USRC Verified Ratings
USRC Verified Ratings can be used for promotional, marketing and publicity purposes. Owners whose Verified Ratings meet specific performance thresholds can use the badges above to promote the resilient design of their buildings. Each Verified Rating is:
USRC verified ratings that meet certain thresholds are awarded one of the following designations:
The USRC Platinum Rating represents a the highest level of building performance. Platinum rated buildings are expected to suffer negligible damage – less than 5% of replacement cost, and allow functional recovery within a few days of a major seismic event. The USRC Platinum Rating is sought by owners who demand the highest level of asset protection and virtually uninterrupted functionality of their operations.
Rating: 5 stars in Safety/Damage/Recovery
The USRC Gold Rating represents a very high level of performance. Gold rated buildings are expected to suffer only minor damage – less than 10% of replacement cost, and allow functional recovery within several weeks of a major seismic event. The USRC Gold Rating is sought by owners who demand high levels of asset protection and minimal disruption to their operations.
Rating: 4+ stars in Safety/Damage/Recovery
The USRC Silver Rating is for buildings that in addition to meeting the Certified standards are expected to suffer repairable damage – less than 20% of replacement cost, and allow functional recovery within a few months of a major seismic event. The USRC Silver Rating is awarded to buildings where limiting damage is an important consideration, as for properties with commercial loans and in the transactional due diligence market.
Rating: 3+ stars in Safety/Damage/Recovery
The USRC Certified Rating is for buildings that have been evaluated by the US Resiliency Council and comply with modern codes for performance in earthquakes. Certified buildings are expected to perform in a manner that will preserve life safety of the occupants, limit damage to repairable levels under 40% of replacement cost, and allow functional recovery within a year of a major seismic event.
Rating: 3+ stars in Safety
2+ stars in Damage/Recovery
Disclaimer
USRC Rating Definitions have been derived from technical publications originally developed by the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC). SEAONC granted the USRC permission to use these documents. Any differences between USRC Ratings and related SEAONC documents are solely the work of the USRC and do not reflect any opinion, endorsement, or approval by SEAONC. While US codes and engineering practices are among the most advanced in the world, evaluations of building performance subject to natural disasters include a significant amount of uncertainty: unknowns related to forecasting actual event location, size and duration, the actual intensity to which the building is subject, and the quality of the building design and construction. Current building analysis, evaluation and correlation methods do not address or remove all these sources of uncertainty. Due to many factors including but not limited to variations in construction, differing site conditions, and variations in natural and man-made events, the performance evaluation of a single building includes a significant amount of uncertainty.