PROJECTS
EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Every year around the world thousands of people die needlessly from earthquakes and thousands more are seriously injured. A large percentage of these deaths and injuries could be prevented by adopting the plan this book proposes.
Earthquakes, like other natural disasters, are hard to predict and impossible to prevent. But they kill and maim people chiefly in countries where simple building rules are not followed.
On December 23, 2003, just two people died in Paso Robles, California, during a quake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale. Five days later, 26,000 people died in Bam, Iran, in a quake measuring 6.7 on that same scale. What accounts for this dramatic difference in mortality? The structures in California had been built in ways that protected people, while those in Iran had not.
Since it is possible to build earthquake resistant homes, usually with only modest increases in costs, nothing less should be acceptable. To build safe houses, here are the essentials:
- Everyone who builds – from individuals to giant corporations – must follow the simple construction rules that protect people in their buildings.
- Local and national governments everywhere must adopt building codes and hire inspectors to enforce them vigorously.
- Banks, other lending institutions, and insurance companies must insist, as a condition of their loans or policies, on building codes and on effective inspection systems.
- International organizations providing disaster relief must assure that the new construction they fund will be safely built, with appropriate codes and inspectors.
Stephen Forneris, a brilliant architect practicing in both New York and Ecuador, has fought for years for earthquake resistant design and construction. Talking with him about the need to teach life-saving practices, the task seemed daunting. Many in the construction business and many of the millions who build their own houses are undertrained and even illiterate.
So we suggested that highly illustrated construction manuals like this one be made available to every builder and every construction crew. Following the directions in this manual and its successors, will mean far fewer of people trapped or hurt by even major earthquakes.
More such manuals are planned, offering the basics of safe construction in various materials, translated into dozens of languages, and with clear writing and simple pictorial images. Our Foundation is proud to be a founding partner in this remarkable effort.
Donald Rubin, Co-Chair
Bruce Payne, Executive Director
The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation
February 11, 2009
