by Kevin Hartford

Created on: August 03, 2007

Some of the most dense population centers in the world are also the same areas that are prone to earthquakes. An earthquake is basically the movement of the earth between the plates.

Building in seismic zones can be a challenge. Many of the principle run a bit counter to the logic of building, but a well thought out strategy can pay big dividends.

One strategy is to make the buildings a bit more flexible than what would normally be built. This is really important when considering building systems, such as plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and electrical services. Those areas will need quick disconnects in the event of an earthquake.

Building buildings that are flexible and that are likely to bend rather than break is a challenge. New composite materials are making an appearance that is making it a reality. For the average homeowner, these would be considered expensive. For a high rise building it is a necessity.

One of the new theories include harmonics. Which is basically a big counterweight that moves in the opposite direction of the quake, thereby countering the quaking motion. This is an interesting if untested principle.

The bottom-line for this is that earthquakes are going to happen, but it is important to retrofit buildings continually to help lessen the disastrous effect. When building becomes too old to retrofit then a public service may need to call for new development. This will ensure that our built environment continues to evolve and has the latest technology available.

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