Numerous existing buildings are located in seismic prone areas and many of them were not designed considering adequate seismic provisions. Thus, for safety reasons, it is necessary to assess their seismic vulnerability and to provide strengthening interventions if needed. To reduce gradually the seismic vulnerability, a prioritization list for the intervention is required. A new simplified mechanical procedure for the assessment of the seismic resistance of reinforced concrete structures is herein presented (FIRSTEP-RC). The types of structures that may be assessed are various: one-way frame, three-dimensional frame, shear walls, mixed frame and shear walls, precast frames. The procedure related to the study of the frame structures is herein presented and discussed. An example underlines the effectiveness and the simplicity of application of the proposed procedure.
