Important information about earthquake-prone …

1 earthquake -prone buildings 1earthquake-prone buildingsImportant information about2 earthquake -prone buildings We ve put together this booklet to provide property owners with more information about earthquake -prone buildings, how the process works and some of the options and obligations that affect owners of an earthquake -prone building Act 2004 requires each Territorial Authority (TA) throughout New Zealand to develop a policy for earthquake -prone buildings. This is a significant operation for TA s and has considerable and wide-ranging implications for property booklet is a guide only, using information generally obtainable at the time of publication and does not replace the need for an insured to obtain appropriate professional advice in relation to their own specific insurance building is earthquake -prone if it fails to meet 34% of the current New building Standard (NBS) What is an earthquake -prone building ?

2 The definition of an earthquake -prone building (EPB) is set out in Section 122 of the building Act 2004. The definition of a moderate earthquake is defined in Regulation 7, 2005 buildings are those likely to collapse causing injury or death, or damage to any other property, during or following a moderate earthquake . A moderate earthquake is one that would generate the level of shaking that would be used to design a new building at the buildings are defined as those that fail to meet 34% of the current New building Standard (NBS). What the building Act 2004 says about earthquake -prone buildingsThe building Act 2004 requires each Territorial Authority (TA) throughout New Zealand to develop a policy for earthquake -prone s are working through the following process to identify earthquake -prone buildings on the basis that all buildings constructed prior to 1976 must be at least 34% of the TA s earthquake -prone building process has four stages:``Stage 1 Identification: Completed on a priority basis with public buildings such as hospitals and schools identified first``Stage 2 Initial Evaluation Process (IEP).

3 A qualified structural engineer conducts an evaluation of the building s earthquake damage performance``Stage 3 Communication to building owners: Owner receives notification that their building has been considered to be earthquake -prone. They will be given three to four months to provide additional information so the assessment can be reviewed. A Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) may be completed by the owner during this earthquake -prone buildings ``Stage 4 Section 124 Notice: If no additional information is received, a Section 124 earthquake -prone building notice will be issued. This will classify the building as earthquake -prone, with the owner given a date they need to strengthen their building by.

4 This notice is required to be fixed to the s are at various stages of completing their requirements under the building Act 2004. Some TA s are well advanced; others are just starting the means that most of the earthquake -prone buildings in New Zealand have not yet been issued with a Section 124 notice to of earthquake -prone buildings are often published on TA/Council position prior to the 2004 building ActFollowing is a brief history of the position prior to the building Act construction of Unreinforced Masonry (URM) buildings in New Zealand peaked in the decade between 1920 and 1930 and declined thereafter. Few large buildings of any material were constructed in the period between 1935 and 1955.

5 It is worth noting that many heritage buildings pre-date was not until 1965 that much of the research at the time into seismic design was incorporated into legislation, that being NZS 1900 Chapter 8, which prohibited URM buildings of more than one floor. The next version of the Seismic Design code was published in 1976 (NZS 4203).Most major cities and towns adopted the NZS 1900, Chapter 8, 1965 legislation and, as a result, between 1968 and 2003 achieved strengthening or demolition of many buildings identified as building Act 2004 introduced the current earthquake building code (NZS :2004). Prior to The building Act 2004, the term earthquake -risk building related only to URM buildings, but now an earthquake -prone building could be of any material; steel, concrete, timber or masonry.

6 earthquake -prone buildings 5 The level of risk posed by buildings constructed as recently as the 2000 s is now more widely appreciated, in particular the inadequate performance of reinforced concrete structures due to deficient detailing. Section 124 NoticesThe TA will issue a Section 124 earthquake -prone building notice if the building is deemed to be earthquake -prone. The notice could give a required strengthening date for completion of, as an example, 10-20 years time and this information , along with the percentage NBS grading, will be recorded on the Land information Memorandum (LIM).This Table shows The sTrucTural performance scoringStructural performance score (percentage NBS)Performance and risk descriptionSeismic gradeRelative risk>100 New buildingA+Very low80 100 ALow67 80 BMedium33 67EQ riskCHigh20 33EQ proneDVery high<20EQ proneEExtremely highAn earthquake -risk building is any building that is assessed at being between 34% and 67% of NBS.

7 Therefore the risk of injury or death in an earthquake -risk building is lower than an earthquake -prone building , but the risk of damage to the building remains building code is primarily concerned with injury, death and damage to surrounding property. 6 earthquake -prone buildings The Initial Evaluation Process (IEP)A qualified structural engineer conducts an evaluation of the building s earthquake structural performance. Many of these will be initiated by the TA unless the property owner is proactive and starts the process objective of the IEP is to:``Determine the level of performance in relation to the current code``Establish whether or not the building meets the one-third threshold of 34% NBS.

8 The IEP will show:``The structural engineer s process``The percentage NBS and Seismic Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) ReportThis is a more detailed evaluation completed by a qualified structural engineer, usually commissioned by the building objective of the DEE is the same as the IEP. In assessing the building s structural performance there may have been some conservative assumptions used during the IEP process and a DEE will address these DEE will generally cost more than an DEE will show the same information as in the IEP report, with more detail qualified structural engineer conducts an evaluation of the building s earthquake structural performance.

9 8 earthquake -prone buildings Options available to the owner of an earthquake -prone buildingIf a property owner has received a Section 124 notice on the building , the following options apply:1. Re-strengthening of the building can be undertaken and usually there is an extended period of time allowed in which to do this 10 to 15 years is common . The Section 124 notice will be removed once the re-strengthening has been completed;2. The building can be demolished. This is unlikely to be an option if there is an Historic Places order on the building ;3. Do nothing. In this case:a. The building will be condemned by the TA once the date for re-strengthening contained on the S124 notice has passedb.

10 It is likely to be difficult to attract a tenant, or a potential buyer if the owner is wanting to cost of re-strengthening workIt s not easy to provide a general answer in respect of the cost of re-strengthening work. The cost will depend on:``The existing structural performance``The location``Construction type/materials``Historical places orders``Methods used``Final outcome re-strengthening is a very expensive undertaking. In some cases the cost to re-strengthen may be more than the current value of the building is different and will be assessed on its own merit regarding insurance buildings 9 Insurance implications Insurers should be notified immediately if it is considered that a building is cover will almost certainly change if it is determined that a building is earthquake -prone and it is insured with NZI.