DART's Structural Assessment Team (SAT) identifies and tags unsafe buildings which should remain unoccupied, determines what buildings are safe to be utilized for their intended purpose, and identifies apparently safe buildings which may be used for emergency operations. They also evaluate the structural condition of buildings that require entrance by other emergency response personnel. They may also assist with the design of shoring systems that are required to support portions of a collapsed structure or other unstable loads.

Point of Contact: DART Structural Assessment Team Lead —
, 650-604-6659

• Mission
• Team Qualifications
• Training
• Inspection Equipment
• Mobilization Procedures
• Evaluation Procedures

Mission:

DART SAT is a multi-person team that has two primary functions. First, DART SAT identifies and tags unsafe buildings which should remain unoccupied, determines what buildings are safe to be utilized for their intended purpose, and identifies apparently safe buildings which may be used for emergency operations. Second, DART SAT supports the Rescue and Damage & Utility Control operations by evaluating the structural condition of buildings that require entrance by other emergency response personnel. They may also assist with the design of shoring systems that are required to support portions of a collapsed structure or other unstable loads.

Team members must be registered Civil or Structural Engineers. Training includes structural damage assessment, SEAONC damage assessment, FEMA collapse patterns, seismic design, hazardous materials awareness, emergency management and response, and Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer. DART SAT must participate in annual functional exercises and other tabletop exercises as required.

The Structural Evaluation and Assessment Team was established in 1992, primarily as a result of the October 1989 earthquake.

The Ames Structural Evaluation Plan is heavily based on the procedures outlined in ATC 20 "Procedures for post earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings" by the Applied Technology Council.

Team Qualifications:

The Structural Assessment Team currently has members qualified in the following areas:

• Registered Civil Engineer
• Registered Structural Engineer

Training:

The team periodically goes through the following types of training:

Inspection Equipment:

Typical Government Issued Equipment

Readily Available Equipment:

Mobilization Procedures:

The Lead Inspector and Alternate Lead carry DART radio pagers. These individuals will contact the remaining members of the team.

In the event of a major disaster, Structural Assessment Team members report to the Center as soon as possible, even if they are not contacted.

Team members report to the EOC and prepare for deployment. Facilities requiring structural inspections will be identified by the EOC.

"Essential Facilities" are the first priority for structural inspection. For the remaining inspections, each team is assigned a specific area of the Center and inspects all buildings within that area.

Evaluation Procedures:

There are three levels of evaluation:

• Rapid Evaluation — This is typically based on an exterior inspection of the building only. Used to quickly post obviously unsafe or apparently safe structures. Identifies buildings requiring a Detailed Evaluation. (Approximate time: 15 minutes)
• Detailed Evaluation — This is a thorough visual inspection of the structure, inside and out. It is primarily used to evaluate the safety of buildings posted LIMITED ENTRY after a Rapid Evaluation. As time allows, the Ames Structural Evaluation Plan requires a Detailed Evaluation of those structures classified as INSPECTED (i.e. apparently safe) by the Rapid Evaluation. (Approximate time: 1-2 hours)
• Engineering Evaluation — Detailed engineering investigation of damaged structure; requiring construction drawings and new structural calculations. Used to evaluate structures Posted LIMITED ENTRY after the Detailed Evaluation. (Approximate time: 1 week)