Determining the performance levels of existing buildings in Erzincan province using the rapid assessment methodology FEMA P-154

Due to their inherently unpredictable nature and high damage potential, earthquakes pose a significant threat to buildings. Therefore, the loss of lives and substantial economic damage resulting from earthquakes has become a primary concern worldwide. At this stage, the primary measure that can be taken against the effects of an earthquake is to determine the seismic performance of existing structures rapid, economically, and reliably. To assess the seismic performance of existing structures, various rapid assessment methods have been developed globally. Risk assessment considers criteria such as the age of the building, the number of stories, the presence of a soft story, short columns, heavy overhangs, topographic effects, and the earthquake zone where the building is located. These methods save both time and economic resources for structures that require a detailed evaluation for seismic safety. In this study, an application has been developed using the FEMA P-154 (FEMA P-154, 2015) method. This software, capable of determining whether a building is at risk within 5 minutes, can evaluate any building in Turkey. Within the scope of the study, 140 buildings located in Erzincan province, which is in a region with seismic activity, were assessed using the BAFE application. This survey, conducted through the street survey method, took into account the visible features of the building (such as the number of floors, the presence of structural irregularities) during the evaluation. As a result of the statistical examination of building performance scores, it has been determined that 26% of the evaluated 140 buildings require priority detailed evaluation.