Progressive Collapse Analysis and Retrofit Design Using the Unified Facilities Criteria

Abstract

The design of new buildings using Progressive Collapse criteria has become better understood since the nation's largest landlord, the General Services Administration (GSA), incorporated progressive collapse design criteria into their standard design requirements. Other institutions, such as the Department of Defense (DoD), also have incorporated progressive collapse design criteria into their design requirements for both new and existing structures. The DoD presents their progressive collapse requirements in the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) document UFC 4-023-03 (25 January 2005), Design of Buildings to Resist Progressive Collapse. While there are numerous similarities between the UFC progressive collapse criteria and the GSA Progressive Collapse Guidelines, there are several key differences which can increase the time and cost of the design process, as well as the final construction cost of the project.