DAP9S24.1 

FEMA 

DISASTER ASSISTANCE POLICY 

I. TITLE: Welded Steel Moment Frame 
11. DATE: NOV 5 2007 
Ill. PURPOSE: 

To establish the el igibility of costs for inspecting, evaluating and repairing welded steel moment 
frames of building struchtres damaged by earthquakes. 

IV. SCOPE AND AUDIENCE: 
This policy is applicable to aU major disasters declared on or after the date of publication of this 
policy. It is intended for personnel involved in the administration of the Public Assistance 
program, including applicants. 

V. AUTHORITY: 
Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 USc. 
5121-5206, and 44 CFR § 206.226. 

VI. BACKGROUND: 
A. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, 
(Stafford Act) and implementing regulations in 44 CFR § 206.228(a)(2)(li) provide an 
administrative allowance (sometimes called the sliding scale) to reimburse applicants for 
extraordinary costs incurred when requesting, obtainins and administering Federal disaster 
assistance grants. This allowance, which is based on a fixed percentage of the cost of eligible 
repairs, is intended to include the applicant's costs for evaluating the extent of damage to 
eligible facilities. The Stafford Act specifies that the cost of field inspections is part of the 
administrative allowance. However, the costs associated with inspecting welded steel moment 
frame connections seem to go beyond the type of work contemplated by the administrative 
allowance provision of the Stafford Act. For this reason, these costs may be eligible for 
reimbursement outside of the administrative allowance, as detailed in this policy. 
B. FEMA recognizes the unique situation presented by the inspection of welded steel 
moment frame connections that potentially have brittle fractures. These connections are 
typically covered with architectural finishes and are occasionally protected with asbestos or 
other fire retardants. These coverings complicate the inspection of connections. Because of the 
numerous incidents of structural damage to welded steel moment frame connections caused by 

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~~.; FEMA 

<,;,",,</ DISASTER ASSISTANCE POLICY 

the Northridge Earthquake, FEMA established a policy in order to determine the eligibility of 
funding for inspecting, evaluating, and repairing such damage. 

C. A multi-year study of the welded steel moment frame fracture issue resulted in 
recommended criteria to the technical community for: 
1. The evaluation of welded steel moment frame buildings affected by strong 
earthquake ground shaking to determine if they have been damaged, and to what extent; 
2. The identification of those buildings that have been so severely damaged that they 
constitute a safety hazard; and 
3. The repair of damaged structures such that they may be restored to long-term 
occupancy. 
D. These results are published in Recommended Pos/earthquake Evaluation and Repair 
Criteria/or Welded Steel Moment Frame Buildings, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
FEMA 352, June 2000. FEMA 352 is the technical basis for this policy. Free copies ofthis 
document may be obtained by calling the FEMA distribution warehouse at 1-800-480-2520 or 
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquakc/pdf/fcma-352.pdf. 
VII. POLICY: 
A. This policy provides eligibility criteria for the unique inspection problems posed by 
brittle fracture damage to welded steel moment frames. Only eligible facilities constructed with 
steel framing connections subject to brittle fracture, such as those constructed prior to 1995 
using the prescribed detail of section 2710 (g) B of the 1991 Uniform Building Code or its 
equivalent, are eligible for FEMA reimbursement under this policy. 
B. This policy is intended to prescribe the eligibility of postearthquake damage inspection 
and evaluation costs pursuant to FEMA 352. 
c. Reimbursement for Preliminary Postearthquake Assessment 
1. Screening. The initial screening process described in Chapter 3.2 of FEMA 352 will 
help to rapidly identify buildings that are likely to have sustained significant damage to welded 
steel moment frame connections, based on the probable ground motion experienced at the 
building site. Screening is typically performed by building department officials immediately 
following an earthquake to determine if a building needs further evaluation. Costs incurred in 
the process of Preliminary Screening are not eligible for FEMA assistance. 

DAP9S24.1 

FEMA 

DISASTER ASSISTANCE POLICY 

2. Preliminary Evaluation. The preliminary evaluation method described in Chapter 
3.3 of FEMA 352 is used to determine, on a preliminary basis, whether a building has sustained 
either structural or nonstructural damage that results in a hazardous condition. Preliminary 
evaluation includes (all parenthetical references arc to FEMA 352): 
a. A general review of the building's construction characteristics to determine its 
structural system and vulnerable features (Section 3.3.2), 
b. A visit to the buitding site to observe its overall condition and note obvious signs 
of damage (Section 3.3.3), and 
c. A determination of an appropriate posting category for the building. on the basis 
of the preceding results and engineering judgment (Section 3.3.4). Posting categories are 
described by the following designations (see Table 3.2): 
i. Green. Little or no damage. Poses no immediate threat. 
II. Yellow. Structural or nonstructural damage. Limited or localized safety hazard. 
iii. Red. Significant damage to structural elements. Significant safety hazard. 
FEMA will reimburse the costs of preliminary evaluations only when conditions resulting in the 
designation of Yellow or Red (as described in Table 3.2) are found. 

D. Reimbursement for Detailed Postearthquake Evaluations 
1. Strong Likelihood of Significant Welded Steel Moment Frame Damage. All 
buildings determined to have potential welded steel moment frame fractures, as identified in 
the preliminary assessment and designated with a Yellow or Red posting (see Table 3-2, 
Chapter 3), should be subjected to detailed evaluation. El.igible costs may include the 
reasonable evaluation of the effects of the identified significant connection damage to the future 
performance of the building structure. To be eligible, this evaluation should be limited to the 
recorrunendations in FEMA 352, Chapter 4. Generally, FEMA will not fund detailed analytical 
or experimental studies or Level 2 evaluations as described in FEMA 352, Chapter 5. Funding 
of such evaluations is eligible only if a Project Worksheet (PW) based on a specific scope-ofwork 
and cost estimate is approved in advance. 

DAP9S24.1 

FEMA 

DISASTER ASSISTANCE POLICY 

a. The costs of visual bottom flange connection inspections performed at locations 
selected in accordance with FEMA 352, Chapter 4, Method 2 (Inspection of a Sample of 
Connections) arc eligible for reimbursement. 
h. Section 4.4.2, Method 2 provides guidance for the inspection of a sample of the 
total welded steel moment frame connections in the building. If certain types of damage are 
discovered, additional visual inspection of bottom flange connections and/or top Aange 
connections at locations recommended by FEMA 352, Chapter 4, will also be eligible for 
reimbursement, but only after FEMA has been informed of the frame damage already 
discovered, and after the PW has been modified to include the follow-on inspection. 
c. A modified PW is required to authorize nondestructive testing if the visual 
inspections indicate a significant potential of concealed damage. 
d. The eligible cost of inspecting connections includes only: 
i. Removal of necessary architectural finishes, such as plaster/drywall, 
ii. Removal of fire retardants in the inspection area of the connection, 
iii. Visual inspections, and 
iv. Nondestructive testing as appropriate, necessary and approved by FEMA. 
Testing may include liquid dye~penetrant testing or magnetic particle testing, but not ultrasonic 
testing. 
2. Little Likelihood of Significant Welded Steel Moment Frame Damage. In 
circumstances where a building is not required to undergo a Preliminary Assessment or where 
a Green Posting is assigned according to Table 3~2 of FEMA 352.. FEMA wiU reimburse the costs 
of visual inspections only for those connections where significant damage associated with the 
declared earthquake disaster is found. Significant connection damage is defined in FEMA 352, 
Chapter 4 as dj 3, where dj signifies connection damage index (see Table 4-1a: Connection 
Damage Indices). 
a. Visual inspection of additional connections (at locations recommended by FEMA 
352, following the discovery of damaged connections) will also be eligible for reimbursement, 
hut only after FEMA has been informed of the frame damage already discovered, and a PW for 
the follow-on inspection has been approved. The PW may also authorize nondestructive testing 
if the visual inspections indicate a significant potential for concealed damage. 

DAP9524.1 

FEMA 

DISASTER ASSISTANCE POLICY 

3. No Siznificant Welded SteeL Moment Frame Damage. Except as provided above, 
any costs related to inspections that do not yield discovery of significant connection damage 
attributable to the earthquake arc not eligible for FEMA reimbursement. 
E. Reimbursement for Repairs. Recommended repair strategies for various degrees of 
documented damage are found in Chapter 4.4.2.7. The cost to repair the damaged connections 
to their pre~earthquake design in accordance with Chapter 6 of FEMA 352 will typically be 
eligible for reimbursement. Repairs to the architectural finishes and fire retardants removed in 
the area of the connection damage are eligible. Funding of repairs is eligible only if a PW based 
on a specific scope-of-work and cost estimate is approved in advance. 
VIII. ORIGINATING OFFICE: Disaster Assistance Directorate (Public Assistance Division). 
IX. SUPERSESSION: This policy supersedes Recovery Division Policy 9524.1 Policy on the 
Eligibility of Welded Steel Moment-Frame Inspections, published on October 17, 2003, and all 
other previous guidance on this subject. 
X. REVIEW DATE: Three years from date of publication. 
' 

l2 i!C

~

carlosJ.~ 


Assistant Administrator 
Disaster Assistance Directorate