A building constructed according to the NEHRP Provisions may sustain enough damage during an earthquake that it must be demolished.

The NEHRP Provisions serve as a foundation for the seismic design standards in the nation’s model building codes, such as the International Building Code (IBC), NFPA 5000 Building Code, and ASCE 7 Design Loads Standard. These codes aim to ensure that buildings are capable of withstanding seismic forces to a degree that minimizes the risk to occupants and the public.