) version (used in the
2018 and 2021 versions of the IBC and IRC) include incorporation of:
 New NGA-East and other ground-motion models for the central and eastern U.S.,
 Deep sedimentary basin effects in the Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt
Lake City regions,
 Earthquakes that occurred in 2013 through 2017, and
 Updated weights for the western U.S. ground-motion models.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 53

2024 Updates to The National Seismic Hazard Models and the SDC Maps

 In general, the Project 17 and NSHM updates have not resulted in significant changes to the
spectral response acceleration parameters SDS and SD1 at default site conditions (Site Class).
 As a result, IRC and IBC mapped SDCs at default site conditions have generally stayed the
same or increased or decreased by one. This is illustrated in the 34 predominantly western U.S.
cities discussed in the commentary to Chapter 22 of the 2020 NEHRP Provisions.
 It is known, however, that larger changes have occurred in spectral response accelerations in
parts of the central and eastern U.S. This is particularly true for soft soil sites, where changes
of up to two SDCs have occurred because the site coefficients of previous editions of the IRC
and IBC, which were predominantly based on western U.S. data, have in 2024 editions been
replaced with eastern U.S. data.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 54

2024 Updates to The National Seismic Hazard Models and the SDC Maps

Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands,
and American Samoa:
 For the states and territories outside of the conterminous U.S., where the existing
USGS NSHMs did not yet support direct development of multi-period response spectra
(MPRS) needed for the above- mentioned modifications to site-class effects and
spectral periods, MPRS were developed using the FEMA P-2078 “Procedures for
Developing Multi-Period Response Spectra at Non-Conterminous United States Sites”
(FEMA, 2020b).

Federal Emergency Management Agency 55

References

 ASCE, 2021. Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other
Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-22), American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston VA.
 BSSC, December 2019. Project 17 Final Report Development of the Next Generation
of Seismic Design Value Maps for the 2020 NEHRP Provisions.
 FEMA, 2020a. NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other
Structures, 2020 Edition (FEMA P-2082-1), Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Washington, DC.
 FEMA, 2020b. Procedures for Developing Multi-Period Response Spectra at Non-
Conterminous United States Sites (FEMA P-2078).

Federal Emergency Management Agency 56

References

 FEMA, 2023. 2020 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions: Seismic Design

Category Maps for 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) and International
Building Code (IBC) (FEMA P-2192-4).
 ICC, 2024 a. International Building Code, 2024 Edition, international Code Council,
Country Club Hills, IL.
 ICC, 2024 b. International Building Code Commentary, 2024 Edition, international
Code Council, Country Club Hills, IL.
 ICC, 2024 c. International Residential Code, 2024 Edition, international Code Council,
Country Club Hills, IL.

Federal Emergency Management Agency 57

Other Resources

 FEMA, 2023. Earthquake-Resistant Design Concepts: An Introduction to Seismic

Provisions for New Buildings (FEMA P-749).
 FEMA, 2021. The Role of the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions in the
Development of Nationwide Seismic Building Code Regulations: A Thirty-Five-Year
Retrospective (FEMA P-2156).

Federal Emergency Management Agency 58

Thank you!

Questions?

Federal Emergency Management Agency 59

 Contact

Mai (Mike) Tong

Physical Scientist, NEHRP Project Officer
Mai.Tong@fema.dhs.gov

The 2024 Seismic Design Maps for IRC/IBC Fact Sheet and
Webinar material have been delivered through the National
Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Seismic Safety
Council under a FEMA NEHRP A&E contract

BSSC