Skip to content
ChatProjectCodes

Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

Section 321

California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

321.1 The existing or retrofitted structure shall be demon-

strated to have the capability to sustain the deformation response due to the specified earthquake ground motions and meet the seismic performance requirements of Section 317. The registered design professional shall provide an evalua- tion of the response of the existing structure in its modified configuration and condition to the ground motions specified. If the building’s seismic performance is evaluated as satisfac-

PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

tory and the peer reviewer(s,) and the enforcement agency concurs, then no further structural modifications of the lat- eral load-resisting system are required.

When the evaluation indicates the building does not meet the required performance levels given in Table 317.5 for the risk category, then a retrofit and/or repair design shall be prepared that provides a structure that meets these perfor- mance objectives and reflects the appropriate consideration of existing conditions. Any approach to analysis and design is permitted to be used, provided that the approach shall be rational, shall be consistent with the established principals of mechanics and shall use the known performance characteris- tics of materials and assemblages under reversing loads typi- cal of severe earthquake ground motions.

Exception: Further consideration of the structure’s seis- mic performance may be waived by the enforcement agency if both the registered design professional and peer reviewer(s) conclude that the structural system can be expected to perform at least as well as required by the provisions of this section without completing an analysis of the structure’s compliance with these requirements. A detailed report shall be submitted to the responsible build- ing official that presents the reasons and basis for this conclusion. This report shall be prepared by the registered design professional. The peer reviewer(s) shall concur in this conclusion and affirm to it in writing. The building official shall either approve this decision or require com- pletion of the indicated work specified in this section prior to approval.

321.2 The approach, models, analysis procedures, assump-

tions on material and system behavior and conclusions shall be peer reviewed in accordance with the requirements of Sec- tion 322 and accepted by the peer reviewer(s).

Exceptions:

1. The enforcement agency may perform the work of peer review when qualified staff is available within the jurisdiction.

2. The enforcement agency may modify or waive the requirements for peer review when appropriate.

321.2.1 The approach used in the development of the design shall be acceptable to the peer reviewer and the enforcement agency and shall be the same method as used in the evaluation of the building. Approaches that are spe- cifically tailored to the type of building, construction materials and specific building characteristics may be used, if they are acceptable to the independent peer reviewer. The use of Method A allowed procedures may also be used under Method B.

321.2.2 Any method of analysis may be used, subject to acceptance by the peer reviewer(s) and the building offi- cial. The general requirements given in ASCE 41, Chap- ters 6 and 7, shall be complied with unless exceptions are accepted by the peer reviewer(s) and building official. Use of other than ASCE 41 procedures in Method B requires building official concurrence before implementation.

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

321.2.3 Prior to implementation, the procedures, methods, material assumptions and acceptance/rejection criteria proposed by the registered design professional will be peer reviewed as provided in Section 322. Where nonlin- ear procedures are used, prior to any analysis, the repre- sentation of the seismic ground motion shall be reviewed and approved by the peer reviewer(s) and the building official.

321.2.4 The conclusions and design decisions shall be reviewed and accepted by the peer reviewer(s) and the building official.

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Export this section
▸Contents — California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  2. Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR
  3. Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY
  4. Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE
  5. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  6. ▸Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
    Overview
    1. Section 301
    2. Section 302
    3. Section 303
    4. Section 304
    5. Section 305
    6. Section 306
    7. Section 307 — [OSHPD 1R, 2, and 5]
    8. Section 308 — [OSHPD 1R, 2 and 5]
    9. Section 309 — [OSHPD 1R]
    10. Section 313
    11. Section 314
    12. Section 315
    13. Section 316
    14. Section 317
    15. Section 318
    16. Section 319
    17. Section 320
    18. Section 321
    19. Section 322
    20. Section 323
    21. Section 302A
    22. Section 301A
    23. Section 303A
    24. Section 304A
    25. Section 305A
    26. Section 306A
    27. Section 307A
    28. Section 308A
    29. Section 309A
    30. Section 310A
  7. Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
  8. Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  9. Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
  10. Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS - LEVEL 1
  11. Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS - LEVEL 2
  12. Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS - LEVEL 3
  13. Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
  14. Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
  15. Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  16. Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
  17. Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
  18. Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
  19. Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.