How were URMs in this database identified?
SDCI compiled an inventory of URM buildings from various
visual and permit research surveys performed over the years. This inventory was
validated by reviewing photographs of the buildings, visiting selected
buildings to view the exterior construction details, and reviewing permit
records and other documents, to verify each building should be included. The 2016
Report to Policy Committee on URM List Validation provides a detailed
description of the data validation process.
Are all of Seattle’s URMs included in this database?
This URM database is intended to be a comprehensive
inventory of URM buildings in Seattle. There may be URM buildings that were not
identified during the City’s inventory process; if a building is found to
contain URM load bearing walls and is not included in the inventory, it will be
classified as a URM and subject to future mandatory retrofit requirements.
How often is this database updated?
The URM database is maintained regularly by staff, and updates are pushed to this dataset weekly.
How does the City recognize URM buildings as retrofitted?
A URM building owner must provide the required
documentation and follow submittal
procedures to demonstrate compliance with Seattle Existing Building Code
section 304.5.1.
This code section establishes a minimum standard for a URM to be recognized as
retrofitted. Once SDCI approves this documentation, the building’s status in
the “Confirmed Compliant Retrofit” column will be updated to “Yes”. An adjacent
column, “Retrofit Method per SEBC 304.5.1”, will be updated to reflect the
appropriate level of completed retrofit. See page 3 for further description of
columns and field values.
When will URM retrofits be required?
Owners can undertake a voluntary retrofit at any time.
Owners must retrofit URM building parapets (any wall
that continues vertically past the roofline) when they are doing other
permitted construction work in the building. (Per Seattle Existing
Building Code 302.9
and A113.6.)
The SEBC currently requires that buildings be
seismically retrofitted if owners are conducting a major renovation,
occupying a vacant building, or changing the use or occupancy of the
building.
Future mandatory requirements:
The City will not require a mandatory retrofit until
financial and supportive resources have been clearly identified. The City
passed Resolution
32033 in 2021 guiding the development of a Seattle mandatory URM
retrofit program. The resolution recommends a variety of potential
funding opportunities and financial incentives to reduce the financial
burden on building owners required to seismically retrofit their URMs.
Once the City has adopted a mandatory URM Retrofit
Ordinance, building owners will be required to meet retrofit deadlines
according to the timeline associated with their URM’s “Vulnerability
Classification” column in the URM database.
What are the URM Vulnerability Classifications
and their proposed mandatory compliance timelines?
URM Vulnerability
Classification
Proposed
Mandatory Retrofit Compliance
Timelines
Critical vulnerability: emergency service facilities
and schools
7 years
High vulnerability: buildings over three stories and
located in poor soil areas (i.e. liquefaction and slide areas), and buildings
with occupancies designated as public assembly.
10 years
Medium vulnerability: all other buildings
13 years
How is the Vulnerability Classification determined?
A URM building’s occupancy type, height and poor soil
conditions factor into its vulnerability classification.
Building Height: taller
URM buildings are more susceptible to damage in an earthquake. URM
buildings with more than three floors, those with values greater than
three in the “Stories” column of the URM database, and located in
poor soil conditions, are classified as High Vulnerability.
Poor Soil Conditions:
Liquefaction occurs
when loose, saturated soils lose their strength due to ground shaking
(usually from earthquakes). Loss of soil strength can cause sinking,
fracturing, and sliding of the ground surface causing significant damage
to roads and buildings. Taller URM buildings located in liquefaction
prone areas, designated as “Yes” in the “Liquefaction Prone” column are
classified as High Vulnerability. Data informing this column was updated
in 2023 and impacted the Vulnerability Classification of a number of
URMs. Learn more about Seattle’s Liquefaction-Prone
Areas and updates.
Landslides can be
caused by the shaking associated with earthquakes. Taller URM buildings
located in landslide prone areas are classified as High Vulnerability in
the URM database. Two columns provide information on landslide hazards
“Steep Slope” and “Potential Slide Area”. These columns correspond with
the City’s mapped Environmentally
Critical Areas (ECA) code. A value in either column (for URMs with 3+
stories) contributes to a URM High Vulnerability classification.
Occupancy Types:
Emergency Services are
facilities that would be needed in a major catastrophe. Examples of
Emergency Services include police and fire stations, hospitals, and
communications centers. URMs designated as “Emergency” in the “Occupancy”
column of the URM database are classified as Critical Vulnerability.
Schools: are defined as
all public and private educational facilities from nursery school to
university. Schools are represented as “Schools” in the “Occupancy”
column of the URM database and are classified as Critical Vulnerability.
URM buildings are a
collapse hazard to occupants, with risk of injury and death; a larger
number of occupants increases the number of people at risk to the
collapse hazard and are thus designated as High Vulnerability in the URM
Database. High occupancy URM buildings are as classified as “Public
Assembly” in the “Occupancy” column. Examples include theaters,
auditoriums, community centers, performance halls and churches.
URM Database Column Descriptions
Column Title
Description
Address
One of the addresses of the building. Some buildings have
multiple addresses, and some are addressed off of more than one street.
Confirmed Retrofit
Seismic retrofit work is compliant with SEBC 304.5.1.
Values are “Yes” for compliant or “No” for not compliant.
Compliance Method
Description of retrofit method per SEBC 304.5.1.
1: Substantial Alteration per SEBC Section 304.4.2.
2: Alternate Method per SEBC Appendix Chapter 6
3a: Completed substantial alteration permitted between
09/16/1996- 04/24/2009 using 1994 or later edition of SEBC.
3b: Completed substantial alteration permitted between
04/24/2009-11/15/2024 using the 2006 or later edition of SEBC.
3c: Other, as approved by the Code Official.
Year Built
The year the building was built, based primarily on King
County Assessor’s records. Buildings listed as built in 1900 were built that
year or earlier.
Stories
The number of building stories above grade.
Occupancy
Primary use of the building. Many buildings have more than
one use.
Occupant Load
The maximum number of people in a building allowed per
code.
Steep Slope
Landslide prone area per the Environmentally
Critical Areas (ECA) codes.
Liquefaction Prone
Liquefaction prone area per the Environmentally
Critical Areas (ECA) map.
Potential Slide Area
Landslide prone area per the Environmentally
Critical Areas (ECA) codes.
Vulnerability Classification
Used to inform future compliance timelines. Classification
is a factor of URM height, occupancy type, and soil conditions. See previous
page for detailed description.
Council District
The numbered council district, 1-7, which the URM is
located within.
Neighborhood
The neighborhood which the URM is located within.
Neighborhood boundaries based on city Community Reporting Areas.
Overlay District
Identifies districts, such as historic and conservation districts, where district rules or guidelines will inform rehabilitation work.
Landmark Status
Denotes whether the URM is designated as a Seattle
landmark, subject to protection by city ordinance.