SEISMIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF BUILDINGS - METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS - AN OVERVIEW OF FEMA P-58-4

FEMA P-58, Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings, Methodology and Implementation, developed tools and procedures to assess probable building damage consequences in terms of expected repair actions and repair costs. Those tools and procedures can be adapted to measure the environmental consequences of earthquakes and to compare different seismic resistant designs in terms of environmental impacts. The FEMA-funded ATC-86 and ATC-86-1 project report, FEMA P-58-4, Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings – Methodology for Assessing Environmental Impacts, proposes a methodology for adding environmental impact assessments to the FEMA P-58 procedures. It proposes a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework and a two stage implementation process, beginning with a near-term economic input-output LCA approach, followed by a detailed long-term unit-process LCA approach. It recommends assessing multiple environmental impact categories, in addition to climate change potential. Implementation of these recommendations is planned as part of the recently funded five-year continuation of the FEMA P-58 developmental program. The goal is to implement working LCA procedures within the FEMA P-58 framework and to enable engineers to evaluate the environmental costs and benefits of design for improved seismic performance. This paper is a condensed summary of the FEMA P-58-4 report.