A primer on rapid visual screening (RVS): Consolidating earthquake safety assessment efforts in India
This document provides succinct instructions on how to perform rapid visual screening (RVS), a quick method of earthquake assessment of buildings. It covers a brief description of RVS and its role as a simplified qualitative assessment in the wider methodology of earthquake assessment of buildings, and the recommended forms for pre-earthquake and post-earthquake Level 1 Assessments for seven building typologies. The method recommended by the primer is the BMTPC method which provides both Seismic Safety Index and Performance Rating to a particular building.
The primer is intended for a wider dissemination to the public, in particular teachers, students, professional architects, engineers and other concerned stakeholders who are encouraged to document the building typology and develop inventory of identified building typologies to carry out the building safety assessment, vulnerability assessment and retrofitting. Based on the results of RVS, the next three levels of assessment can then be prioritized for the building stock.