Tips To Make Earthquake Resistant Buildings

Sources: Google India Images

Earthquakes can be devastating for any infrastructure when they measure high on the Richter scale. Especially, in India where the earthquakes occur mostly above the Richter scale of 5, infrastructure needs to be strong enough to withstand them. From Latur earthquake in 1993 to the one in Bhuj in 2001, numerous Indian regions witnessed the mighty power of earthquake. After these events, the Govt. of India took strict measures in implementing construction standards for building earthquake resistant buildings especially in earthquake prone areas of the country.

Here are some of the tips that you might find useful in order to meet the constructions standards for building earthquake resistant buildings in India:

Analyze Soil Stability

The ground quality is a major factor in determining the earthquake resistance of a building and it is measured with the stability of the soil in that location. There should be no risks of mudslides or rockslides in the area. One of the most stable soils is found in areas like hillsides, marsh areas or river beds.

It is recommended to consult a soil engineer or soil specialist to accurately measure the soil quality and take the steps accordingly. The most common steps to improve soil stability are building slopes, designing customized foundations or calculating piles according to surface area of construction.

Building’s Geometry

There is a very important reason behind the perpendicular structures being so common all over the world. Structurally, these designs are best in terms of holding the ground of the upper layers of construction, absorbing vibrations and swaying due to heavy winds. The walls should be spliced perpendicular and proportioned symmetrically. In areas prone to earthquakes these designs work the best and provide utmost safety. But it does not necessarily mean that the building must stay only in this format of design. The architects can design and explore possibilities of creating structures that are not load bearing on one side and the weight of the structure is divided equally throughout the beams.

Continuity

One of the most common mistakes that occur in Indian construction sites is the lack of continuity of the structure. To build attractive designs, many builders prefer looks over quality. But the government has taken strict steps against this behavior. It is odd to think that a light building can withstand earthquakes only on 4 foundation pillars. Once you start building the second layer over the first, the load bearing falls on the pillars making them weak. It is important to analyze the structure and at least create a 5 pillar structure for further possibility of higher layers of construction without making the building earthquake prone.

Material Resistance

The construction material used plays one of the most important parts in determining the earthquake resistance of a building. That is why, builders search for only the best quality TMT bars in India to provide the best frame of the building’s skeleton. The best TMT bars manufacturers focus on providing impeccable quality that features flexibility, rust resistance and shock absorbing quality in order to make the building highly earthquake resistant.