Comparison of Alternative Design Methodologies and Earthquake-Resistant Technologies in Terms of Probable Maximum Losses

Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering probabilistic methodology is widely adopted to assess the seismic performance of buildings. This approach allows to account for all building fragilities, addressing the design through Decision Variables - e.g. repair costs - largely used into risk management and appreciated by the stakeholders. A relevant performance index in terms of building investment is the Probable Maximum Loss (PML), representing the worst-case scenario for an insurance company or a real estate investor. The paper investigates and compares the seismic performance in terms of PML of 5-storey integrated building prototypes, including both structural and non-structural components. The results demonstrate how both the implementation of more refined design methodologies and the use of advanced technologies can significantly reduce the seismic losses.