Understanding Earthquake Risks of Non-Ductile Buildings
There have been an alarming number of earthquakes in the US over the past few years, specifically in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Utah, among others. The buildings that have been affected the most in these states are non-ductile buildings (concrete structures) that have not been retrofitted.
For example, the designs and construction of new buildings in CA are now designed for Life Safety design to help in an earthquake. Older buildings will lack those important details, which means they are much less safe than you might realize.
California is littered with hundreds of non-ductile buildings. These buildings have not been retrofitted and are incredibly dangerous.
What Is a Non-Ductile Building?
Non-ductile buildings are also known as “non-ductile concrete” or sometimes “non-ductile reinforced concrete” buildings. They are brittle and more inclined to break and crack with seismic strain, as implied by the name non-ductile, which means non-flexible.
Although non-ductile building construction became less popular on the West Coast in the 1960s due to earthquake safety concerns, many of these older buildings remain in California, Oregon, and Seattle and pose a major risk during an earthquake.
The Single Biggest Earthquake Risk
Seismic engineers have a saying: Earthquakes don’t kill people. Buildings do! This is why FEMA calls these non-ductile buildings the single biggest contributor to earthquake damage, risk, and injury in the United States.
Non-ductile buildings pose risks not only during the earthquake itself but also during aftershocks, which are often more extreme than the earthquake itself and often cause more damage to already-weakened structures.
Non-ductile buildings are extremely vulnerable to earthquakes because they are brittle and lack solid reinforcement. Reinforcement might include buildings with more rebar, diagonal steel reinforcements, bracing systems, or concrete shear walls.
Considering Building Strength
The type of retrofit needed for your building will depend on the performance you want for your commercial space. A hospital, for example, will still need to be functional after an earthquake, while a parking garage would not.
Safeguard Your Non-Ductile Building with Saunders Seismic
If your building is non-ductile or has not been retrofitted for earthquake safety, now is the time to take action.
Saunders Seismic specializes in commercial and industrial retrofitting services that enhance building resilience against earthquakes. Contact us to discuss your building’s needs and learn how we can help protect your property and occupants.