Making Your Building – Earthquake Resistant

India falls under active seismic zones thus the probability of earthquakes in India are quite high. India has a number of earthquakes to its history with which many cities have been affected and have suffered on very very large scales. Acknowledging the verdict from the Ministry of Earth Science,  more than 200 cities in India come under the classification of high risk seismic zones and we can’t skip but be ready to fight it. 

How does an Earthquake occur?

When there is a sudden energy exchange between two plates in the outer hard layer of earth the waves of energy that travel through the Earth’s layers. Then we experience the earthquake. Earthquake have different types of frontier. Some cause Tsunami and some shiver the ground, some earthquakes damage the homes, bridges, dams etc. Zone that falls under active seismic zones can experience massive damage during an earthquake. In order to reduce the effect of an earthquake,  right measure should to be taken on time at the time of building the particular structure. 

7 Important Key Points to build a building that is Earthquake Resistant

1. Choose only Best quality Construction Materials
   • Always choose the best quality construction material that can protect your building during an earthquake. TMT Bars are one of the main components that protect your building during an earthquake; it can absorb extra energy with its superior tensile strength. Go for One of the Top 10 TMT Bars Brand in India that can be trusted for its quality and strength. 
2. Strong Walls makes your Building Earthquake Resistant
   • During the planning stage masonry infill walls should be in place. Steel frames reduce the structural problem of the building. Uninformed Masonry buildings are made of bricks, hollow clay tiles etc that are vulnerable during an earthquake.
   • There should be enough space between walls and the frame of the building. It eases the drift because the building moves during the earthquake.
3. Reinforcement is important to protect from Earthquake
   • To make your building earthquake proof it is important to give Shear walls, shear core and cross bracing. It provides additional strength to the structure. Shear walls provide additional strength to the foundation and help to bear additional movement during the earthquake. It is necessary to have the shear walls at the center of the building around the elevator shaft or stairwell.
4. Moisture of the Foundation should be constant
   • The foundation of every building is Usually affected with local soil and water. Before proceeding with the construction, it is essential to check the soil condition. The foundation moisture condition has to be constant. The drainage system on the roof should be proper so that there is no clog that can damage the floors that are underneath the roof also ensure that the rainwater on the ground runs into drains and not strain under the building.
5. Protect the home from outside Hazards
   • Periodic checks on hazardous items are mandatory.
     • Old or Leaning Tree
     • Electrical Wires or Power Lines
   • It is important to maintain and eliminate the risks of such items so that during an earthquake these do not become a threat to your building.
6. Timely repairs of your building
   • Every part of your home needs to be checked timely. The walls, furniture that are fitted on walls, roof should be repaired. If any hairline cracks appear or any break on ceilings found then it should not be ignored and fixed at the earliest possible hour. 
7. Windows with round corners
   • Rectangular window frames are having more load bearing capacity than square window frames. During an earthquake square window frames corners can be damaged but rectangular window frames can be preserved due to high load bearing capacity.