Abstract:
New Zealand is in an active zone on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Seismic faults run the length of the country and influence the geography of New Zealand. Earthquakes are a periodic occurrence and it makes sense to take all precautions to safeguard against their effects.
Since the 1931 Napier earthquake there has been an increasing awareness of the need to design buildings to resist earthquakes. To control and regulate the building activity, building control standards were introduced to ensure buildings were built in a safe manner. These standards are constantly being updated by research.
The effects of an earthquake on a building are now well understood. Thus it is now probable that a building will survive all but the worst earthquake. However buildings contain many architectural elements and a great deal of loose equipment. Damage to the equipment and fittings can render a structurally sound building inoperative after only a moderate earthquake.
The length and magnitude of the disruption is especially important for commercial businesses and essential facilities such as hospitals. If buildings like these have their functions significantly.disrupted then the cost will be great.
