The Portland City Council voted to delay until November 2020 a requirement that owners of unreinforced brick and stone buildings post signs warning that the buildings may be unsafe in an earthquake.
The requirement was originally set to take effect for most property owners this month. Some building owners sued the city over the measure, and a judge ordered the city to hold off on enforcement. Members of the arts and music communities, African-American church leaders, and historic preservationists were among those who objected to the rule.
The delay does not apply to publicly owned buildings. The city is one of the largest owners of unreinforced masonry buildings in Portland, and will post the signs on its properties.
Seismologists say there is a 37% chance of a devastating magnitude 7.1 or greater earthquake in the Cascadia subduction zone, where Portland lies, within the next 50 years.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Oct 24, 2019
ASHRAE design contest winners demonstrate building resilience
Model building, a city hall, could operate without utility service for two weeks.
Codes and Standards | Oct 22, 2019
Efficient material design, low-carbon concrete are critical to cutting GHG emissions in construction
Enhancing building utilization and reusing materials also aid carbon reduction.
Codes and Standards | Oct 21, 2019
Historic properties not exempt from Americans With Disabilities Act
Some exceptions do apply.
Codes and Standards | Oct 18, 2019
St. Louis could save $61 million per year in energy costs by improved building performance
GHG gases can be reduced by at least 11% with upgrades to public buildings and large private buildings.
Codes and Standards | Oct 17, 2019
Slow payments cost GCs and subs $64 billion annually
Study finds 51-day average payment turnaround.
Codes and Standards | Oct 16, 2019
Cool pavement can make people hotter
Reflective coatings channel sunlight raising temperatures where pedestrians walk.
Codes and Standards | Oct 15, 2019
Utah adopts 2018 International Energy Conservation Code
Provisions include increased building envelope performance and reduced air infiltration.
Codes and Standards | Oct 14, 2019
States continue to beef up energy efficiency codes
ACEEE 50-state scorecard finds latest IECC code gaining adherents.
Codes and Standards | Oct 9, 2019
DOE releases Better Buildings Healthcare Financing Primer
Outlines financial strategies to implement energy-efficiency projects in healthcare.
Codes and Standards | Oct 8, 2019
Zero Carbon Buildings for All aims for ambitious emission reduction targets
Organization makes commitment to net zero carbon for all buildings by 2050.