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 15, 2012
New Florida building code establishes flood and storm surge provisions
The new 2010 code establishes minimum design and construction requirements to protect buildings from wind, rain, floods, and storm surges.
| Mar 15, 2012
Illinois city rejects international code due to home sprinkler requirement
Macomb, Illinois aldermen voted to recommend that the city not adopt 2012 international building and residential code standards requiring the installation of overhead sprinkler systems in newly constructed one-family and two-family homes.
| Mar 15, 2012
Tenant advocates propose licensing landlords in New York City
With thousands of New York City rental units posing potential dangers to tenants, city advocates are proposing measures to make landlords improve building safety.
| Mar 15, 2012
Construction industry a big winner in federal small disadvantaged business procurement
Last year, only 5% of federal contract dollars went to small disadvantaged businesses. Construction and facilities support firms were the biggest beneficiaries.
| Mar 15, 2012
ANSI approves new fall protection standards
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved two American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) standards addressing fall protection.
| Mar 8, 2012
Engineering innovation provides new option for meeting seismic codes in skyscrapers
Two University of Toronto engineers have developed “viscoelastic-energy-dissipating dampers” to replace many of the heavy concrete beams used in tall structures.
| Mar 8, 2012
CSI webinar on building code compliance March 22
A March 22 webinar will provide an overview of a 28-step process during the design of a building to ensure compliance with building codes.
| Mar 8, 2012
Federal silica dust rule caught in bureaucratic limbo
A federal rule meant to protect the lungs of workers has been caught in bureaucratic purgatory for more than a year.
| Mar 8, 2012
New LEED-EBOM rating has requirements for specific project types
Several key changes are proposed for the LEED-EBOM Rating System in 2012.
