San Francisco Concrete Building Safety Program (CBSP)
NYA provides structural engineering consulting in San Francisco to help building owners comply with the San Francisco Concrete Building Safety Program (CBSP). Because CBSP affects tilt-up and non-ductile concrete buildings, early evaluation matters.
Overview
With the goal of reducing the risk of major structural failure during a significant earthquake, the San Francisco Concrete Building Safety Program (CBSP) is a City initiative to help identify and evaluate vulnerable concrete buildings.
In addition to establishing screening requirements, the program also establishes voluntary retrofit standards within the San Francisco Existing Building Code (SFEBC). Building owners can review official guidance from the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) here.
Affected Building Types
Concrete Tilt-Up Buildings
These buildings often include warehouses, grocery stores, and light industrial facilities. Rather than requiring these building types to meet today’s construction standards, California Existing Building Code (CEBC) Appendix A2 allows us to study how these types of buildings would respond in a seismic event. In many cases, the work focuses on wall anchorage and diaphragm strengthening.
Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings
These structures often include residential, commercial, office, and mixed-use buildings built before modern ductile detailing. Consequently, they may need performance-based evaluation and targeted strengthening. Typical retrofit work can include adding steel reinforcement to walls and columns, strengthening floor and roof diaphragms, and improving connections between structural elements.
Why CBSP Matters
Non-ductile concrete buildings can perform poorly during major earthquakes. As a result, the San Francisco Concrete Building Safety Program helps identify buildings that may be vulnerable and encourages proactive evaluation.
Early screening allows building owners to understand potential structural risks and plan improvements in a coordinated way. In many cases, seismic upgrades can be integrated with other capital improvements or redevelopment projects.
Ultimately, the program helps reduce seismic risk while allowing owners to make informed decisions about building safety and long-term investment strategies.
How NYA Can Support Building Owners with CBSP Compliance
NYA has decades of experience in evaluating and retrofitting vulnerable concrete buildings. If your building may fall under the San Francisco Concrete Building Safety Program, we can assist you with:
- Structural screening evaluations
- ASCE 41 performance-based seismic analysis
- Retrofit strategy development and design
- Compliance documentation and peer review
- Integration with adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects
We deliver clear engineering documentation and practical retrofit strategies to help building owners make informed decisions and plan efficiently.
Retrofit Criteria & Compliance Pathways
When building owners are ready to proceed with voluntary retrofits, we’re here to help. Some potential pathways include:
Option (a): BSE-1E Collapse Prevention (225-year earthquake)
Strengthen the building to prevent structural collapse during a moderate-to-strong earthquake. Address specific structural deficiencies identified in the evaluation.
Option (b): BSE-2E (975-year earthquake / SFEBC Level)
Upgrade the building to prevent collapse under a very strong, rare earthquake. Meets the same requirements as a full retrofit triggered by major non-structural alterations.
These options give owners flexibility to balance safety goals, cost, and future redevelopment plans.
Request a CBSP Evaluation
If your building may fall under the San Francisco Concrete Building Safety Program (CBSP), contact NYA. We will help you confirm requirements, evaluate risk, and plan the next steps.