A recent social media post raised the following question about earthquake safety.

Q: Is there a way to know how safe your apartment building is in case of an earthquake? 

One person commented that if her apartment is still standing, it has survived everything until now — wrongly implying that the building must be able to withstand an earthquake because it has done so in the past.

Another response came from someone much more practical and informed:

A: There are many complex factors to consider – soil type, foundation type, building design, building materials, retrofitting, etc.  And of course, the severity of the quake and distance from the epicenter makes the most difference.

It’s important to understand that every building and every earthquake are different. Science and engineering are the only true predictors of how a structure will hold up in a major earthquake.

To understand the risks to your building: a well-prepared engineering study is the first line of defense. It’s important that the study done for your building be thorough and complete in its analysis.

Nearly all California cities, when outlining the steps required for a seismic retrofit of soft-story buildings, require engineering plans to assess and map out the existing conditions of the building and to explain the logic behind the work proposed for the retrofit.

Benefits of an Engineering Study

Engineering requires hard data and analysis. A thorough and precise engineering study can identify the most effective way to fortify a building and preserve valuable parking spaces. It can also help to lessen other impacts to tenants.  Key benefits of engineering studies include:

  • They ensure your building meets requirements of the applicable building code
  • They set the precise scope of work to be done so apartment owners can get bids on a specific project that is mathematically and technically verified to work
  • Well-prepared engineering studies avoid permitting delays and/or the need for costly revisions
  • Doing the job right reduces liability, should something go wrong

The first step is to create what is called “as-built” drawings of the structure. These illustrations indicate all details of the building. Everything from the spacing between the windows to the locations of the walls and columns are factored into the design of the project.

Additional benefits of a detailed and complete engineering plan are:

  • Proper engineering can reduce the cost of a retrofit
    • Disturbance of building occupants is minimized
    • Retrofits built according to professional engineering plans perform better under earthquake stresses

Finally, it is important to perform your due diligence by checking the credentials and experience of engineering and contracting companies you are considering working with.

Make certain the engineer and contractor are properly licensed and insured. Contact references to verify the company’s work.  As a full-service engineering and construction company, Optimum Seismic has extensive experience since 1984 and can successfully perform all aspects of your project.

The State Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists maintains a database of the names of individuals with professional licenses with the state. Visit www.bpelsg.ca.gov for more information. If the name you’re searching for isn’t there, call 1-866-780-5370 to make sure the omission is not due to a clerical error.

Earthquake retrofits are only as solid as the engineering and construction behind them. Make sure your earthquake retrofit is done right. It’s best to seriously evaluate all of your options for protecting your building. The Optimum Seismic team offers complimentary, professional engineering advice to help you navigate through cost-effective options to do a seismic retrofit of your building.

If you want to better understand the types of changes that are right for your property, call Optimum Seismic at 833-978-7664 or visit optimumseismic.com to arrange an assessment of your building’s earthquake safety.

About Optimum Seismic, Inc.

 

The Optimum Seismic team has been making California cities safer since 1984 by providing full-service earthquake engineering, steel fabrication and construction services for multifamily residential, commercial and industrial buildings. With more than 3,500 earthquake retrofit and renovation projects completed, Optimum Seismic’s work includes soft-story multifamily apartments, tilt-up, non-ductile concrete, steel moment frame and unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. To arrange a complimentary assessment of your building’s earthquake resilience, contact Optimum Seismic at (833) 978-7664 or visit optimumseismic.com.