Requirements for an Earthquake-Proof Structure

Distribution of Weight

• For a building or structure to be considered earthquake-proof, the weight must be distributed so that the highest point of the building is the lightest, and the heaviest part of the building is at the bottom. The materials that go into constructing a building or structure have to be adjusted in order to accommodate this distribution of weight. For instance, a lighter type of steel can be used at the top of a building to make the top lighter. The reason for the distribution of weight requirement is so that the building can sway in sync with the movement of the earth during an earthquake without toppling over or collapsing as it could with a heavy top.

Lightweight Flooring

• Lightweight floors are another requirement for earthquake-proofing a structure. When the floors are lightweight they are easier to bolt securely onto the frames. As a result, the floors cannot be broken or slide in the event of an earthquake. Some common lightweight floor materials include plywood and chipboard. When heavier flooring materials are used in a structure, an earthquake event can cause the heaviness of the floor to crack the building frame if the structure sways side to side. Lightweight flooring, on the other hand, does not injure the outer frame of the structure, so the frame relies on lightweight floors to keep it intact.

Steel Ground Beams

• Typical building foundations are built on ground level. However, this would not hold up to an earthquake. To earthquake-proof a building, the frames must be bolted into the ground with steel ground beams. The beams are used to connect the various points of the bottom of the frame, such as the frame's feet, in effort to reduce or eliminate the potential for the frame's foundation to rotate and sway in the event of an earthquake. Keeping the foundation stable is one of the most significant characteristics of an earthquake-proof structure.

Columns and Beams

• Columns and beams that support a building or structure must be strong enough to not collapse during an earthquake, yet able to slightly give way to support the structure as it sways. If the column or beam is too strong and not flexible enough to move with the rest of the building, it will cause the foundation to become unhinged at the joists and detach, leading to the frame of the building collapsing.