Chennai buildings built without seismic activity factors pose threat

26 Aug 2021 CW Team

Chennai, which falls below the seismic zone III, is classified as a moderate risk zone. According to the experts, there is a need for scaling up buildings to make them earthquake-resistant. So that residents are safe in the event of a natural calamity.

The infrastructure constructed over a decade ago is unlikely to pass for the current seismic needs of the National Building Code, updated based on the frequency of earthquakes.

As per the experts, the magnitude effect of the earthquake on the structures would have been higher if the epicentre was near its coast.

T M Ramakrishnan, the Chennai structural engineer, told the media that older buildings did undergo damages in such situations.

The engineer said that there is a lack of awareness about the seismic parameters for homes besides looking for public transport, water, etc.

The buildings built over a decade ago should be fixed to comply with seismic codes and designs. Ramakrishnan revealed that retrofitting now is very common in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.

The Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules has laid down norms for adhering to the National Building Code for constructions varying from single storey to multi-storey buildings.

The former chairman of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) told the media that developers have shifted to Mivan technology to make buildings earthquake-resistant.

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Also read: Buildings can now be developed within a year using new tech

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