What is the primary purpose of the strong-motion instrumentation requirements in the CBC for certain buildings?
Correct Answer
B) To record seismic response data for future code development
Strong-motion instrumentation is required to collect data on how buildings respond to seismic events, which helps improve future seismic design codes and standards.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Strong-motion instruments (accelerometers) record actual ground and structural acceleration data during seismic events. This data is collected and analyzed by engineers and researchers to understand how buildings actually behave during earthquakes, which directly informs improvements to future seismic design codes and standards.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: To automatically shut off utilities during earthquakes
Automatically shutting off utilities during earthquakes is the function of seismic gas shutoff valves (required separately under California law), not strong-motion instruments. Strong-motion instruments are passive recording devices, not active control systems.
Option C: To alert emergency services of structural damage
Alerting emergency services of structural damage is the role of post-earthquake inspection programs and occupant reporting, not strong-motion instruments. These instruments record data but do not transmit real-time damage alerts.
Option D: To monitor building occupancy levels
Monitoring building occupancy levels is entirely unrelated to strong-motion instrumentation. Occupancy monitoring uses separate systems such as access control or occupancy sensors.
Memory Technique
Think of strong-motion instruments as 'earthquake cameras' — they record what happens so engineers can learn and improve codes. They don't act during the earthquake; they just record it for future study.
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