Rothstein Associates Inc.

DATA PROCESSING FACILITIES: GUIDELINES FOR EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MITIGATION
by Robert A. Olson and the Financial Insurance and Monetary Services Committee, Inc.

"Evidence from U.S. and foreign earthquakes clearly shows that data processing facilities and
systems are exposed to many types of damage. This includes the loss of power, cooling,
and other services, overturning of equipment, failure of raised floors, spillage of discs, the
collapse of suspended ceilings, and similar problems. When damage occurs to an electronic
data processing (DP) facility, the costs incurred from interruptions may far outweigh the direct
costs of repair.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide owners and users of electronic data processing
systems and facilities with the best available earthquake hazard mitigation information. The
intent is to limit the damage to DP facilities supporting equipment and systems to that which
would be repairable within a specified time period after an earthquake, assuming that repair
personnel and parts are readily available.

These guidelines apply to the seismic resistant design of data processing facilities, their
environmental enclosure and support utility systems (which are controllable by the owner).
They should be considered complementary to any applicable building code or other governing
regulations.

The discussions in most of the chapters are directed to three levels of outage:
- Short term (zero to approximately 24 hours)
- Medium term (approximately one to five days)
- Long term (probably more than five days)

The outage levels are premised on there being sufficient repair parts and maintenance/
operating personnel readily available after an earthquake, supporting utilities are operable,
and there will be adequate access to the site or building in which the DP center is located."

CONTENTS
1 Introduction: The Origin, Intent and Scope of the Guidelines
2 Ground Motion: Understanding Seismic Motion
3 Building Seismic Design Considerations
4 Support Utilities
5 Nonstructural Building Elements
6 Raised Computer Floors
7 Computer Equipment
8 Tape and Disk Storage
9 Contingency Planning
10 Related Systems and Research Needs
11 References

1987, 136 pages Order #DR-126.

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