Evaluation of Buildings

In most communities, the vast majority of buildings are single-family and multiple-family residential structures. As a result, SAP evaluators spend more time evaluating residential structures than all other structures combined. All structures, both non-residential and residential, are inspected using the same process and procedures.

The primary question related to all residential buildings after a disaster is:

How much damage makes a home unacceptable for occupancy after an earthquake or other disaster?

1. The State of California Health and Safety Code states that the minimum requirements for occupancy in a single-family residence are sanitation and running water.


2. In post-disaster situations, we also need to consider any safety threats resulting from damage sustained by the building.

Viewing occupant safety in the context of a post-disaster scenario helps to reveal the reach of damage. Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake, nearly 114,000 structures were evaluated for safety.

The description of the Six-Step Procedure for inspecting buildings is generally oriented to free-standing permanent structures built according to modern practices. But mobile or manufactured homes and historic structures can present unique challenges for evaluators.

On the following pages, we’ll take a closer look at how safety evaluations can reduce shelter demands, and how the evaluation process can be adapted to mobile homes and historic buildings.