SOFT STORY RETROFITS

Many properties, including commercial and apartment buildings have what is called a "soft story" condition. This term is used to describe any building that has a habitable room or rooms above a garage, carport or open area that was not specifically designed to transmit shear or lateral forces between the story above and the earth. Without proper strengthening, these vulnerable buildings may be susceptible to structural failure during an earthquake. The City of Los Angeles recently passed Ordinance 183893, which requires the retrofit of pre-1978 wood-frame soft-story buildings and non-ductile concrete buildings. The goal of the mandatory retrofit programs, under the ordinance, is to reduce these structural deficiencies and improve the performance of these buildings during earthquakes. All other cities within LA County will be following suit.