Safety Assessment Program Evaluator Student Manual

CA Emergency Mgmt. Agency Safety Assessment Program Evaluator Manual April 2011In summary, making recommendations for stabilization is not the main focus of the safetyassessment process. However, being familiar with the concepts of stabilization will allow a SAPevaluator to offer opinions to the building department if asked.The design and installation of shoring and stabilization measures is ultimately the responsibilityof the building owner. Sometimes the jurisdiction will have to take action in the public interestto protect adjacent property or the public right-of-way. In such cases, the local buildingdepartment is responsible for the design and installation. SAP evaluators having seen thebuilding from their perspective, and in some cases inside the building, may give them aperspective that the jurisdiction may find useful. Certainly offering an opinion, when asked, asto the feasibility and possible methods of stabilization for individual buildings is reasonable andencouraged when the SAP evaluator has the background for it.3.4 Individual Activity: Evaluation of Residential StructuresPurposeThis activity has been designed to stimulate thinking on both the safety evaluation of damagedresidences, and the potential for the continued use of these structures. These are the types ofdiscussions that should be an ongoing part of the evaluation team‟s work. As with any part ofsafety assessment, there may well be no black or white determinations, only degrees of judgmentbased on facts, understanding, and experience.InstructionsThe group will discuss the questions related to the cases shown based on the descriptions ofdamage. The exercise will focus on habitability of the damaged structure, not how the structurecan be repaired. The principles of ATC-20 will be used to determine habitability. Most likely,there will not be consensus on how to handle these cases in the class, but it is important toconsider all points of view. The purpose of this exercise is to encourage the types of discussionthat should take place within the evaluation team while determining the appropriate posting forthe structure.96