FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             NIST 94-17
April 21, 1994

Contact:  Jan Kosko                CALIFORNIA QUAKE HIGHLIGHTS
          (301) 975-2767           MANY STRUCTURAL SUCCESS
                                   STORIES, SOME MAJOR
          Jim Desler               SHORTCOMINGS, SAYS NIST
          (202) 482-4883

     The strong earthquake that struck the Los Angeles area last
January 17 provided the first full-scale test of modern seismic
structural codes and revealed both successes and deficiencies in
current construction practices and codes, according to a report
released today by the Commerce Department's National Institute of
Standards and Technology.

     Eight NIST building and fire researchers were part of a
federal agency reconnaissance team that also included experts
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and
U.S. Geological Survey.

     "This report will serve as a valuable guide for those
responsible for ongoing reconstruction efforts and will help Los
Angeles and other communities reduce damage from future severe
earthquakes," said Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown, the
Clinton Administration's representative on California's economic
recovery.

     In the United States, most seismic building codes are
adopted and enforced at the state and local level.  Following a
devastating earthquake in California's San Fernando Valley in
1971, many improvements were made to earthquake codes in
California and other states.

     This report says most structures designed and built after
these code changes were made performed well.  The bulk of the
damage occurred in older structures known to be vulnerable to
earthquake shaking, such as unreinforced masonry buildings.
However, there were some unexpected failures, such as the
collapses of relatively modern parking garages.  Code provisions
for parking garages need to be updated, the report concludes.

     Most bridges designed using standards developed after the
mid-1970s and most older bridges that had been retrofitted came
through the strong ground-shaking in good shape.  "While this
implies that the current seismic design standards for bridges are
adequate, we should not be lulled into a false sense of
security," states the NIST report.  "Despite the good performance
of many bridges in this earthquake, we cannot yet predict the
level of damage to bridges which would be caused by an earthquake
with a larger magnitude (around 8.0) or which would be more
centrally located in the Los Angeles area."

     Inadequate reinforcement in columns was the major cause of
severe damage in six major bridges.  Other problems causing
bridge failure or damage included shorter columns in bridges with
columns of varying heights; skewed or irregularly shaped bridge
spans; and unstable, steel rocker bridge bearings.

     While the earthquake demonstrated the success of modern
building codes, it also demonstrated their limitations, said
NIST.  Most of today's earthquake codes are intended primarily to
prevent a structure from collapsing.  They are not intended to
prevent damage to property or systems such as lighting, air
conditioning and heating.  As a result, several hospitals were
forced to evacuate patients, and the entire Los Angeles County
school system was shut down.  

     While it is possible to design and construct buildings that
can continue functioning after a major earthquake, said NIST,
this greater protection adds cost.  Engineers alone cannot answer
the question of how much protection should be provided.  All
affected parts of society should be involved in weighing the
costs against the benefits to determine how much protection the
codes should provide.

     The NIST team also found that damage to lifelines, including
water, gas, telecommunications and transportation systems, caused
serious disruptions and in some cases contributed to post-
earthquake fires.  In contrast to buildings and highway bridges,
no nationally applicable design and construction practices are
available for new or existing lifelines.

     In particular, over 1,300 breaks and leaks in the area's
natural gas pipes were reported.  Most of the damage occurred in
older steel pipes; plastic ones performed well.  A significant
number of the 30 to 50 fires occurring after the earthquake were
caused by broken or leaking gas pipes.  

     Many fires continued to ignite days after the earthquake
when power was restored to damaged buildings.  NIST recommends
that criteria be developed to help utility personnel assess when
it is safe to restore electricity.  

     Damage to electrical equipment, such as transmission towers,
high voltage substations and ceramic circuit breakers, caused
nearly 2 million people to lose electrical power immediately
following the earthquake.  But, 95 percent of the power was
restored within two days.  Lessons learned from previous
earthquakes helped improve the performance of electric power
systems through stricter equipment qualification requirements and
better installation practices, said NIST. 

     In addition to recommending ways to improve shortcomings in
construction codes and practices, NIST also said more education
is needed to help building designers, constructors and regulators
recognize and produce more earthquake-resistant structures.  
"It is possible for every element of a building to meet code
requirements, yet for the building as a whole to perform poorly
in an earthquake," said the NIST report.  "Education is needed to
transfer the knowledge on building performance gained from this
and other earthquakes to the people who can apply these lessons
on a daily basis."

     As part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program, NIST conducts research and provides technical support to
the private sector and government agencies that are working to
improve the performance of structures subjected to earthquakes. 
Since 1971, NIST has participated in 10 earthquake
investigations.

     A non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department's
Technology Administration, NIST promotes economic growth by
working with industry to develop and apply technology,
measurements and standards.

                                  - 30 -

NOTE TO EDITORS:  NIST's report, 1994 Northridge Earthquake --
Performance of Structures, Lifelines and Fire Protection Systems
(NISTIR 5396), is available to the news media by calling NIST
Public Affairs at (301) 975-2762.  Others can get a copy from the
National Technical Information Service, (703) 487-4650, for $27.
Use order number PB 94-161114.