Anchor the structure to its foundation
FEMA P-2325 §FEMA Mitigation Recommendations (Earthquake)Description
Wood-frame homes shall be anchored to the foundation with anchor bolts (or approved alternatives) along the sill plate. Older homes that were not anchored — common pre-1970 California construction — should be retrofitted with sill bolts when seismic risk is significant.
Why this exists
FEMA P-2325 calls out 'older homes that were not properly anchored to the foundation can slide off their foundations in an earthquake or high wind event.' Sill bolting is the single highest-value seismic retrofit for older wood-frame homes.
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Plan symbols this applies to
These plan symbols invoke this directive when placed on a floor plan. Click any to see where it's drawn and what other rules apply to it.
Related directives
- Continuous load path from roof to foundation · HUD RSDG §2.4
- Residential structural reliability targets 1-in-100 to 1-in-1000 annual probability of failure · HUD RSDG §2.5
- Residential floor live load: 40 psf minimum (30 psf sleeping rooms) · HUD RSDG §3.4
- Wind load design uses ASCE 7 basic wind speed for the locality · HUD RSDG §3.6
- Ground snow load for Virginia: 25 psf eastern, up to 40 psf western mountains · HUD RSDG §3.7
Last reviewed 2026-05-11.