Although most of Oregon’s thousands of earthquakes over the years have been minor (i.e. under a magnitude of three,) the state has suffered three destructive earthquakes in the past century. Quakes as far away as Seattle can affect buildings in Portland, so seismic retrofit is an important consideration for Oregon building owners. Here are reasons […]
Every large manufacturing facility must be inspected periodically to see if industrial structural repairs are needed. Such a large facility likely employs many people, so it must be responsible for the safety of its workers. Seismic retrofit is a long-term solution for giving the building maximum protection from seismic activity. How Condensation Creates Structural Problems […]
In 2010, over 200,000 individuals died in earthquakes around the world. Collapsed buildings caused the vast majority of these casualties. Three things should be prioritized right after an earthquake to reduce risk: Keeping people in and around the building safe. Preventing gas lines from leaking or exploding. Minimizing (or at least anticipating) any risk of […]
Throughout the years in California, we’ve heard about many large magnitude earthquakes, such as the Northridge quake in 1994. California, of course, isn’t the only state vulnerable to earthquakes. Earthquakes happen in Oregon, Washington, and neighboring states all along the western coast. Although earthquake damage can be devastating, smaller quakes do serve a useful purpose: […]
Many property owners in California have unsafe and outdated soft-story buildings. These buildings often have multiple unsupported openings on the ground floor, which can cause the building to crumble, collapse, or even damage other surrounding buildings. Safety Versus Function Structural engineers and contractors have an important job when it comes to these soft-story buildings. They need to strengthen the […]
Older buildings throughout the state of California are vulnerable to damage from earthquakes. Seismic ordinances at some of the cites dictate earthquake retrofit standards and measures to provide for public safety as well as protection of private property. Is your building in compliance with earthquake safety regulations? As managers and property owners embark on the process of […]
Chances are if you are a commercial property owner–or even a renter for that matter–you’ve been hearing a lot about earthquake retrofitting services over the past few years. When it comes to earthquake retrofitting, the investment is significant. However, it can also be essential for your business. Here are some general questions that we’ve heard […]
Holes, cracks, and water damage are often common in older buildings – especially if they were not constructed properly by not using the best materials. The good news is that these problems can usually be fixed quite easily using wall repair contractors. It’s essential to move quickly and take care of the problem while it’s still small. Wall […]
If you’ve considered using structural steel contractors for your new project, you might wonder if they can build exactly what you need. One of the biggest reasons people choose metal structures over any other material is their high level of flexibility. These structures are also faster and easier to build, durable, and built to last. […]
California has a high earthquake risk. To minimize damage and death caused by earthquakes, some California cities require seismic retrofitting to older buildings. Los Angeles has the nation’s most stringent regulations in earthquake safety. Seismic retrofitting is now required for both wood-frame soft-story structures and non-ductile concrete buildings. Over the past thirty-odd years, we have […]