How can you overcome challenges with performance-based design standards?

1 Define performance objectives

The first step in PBD is to define the performance objectives for your project, which should reflect the expectations and requirements of the stakeholders, the codes and regulations, and the site conditions. Performance objectives can be expressed in terms of serviceability, safety, functionality, or sustainability, and can vary depending on the hazard level and the importance of the building. You should communicate clearly and frequently with the stakeholders and the authorities to ensure that the performance objectives are realistic, measurable, and agreed upon.

2 Choose appropriate analysis methods

The next step in PBD is to choose the appropriate analysis methods to evaluate the performance of your design. Depending on the complexity and the uncertainty of the problem, you may need to use different levels of analysis, such as linear, nonlinear, static, dynamic, deterministic, or probabilistic. You should select the analysis methods that are consistent with the performance objectives, the codes and regulations, and the available data and resources. You should also validate and verify your analysis results using independent methods or peer reviews.

3 Consider multiple hazards and interactions

Another challenge in PBD is to consider the effects of multiple hazards and their interactions on the performance of your design. For example, you may need to account for the impact of fire after an earthquake, or the blast resistance of a building in a seismic zone. You should identify and prioritize the relevant hazards and their combinations for your project, and use appropriate models and criteria to evaluate their effects. You should also consider the interactions between different structural components and systems, and ensure that they work together to achieve the performance objectives.

4 Optimize design solutions

One of the benefits of PBD is that it allows for more design options and solutions than traditional prescriptive methods. However, this also means that you need to optimize your design solutions to balance the performance objectives, the costs, and the risks. You should use tools and techniques such as sensitivity analysis, trade-off analysis, or multi-criteria decision making to compare and rank different design alternatives. You should also consider the life-cycle performance and costs of your design, and incorporate factors such as maintenance, repair, or retrofitting.

5 Document and communicate design rationale

The final challenge in PBD is to document and communicate your design rationale and assumptions to the stakeholders and the authorities. Unlike prescriptive methods, PBD does not have a standardized or uniform format or procedure for documentation and communication. You should use clear and concise language, diagrams, tables, or charts to explain how your design meets the performance objectives, what analysis methods and models you used, what uncertainties and limitations you considered, and what recommendations you have for future actions. You should also provide evidence and references to support your design rationale and assumptions.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?