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Flowchart 2 - Seismic Design Category

Page 1
Seismic Design Category

Determine SS and S1 from fig. 22-1

through 22-14 (per 11.4.1).

No

Determine the
Occupancy Category
from Table 1-1.

Structure is permitted to be assigned

to SDC A and must comply with only
11.7 (11.4.1).

Is the structure Occupancy

Category I, II, or III?

No

No

Yes

Is SS 0.15 and S1 0.04?

Is S1 0.75?

Yes

Yes

No

Is S1 0.75?

Structure is
assigned to SDC F

Yes

Structure is
assigned to SDC E

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Flowchart 2 - Seismic Design Category

Page 2
B

Determine SDS and SD1 from previous flowchart.

Is the simplified design procedure

of 12.14 permitted to be used?

No

Check if all 4
conditions of 11.6
are satisfied.

Yes

Determine the SDC from Table

11.6-1 alone, based on SDS and the
Occupancy Category.

Determine Ta in accordance
with Section 12.8.2.1 in each
orthogonal direction.

Determine Ts in accordance with Section

11.4.5 in each orthogonal direction:
=

No

Is Ta < 0.8TS?

Yes

C
No

Is T (used for
story drift) < TS?

Yes

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Flowchart 2 - Seismic Design Category

Page 3

No

Is eq. 12.8-2 used to

determine CS?

Yes

Are diaphragms rigid or is

the distance between
vertical elements of the
SFRS 40 ft?

No

Yes

Determine the SDC from the more severe of the two

from Tables 11.6-1 and 11.6-2 based on the Occupancy
Category and SDS and SD1, respectively.

Determine the SDC from Table

11.6-1 alone, based on SDS and the
Occupancy Category.