A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Pacoima area of the San Fernando Valley early Thursday morning of July 30th. It was felt across the Southland with many news stations shaking live on the air. The area shuddered with aftershocks following the quake about five miles deep but, there were no immediate reports of damage. Initially, there […]
What comes to mind when contemplating geological disasters? The two at the forefront of most peoples’ minds would be volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Although these types of disasters affect vast regions near and far across the planet, we have yet to see a global pandemic that affects all regions simultaneously as we are experiencing now. […]
Soft-story apartment buildings are prevalent in Los Angeles and Orange County which are also considered earthquake-prone territories, specifically Los Angeles. Soft-story / apartment buildings are at risk of earthquake damage however; seismic retrofits will help mitigate the destruction for vulnerable structures. The main feature Soft-story buildings are easily recognized by is also the main reason […]
There are several types of buildings including soft-story, tilt-up, steel moment frame, non-ductile concrete and URM (unreinforced masonry). What are their characteristics and what can be determined are vulnerable when faced with enduring an earthquake? Soft-story structures are common among apartment buildings that are characterized by open parking on the ground floor and dwelling units […]
Seismic Retrofit Scope of work (Typical) Assumptions used in the budget to develop a scope of work Measures that would enhance the building’s performance during due diligence and site investigation for the structure. The proposed retrofit measures would include some or all including the following in order to reduce the risk to building occupants and […]
Several earthquakes have shaken both San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2019, which is a reminder that old building owners need to consider a seismic retrofit solution for California. Not only is California one of the most vulnerable states for seismic activity, many older buildings lack modern design to provide sufficient safety. Here are reasons […]