Earthquakes are quite prevalent in various geographical locations of the world. When two tectonic plates pass each other, the Earth's surface trembles leading to an earthquake. Many a time, foreshocks occur near the epicenter, as warning bells for the future.
Earthquakes cause a lot of property damage and widespread destruction of human life and livestock; therefore, it is imperative to stay prepared for them. If the home you've created and the life you have made can be protected with a little care and caution, why not incorporate every bit of it?
Why build an earthquake-resistant structure?
The rapid shaking of the ground and tremors resulting from a shift in the tectonic and rock plates of the Earth result in many casualties and destruction globally. This natural disaster is one of the most frequently occurring phenomena among others and can occur anywhere and anytime, usually without a prior warning or caution.
The seismic tremors do not provide any opportunity to combat the destruction it brings, and it becomes vital to prepare beforehand. By ensuring the strength and stiffness of the building and measures like developing a strong foundation, one can curtail the damage to a significant extent.
Although there are no concrete measures that may positively prevent any damage, necessary adaptation can undoubtedly minimize damage. Let's explore and understand how earthquake-related loss can be minimized.
How to earthquake-proof your home efficiently?
Home Inspection
When we need to buy an outfit for an occasion, we look at numerous designs, shades, and brands before finalizing it. Here, we're talking about a house that would contain your family! Before finalizing a house, it must be cautiously and meticulously inspected. You must hire a professional to inspect the home to check for the proper building material, firm structure, and thoughtful planning.
Prior Soil inspection
Before proceeding with the house's construction, it is vital to ensure that the soil it stands on is up to the mark and able to bear the weight of the structure efficiently. One should consider getting the soil tested beforehand from a reputed and credible agency.
You may opt for a government agency or a private one. It would help you understand the amount of weight the soil can hold easily, and you can plan and improvise your structure accordingly.
Disaster Management plans
It is advisable to be distinctly aware of one's community's disaster-handling plans. A family plan with defined escape routes, a common meeting place, or a point of contact must be pre-decided. An adult must be thorough with the electric plan and water system so that an effective way out can be formulated in case of a short circuit. An emergency kit should be readily available, containing non-perishable food items, some clothes, and medicines.
Structural enhancement
Your house must be structurally sound to prevent property loss during an earthquake. The building material, type of walls, foundation, and geometric measurements are part of structural integrity. The foundation of the house is dependent on the soil and temperature conditions around it. Always maintain your roof gutters and ensure that rainwater collected in the ground runs into drains and does not percolate into the house's soil. It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain these.
Cripple walls are studded with wood on the exterior. These walls are the pillars or weight carriers of the house and also create a crawl space while acting as shock absorbers during earthquakes. Bracing these wood with plywood provides excellent resistance during any natural calamity. Furthermore, when installing AC shafts, ensure sturdy seismic bracing is installed. In case of an earthquake, these bracings would help keep shafts tight, thereby preventing them from falling.
Base isolator methods
Another excellent way to ensure your abode is earthquake-proof is to deploy the widely used base isolator methods during construction. You might consider adding multiple layers of synthetic rubber and steel to the foundation to serve as shock absorbers for the building. Doing this would curtail the to and fro movement and provide the utmost stability to the structure.
Ensuring an efficient load path
To dissipate and distribute the tremors' force during an earthquake, the structural components of your building must be well-connected. Creating different points of strength and redundancies helps develop resistance against the massive force of an earthquake.
You must ensure that your architect or engineer takes care of producing a continuous load path in the design to tie the structure together. This process is vital to bond the independent structures together and prevents any possible collapse during a tremor.
The final word
Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of you and your family. It is prudent to prepare beforehand for any upcoming disaster rather than regretting it later. Earthquakes cause catastrophic damage every year, but now we know how to combat it efficiently. Ensure that you follow these methods diligently to live peacefully in an earthquake-proof home!
