Earthquake Retrofitting

Earthquakes are inevitable in certain parts of the world. They have happened before and everyone knows they will happen again. No one knows when the next earthquake will happen, or how big it will be. Many people pretend that it won't happen or assume there is nothing they can do to protect themselves. Put simply, anyone who owns a home or commercial building can do something--get retrofitting that will reduce earthquake damage.

Retrofitting of homes usually involves making sure they won't slide off their foundations. This is the often the cause of the most damage. Some home designs require support studs, called cripple walls, to be braced. Some homes can benefit from both procedures. Earthquakes don't spare larger buildings, but those structures can be braced or supported in a number of ways that keep them from sustaining much damage. In either case, retrofitting is an investment that will pay back in lower repair bills.

Earthquake Retrofitting Dos and Don'ts
Contact a qualified engineer or engineering firm to create the best earthquake retrofitting plan. Don't depend on contractors who may not know the best methods for a proper retrofit. There may or may not be government standards for earthquake retrofitting in the area where the building is located. Government inspectors will often not be able to judge if a retrofit will be effective. It's in a building owner's best interest to work with a qualified engineering firm that has experience with the type of retrofits needed.

Homes and buildings are usually the biggest investments that people make. If the home or building is in an earthquake-prone area, it makes sense to protect that investment. To learn more about the proper way to go about earthquake retrofitting, contact The KPA Group at www.thekpagroup.com.