Barriers to Implementation of Performance Based Engineering: Lessons from the Tennessee 2003 International Building Code Hearings

This study of the Tennessee 2003 International Building Code (IBC2003) hearings identifies potential barriers to seismic mitigation activities such as the application of performance and consequence based engineering. Seismic mitigation in Mid-America is of interest because earthquakes in this region are low-probability, high-consequence events; past research shows difficulties in implementing mitigation efforts for such events. Toulmin argument analysis of the hearing transcripts shows that those in favor of IBC2003 adoption used stronger arguments. Further, the majority of technical experts who spoke favored IBC2003 adoption. However, all elected officials who testified opposed or wished to delay the IBC2003 adoption decision, citing economic concerns. Tennessee state decision makers delayed the IBC2003 adoption decision, which is still pending. The results illustrate how core social leaders and competing economic concerns can dominate seismic mitigation policy, overriding the arguments of technical experts. They also illustrate the importance of considering a broader range of consequences in seismic mitigation decision analyses, and that technical experts need to work more closely with core social leaders to consider and implement mitigation actions. _____________ Steven Burns, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 685 Cherry St., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA Ann Bostrom, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 685 Cherry St., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA