It is the express purpose of this document to provide design and construction details for improving the structural performance of nonengineered construction. The prescriptive requirements contained herein are based on the latest engineering knowledge reflected in Section 1607 of the 1999 edition of the Standard Building Code unless otherwise specified and are intended to provide minimum requirements to ensure structural integrity within the limitations in building geometry, materials and seismic performance categories specified.

It is recognized that a large number of alternatives are available to a designer or builder for providing earthquake resistance. The provisions given are not intended to prevent use of such alternate materials of methods, permitted by Section 103.7 of the 1999 Standard Building Code.

This standard contains figures showing connectors. The connectors are shown for illustrative purposes only. The illustration of the connections is not intended to endorse any connector manufacturer. In order to choose the appropriate connector, please check with the connector manufacturer.

The SBCCI Board of Directors voted unanimously at its October 8, 1998, meeting to approve publication of the Seismic Resistant Construction documents as an SBCCI Standard. This new standard, SSTD-13, consists of two parts, and is limited to buildings assigned to Seismic Hazard Exposure Group I.

Part I provides prescriptive standards for buildings subjected to low seismic risk and assigned to Seismic Performance Categories A and B.

Part II provides prescriptive standards for buildings subjected to moderate to high seismic risk and assigned to Seismic Performance Categories C and D.