Unreinforced Masonry Buildings - Project Documents
Project Documents
Database of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
- URM Database Viewer
To view data as a table:
- From the landing page, scroll down the “Details” menu, under the “Records” heading, select “View data table”
- From the map, select the gridded table icon on the far right of the screen
- Procedure to Appeal URM Building Designation
- Procedure to Apply for Retrofitted URM Status in the URM Database
URM Retrofit Technical Information
- Tip 345, Seattle Existing Building Code Requirements for Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
- 2021 Seattle Existing Building Code, adopted November 15, 2024, defines minimum standards for URM buildings to be recognized as “Retrofitted” in the City’s URM database and codifies the Alternate Method for the Seismic Improvement of URMs.
- Slides and Recording from the October 17, 2024, URM Retrofit Recognition Technical Briefing
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Materials on the development of this standard can be found on the Background page under the header “URM Retrofit Technical Standard Development.”
Technical Engineering Resources
- URM Pre-Submittal Conference Seismic Retrofit Questionnaire. If you are trying to qualify your URM building for the Alternate Method, fill out this form and bring it with you to the pre-Submittal Conference.
- Construction Pre-Submittal Conference Application. Use this form to schedule a Construction Pre-Submittal Conference. Under “Application Type” Be sure to select both “Construction only Pre-Submittal Conference” and “Unreinforced masonry (URM) building.”
- Director's Rule 15-2021: Seismic Evaluation Report Requirements for Buildings Undergoing Substantial Alterations
Archived Retrofit Standards
SDCI wants to make every effort to recognize URM retrofits completed before the adoption of the URM seismic regulations in the 2021 SEBC. In addition to comprehensive retrofits designed to comply with previous building code cycles, the following documents may be used to confirm compliance of an existing retrofit under 2021 SEBC 304.5.1 Item 3c. Other references may be accepted at the building official’s discretion.
- Director's Rule 32-1996: Seismic Survey and Report Requirements
- Director’s Rule 7-2009: Seismic Survey and Report Requirements for Buildings Undergoing Substantial Alterations or Repairs
- 2012 Draft Proposed URM Retrofit Standard
- 2023 Draft URM Retrofit Technical Standard
- Director's Rule 6-2023: A Method for the Seismic Improvement of Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Buildings