The author of Nepal’s building code says the earthquake that killed more than 4,300 people and caused at least $2 billion in economic losses could have been less destructive if the code had been properly implemented and enforced.
The tragedy was predictable given the conditions of the nation’s building stock. “It was inevitable, absolutely inevitable,” Richard Sharpe told Bloomberg Business. Sharpe is a New Zealand earthquake engineer who led a team that formulated Nepal’s only set of building standards 20 years ago.
The earthquake struck during a period following a decade-long Maoist guerrilla war that preceded years of political struggles following the removal of a 240-year-old monarchy in 2008. The unrest made code implementation and enforcement much more difficult.
What’s more, the capital of Kathmandu has expanded to an old lake bed south of the city— an area that is unstable and susceptible to liquefaction—in recent years. Buildings have not been designed to cope with those conditions.
Related Stories
| Mar 6, 2013
Triple-pane windows, heat pumps part of New York’s plan to meet 2050 emissions goal
Renovations providing better insulation, triple-paned windows, heat pumps and other techniques that minimize heat loss and save on energy use for residential and commercial buildings are key to New York City’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 90% by 2050.
| Mar 6, 2013
EPA asks for feedback on Energy Star criteria on tubular daylighting devices and skylights
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested feedback from stakeholders about draft two of the Energy Star tubular daylighting devices (TDD) and revised skylight criteria.
| Mar 6, 2013
AAMA moves to streamline windows, doors certification extensions
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) says it will update an interim procedural guide that will provide a documented, optional process to extend current, unexpired AAMA product certification.
| Feb 26, 2013
Tax incentive database for reflective roofs available
The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) created a database of current information on rebates and tax credits for installing reflective roofs.
| Feb 26, 2013
Southern Pine Inspection Bureau publishes new design values effective June 1
New design values for all sizes and grades of visually graded Southern Pine dimension lumber were published in the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau’s (SPIB) Supplement No.13 to the 2002 Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber on Feb. 11.
| Feb 26, 2013
ANSI standard for interior doors open for second public ballot
WDMA I.S.6A-11, Industry Standard for Interior Architectural Wood Stile and Rail Doors and WDMA I.S.1A-11, Industry Standard for Interior Architectural Wood Flush Doors, are now open for their second ballot for recognition as American National Standards.
| Feb 26, 2013
CRSI releases new technical note on stainless steel reinforcing bars
The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) has released a new technical note, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars, to its online collection.
| Feb 26, 2013
Proposed ASHRAE standard revisions would boost requirement for automatic lighting
Proposed changes to the ASHRAE/IES energy standard would require automatic lighting controls in more space types and shorten the times before lighting is automatically reduced or shut off.
| Feb 20, 2013
Bill would make all California state building codes free and open source
California Assembly Bill 292 would make the California Code of Regulations (including the Building Codes) open source.
| Feb 20, 2013
Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory aims for three top green certifications
The $15 million Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, a net-zero facility, is applying for certification from three of the world's most stringent green rating systems—the Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum, and the Sustainable Sites Initiative.