Engineers Forum

Structural engineers said poor construction worsened the earthquake devastation in Haiti as the country does not use internationally accepted building codes

“A school collapsed following a hurricane in 2008 and one of the key issues that arose during litigation was the lack of building codes in the country”, said Arup associate director Ziggy Lubkowski.

Lubkowski, past chairman of the Society of Earthquake & Civil Engineering Dynamics (SECED) and the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT), said it was the first time he had come across a country that used no recognisable code.

“Usually in impoverished countries such as Haiti, international building codes − be it American, English or Eurocodes − are used. There is no evidence of this in Haiti”, said Lubkowski.

The Association of Caribbean States had begun drafting a set of codes for earthquake and wind loads in the mid 2000s but there has been no evidence of implementation.

Lubkowski said the country was unprepared for earthquakes. The last big quake hit in 1877.

“Haitians are used to preparing for the annual hurricane but not an earthquake. It is totally off the radar”, said Lubkowski.

The United Nations said up to 90% of buildings in Leogane, the town closest to the quake’s epicentre had been destroyed.
Smith said seismic designs could have limited the scale of devastation.

“Although it can’t guarantee every structure will be unharmed, it can provide ductility, meaning despite what damage occurs the building in question will not collapse”, he said.

Lubkowski said Haiti could have done a better job at earthquake-proofing its buildings.

“Protecting lifelines is critical. The focus should be on designing key infrastructure, such as roads, power lines and hospitals to an acceptable standard. The relief effort is being hampered because key infrastructure like roads and ports are destroyed. The only way to bring supplies to the country is by air”, said Lubkowski.

Source:http://www.nce.co.uk/5213109.article written by Gemma Goldfingle

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Tags: Earth quake in Haiti

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