Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering

Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering

Analytical Comparison of Seismic Lateral Forces on Nonstructural Components in the Iranian Standard 2800 and NIST GCR 18-917-43: An Approach Toward More Accurate and stability Seismic Design

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology
Abstract
Non-structural components of buildings, including architectural elements, mechanical systems, and equipment, play a major role in safety, functionality, and construction costs. The vulnerability of these components to earthquakes can have widespread life and financial consequences and even disrupt the overall performance of resistant structures. Recent earthquake experiences, such as the Sar-e-Pul-Zahab earthquake (2017), have highlighted the importance of considering the seismic design of these components. This study aims to compare the seismic lateral force of non-structural components proposed in the fourth and fifth editions of the Iranian Code of Practice for Seismic Resistant Design of Buildings (Standard 2800) and the NIST GCR 18-917-43 report. The results show that the fourth edition of Standard 2800 often underestimates the force values due to ignoring parameters such as maximum floor acceleration, damping, and ductility. This difference was observed in cases up to two times more than the NIST report values, which can be considered accurate values. In the fifth edition of the 2800 standard, inspired by the 22nd edition of the ASCE/SEI 7 code, by considering dynamic factors, the results have become closer to the NIST report values, but the seismic demand on non-structural components is still lower than the NIST report due to the lack of inclusion of effective parameters. In the absence of international codes, the use of the fifth edition of the 2800 standard can be a better alternative, but not the best, compared to the fourth edition of this standard. The fifth edition should move towards a more accurate estimation of seismic demands and improvement of safety and performance levels by considering dynamic effects and adding appropriate correction factors.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 August 2026

  • Receive Date 15 November 2025
  • Revise Date 18 July 2026
  • Accept Date 17 August 2026