If you’re a building owner or involved with new builds and get a notice that your building needs to be retrofitted, you may have some questions about why it is important. Despite appearing as an additional expense, Seismic retrofitting offers numerous advantages to you, your building, and its occupants.
Retrofitting process involves incorporating new features or technologies into buildings to enhance their safety. if you are a building owner in a medium to high seismic region. In that case, Your local municipality may have issued an order indicating your building is potentially vulnerable and may require a seismic retrofit.
Are Soft-Story Buildings at High Risk During Earthquakes?
A soft-story building is older with a large ground-floor garage or other large openings in the centre. The ground floor was designed for parking or other purposes and was constructed without vertical support. These structures have the potential to collapse catastrophically when the ground trembles during an earthquake.
During earthquakes, soft-story buildings are more vulnerable to collapse. They are more susceptible to windstorm damage and seismic activity because they lack vertical support. After earthquakes, they are also more prone to sustain significant damage from flames. Damage to these structures may result in significant property loss or even fatalities.
Luckily, Soft Story Retrofitting Services enhances residential structures’ resilience against earthquakes by inserting steel rods into masonry walls and anchoring them to the foundation. This can be done either during the building’s initial construction or after completion. This process doesn’t involve any disturbance to nearby structures or residents; it may be done in a single day.
Benefits of Soft Story Seismic Retrofitting for New Builds and Existing Structures
Here are some benefits of Soft Story Seismic Retrofitting for new builds and Existing Structures:
Safety for Residents
An earthquake causes soft-story buildings ‘ upper floors to collapse onto lower floors, causing severe damage to residents in their homes and apartments. The issue can be resolved by reinforcing the structure with steel rods and constructing a stable wall that won’t collapse during an earthquake.
Increased Property Value
Investing in home renovation projects like soft story retrofitting can raise the value of your property over time. This is because you ensure that your home will be safe and secure in the event of an earthquake, which will increase its appeal to prospective purchasers when you eventually decide to sell.
Reduce insurance costs
Soft-story seismic retrofits can lower insurance costs by enhancing home safety and reducing fire risk, theft, and vandalism. These improvements lower premiums because of increased safety features like fire sprinklers or fire alarms installed in your home! It may even qualify for reduced homeowner’s insurance rates.
Improved structural integrity
During an earthquake, a soft-story building is naturally more vulnerable to destruction. Shear walls and steel bracing can significantly increase the building’s structural soundness. This reduces the possibility that your house or building will collapse during an earthquake and helps shield it from harm.
Soft Story Retrofitting is a highly effective method to enhance home safety during an earthquake. The strengthening of soft-story areas like garages and laundries can significantly reduce the amount of damage to your home. Overall, it can save you a lot of time, and money.
