Certus News

• Kevin Moore receives The Edwin B. Zacher Award – The Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) bestows an annual award to a member in recognition of outstanding service to the Association, including significant contributions to the profession. Kevin was recognized for his leadership of the Seismology Committee, shepherding the Blue Book (SEAOC’s primary publication) and other services. Past recipients include Kelly Cobeen (current SEAONC President), Ron Hamburger and David Bonowitz.


• Kevin Moore serves on Advisory Board for NSF NEES project on STMF and STF – The NEES project will test several large scale steel framing systems by utilizing the NEES equipment site at the University of Minnesota, named the Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing (MAST) Laboratory. The goal of the project is to advance seismic safety and design of building structures by studying two steel truss systems: special truss moment frames (STMFs) and staggered truss frames (STFs). Kevin Moore has been asked to serve on the Advisory Board because of his unique knowledge of STFs in high seismic regions. This ongoing project is managed by Shih-Ho Chao at the University of Texas, Arlington. NEES


• Kevin Moore attends “World’s Largest Earthquake Shake Table Test” in Kobe, Japan – Simpson Strong-Tie sponsored Kevin’s attendance at this special event. A full-scale, seven-story wood-framed condominium tower was shaken by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, exhibiting virtually no damage. The facility is “overwhelming and very impressive; the sheer magnitude of the test building is awe inspiring” remarked Kevin upon his return. In regards to the building behavior, Kevin says, “As the building was constructed using high quality ductile detailing, the near flawless performance for such a large event was almost predictable.” The test was the culmination of enormous collaborative effort from Simpson, academics and the Japanese E-Defense team under the auspices of the NEESWood Capstone project. One source for more information about this incredible engineering enterprise can be found via the Simpson Strong-Tie website


• Kevin Moore appointed chair of ACI 318 Appendix D Issues Team – Kevin Moore will chair the ACI 318 Issue Team on seismic anchorage to concrete, as part of the body’s review of the proposed 2014 update of the NEHRP (National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program) Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures.



• Certus participates in research that results in successful code change – Recent changes in national concrete standards results in conditions that could require up to one anchor bolt per foot of sill plate for a typical shear wall found in a small residential structure. Less than 5 years ago, a designer may have provided an anchor bolt every 4 feet and met prevailing code requirements. This change came as a result of significant research that was not necessarily applicable to wood framed structures. Based on this “disconnect” and associated challenge for the professional community, Kevin Moore facilitated a task group of SEAOC/SEAONC members to work toward development of a code change proposal. The seminal paper was presented at the 2009 SEAOC convention and used as the basis for the successful code change. The 2012 International Building Code will recognize the special behavior of this connection and allow designers to use well established wood design methods to size and space anchors for wood sill plates.


• Kevin Moore appointed Chair of the National Council of Structural Engineering Associations (NCSEA) Seismic Subcommittee of the Code Advisory Committee – Kevin Moore was selected to chair the NCSEA Seismic Subcommittee of the Code Advisory Committee. In this role, Mr. Moore will facilitate seismic code development throughout the US through membership representation from 4 regions. This post traditionally includes participation/membership on the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) Code Resource Support Committee (CRSC) and the American Society Civil Engineers (ASCE) Seismic Task Committee (ASCE STC)



• Build Change, Indonesian Tsunami Relief – Certus Consulting was awarded an Engineering Excellence Award in 2006 for its efforts in rebuilding housing devastated by the December, 2005 Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami. Working with Build-Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disaster resistant housing in the third world, Certus led a team of Bay Area engineers in an effort to design safe, affordable housing that could be constructed by local inhabitants.



• Certus Joins PEER as a Business Industry Partner – Certus Consulting is among an elite group of business and industry leaders who are partnering with the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center to foster the development, dissemination and application of earthquake engineering research being performed at the west coast's premier universities. Certus and PEER have collaborated on a number of efforts that will benefit residents of earthquake prone regions around the country.