Dinner Program

OSHPD Seismic Update

Seismic design requirements for nonstructural systems and components seem to constantly change, especially with respect to OSHPD projects. The days of considering mechanical systems as black boxes and designing for anchorage is long gone. Shake table testing requirements continue to evolve as special seismic certification programs are subject to more and more scrutiny. The level of detail required for modern seismic certifications has increased substantially from the original certification reviews and presents more and more limitations on preapprovals. As times change, so do the acronyms we face when working with OSHPD. In the years past we have gone from having just the OPA, to adding in the OSP, to now eliminating the OPA and replacing with the OPM. This presentation will focus on current OSHPD seismic requirements for nonstructural systems with particular attention to mechanical systems.

Speaker: Matt Tobolski, PhD, SE

Matt is the President and CEO of Tobolski Watkins Engineering, Inc. a structural and earthquake engineering and protective design firm with offices in San Diego, CA and Bend, OR. Matt provides managerial oversight and technical expertise in the analysis, design and review of healthcare, commercial, nuclear, industrial and life sciences projects throughout the world. He is a recognized expert in special seismic certification of nonstructural components and has managed hundreds of certification programs consisting of over 500 tested components. Matt has also been responsible for certification programs including analysis and experience data based certifications. Matt is active in the development of code provisions for nonstructural systems, including serving on the ASCE 7 code committee and AC156 community review process. He is also a founding member of the new ASCE seismic certification standard currently under development.