Policy Committee

The URM Policy Committee met throughout 2012 to address the issues listed below. They’ve recently published their draft recommendations and final recommendations are anticipated mid-2013 after the committee discusses the results of a cost benefit analysis on policy alternatives.

The central tasks of the URM Policy Committee includes making recommendations for:

• Threshold for retrofit requirement
• Trigger for retrofit
• Timeline for compliance
• Penalty or actions for noncompliance
• Incentive options
• How retrofits can be financed  

Technical Committee

The central tasks of the URM Technical Committee were to make recommendations for:

• The appropriate definition of “unreinforced masonry building”
• Technical aspects of mandatory retrofit program, including:
  • Appropriate level of seismicity
  • Building elements to be addressed
  • Standard with which retrofitted buildings and building elements should comply
  • Considerations for previously-retrofitted buildings
• The committee finished their work in 2010 and a final report is available with the proposed retrofit standard.