Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Earthquake Protection for Developing Countries


Building codes generally ensure that structures are built to resist the effects of earthquakes to the best of their abilities, but in many developing countries such codes are absent, leaving building owners vulnerable to the possibility of a damaging earthquake. Even when the motivation to develop a building code exists, many nations are unable to do so because building codes rely on having in-depth physical, meteorological, geological and seismic data that can be difficult and costly to collect.

ISO 28841:2013 provides sufficient information for performing seismic assessment and rehabilitation of any structural concrete building that complies with limitations established in the standard. The standard can be used as an alternative to the development of a building code where no building codes are present, and can help evaluate undamaged structures as well as structures that have undergone damage after seismic events.

ISO has also released a similar standard for concrete bridges (ISO 28842:2013).

Find more information here