If you live in or have a commercial building in California, Oregon and Washington, you’ve probably heard the term retrofit. However, how can you determine whether it’s a necessary measure to take for your building? This will depend on many factors, including local regulations in your state, and the year that the building was erected. Why […]
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Many property owners in California have unsafe and outdated soft-story buildings.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 […]
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 […]
Minor cracks in your commercial building’s walls might not seem like anything to worry about, but if left untreated, these small flaws can lead to major structural problems. Structural issues can make your building’s walls less stable and lead to significant challenges, such as rebar rusting, which can cause the concrete to break apart. It can also […]
Los Angeles recently passed Ordinance 183893, which requires building owners to retrofit any wood-framed or soft-story buildings built prior to 1978, and other cities in California will likely follow suit. The law is intended to make buildings more structurally sound and safer during earthquakes, and it may require you to seek an apartment building retrofit. […]
Many buildings in Los Angeles have what is called a soft-story structure. The term describes buildings with habitable rooms above a garage, carport, entryway, or lobby. To give your soft story building improved support, you may be affected by the seismic retrofit Los Angeles now requires. New ordinances will hold you to a strict timetable […]