Page 65 - EQTips_Eng

IITK-BMTPC Earthquake Tip 32

Why is Quality critical in Earthquake-Resistant Buildings? page 2
shortfall in understanding or implementing (to the them. Similarly, independent competent engineers
fullest) any of these aspects leads to compromising employed for site-supervision need to examine that
safety of life and property in the building. work being is done as intended. These independent
Services of competent professional architects and engineers employed for site inspection need to have
engineers are essential to incorporate the above requisite competence. Therefore, Competence-Based
aspects in buildings; these professionals need to have Licensing of Construction Engineers and Certification of
past experience of having successfully provided such Artisans are essential.
services. Building owners are faced with many Professional Ethics
challenges in earthquake-resistant design and Earthquake-resistant design and construction is
construction. These include: possible only with high ethical standards employed by
(1) Identifying competent architects and design engineers: all personnel involved. A project can be successfully
There are many standards and specifications for executed only by avoiding all three types of errors –
earthquake-resistant design and construction of Error of Intention, Error of Concept and Error of
buildings, which architects and design engineers Execution. Error of intention is really an issue of ethics,
need to be conversant with. The mandatory while errors of concept and execution are of competence.
curricula in architecture and engineering colleges For instance, a professional accepting an assignment
often do not ensure that the required background beyond one’s competence is indulging in unethical
is provided to graduates. Thus, it is unlikely that practice. Similarly, if a professional realizes that one is
all architects and engineers practicing today unable to follow correct procedures and still proceeds
understand earthquake behavior of structures, and with the project, it is an unethical practice. And finally,
the design techniques required to incorporate an engineer not following code provisions to reduce
earthquake-resistance in them. So, building structural cost, indulges in unethical practice.
owners face a challenge related to selecting In civil constructions, society takes performance of
competent professionals to undertake earthquake- a structure for granted. For instance, one drives over a
resistant design of their buildings. Governments bridge unconsciously, assuming it is safe. Hence, it is
need to establish robust systems for identifying critically important to ensure and enforce highest
competence-based licensing of engineers, who could levels of ethical standards in the practice of
assist building owners; engineering. It is not possible to legislate virtues. But,
(2) Complying with Building Codes & Municipal Controls: the situation can be alleviated to some extent by
Local governments require architects and design putting in place systems and procedures, e.g., (a)
engineers to ensure safety of buildings through competence-based licensing, wherein license to practice is
faithful compliance with various building codes and given only after establishing that the person has at
municipal bye-laws. This cannot happen only on the least a minimum set of skills required to practice
basis of voluntary effort by professionals – it is the design and construction, which may be revoked in
responsibility of municipal authorities to enforce case of a malpractice, and (b) a robust regulatory legal
compliance. But, a severe shortage of suitable system, with a rigorous enforcement protocol and
adequately trained personnel in municipal offices implementation mechanism that allows for swift
can be a bottleneck for ensuring compliance on penalties and punishments to erring individuals. Such
part of local governments. Alternate strategies are systems have been effective in many countries, and
required to build a robust system for Enforcement of must be established in countries like India.
Earthquake Safety, e.g., independent peer review by
consulting engineers of good standing; and Related - Earthquake Tip
(3) Undertaking hazard estimation studies: Seismic Tip 9: How do make buildings ductile for good seismic performance?

hazard assessment must consider many Resource Material
uncertainties. For ordinary buildings, it is best to Bellet,D., (2006), Fundamental Concepts and Principles for Assuring
adopt seismic design codes of the country. But, for Acceptable Performance of Schools and the Education System, Chapter
projects of importance, site-specific studies are 10, Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes, Overseas Press India
Private Limited, New Delhi
required, for which owners will require services of
competent earthquake geologists, seismologists,
earthquake geotechnical engineers and seismic Authored by:
structural engineers. C.V.R.Murty
Faithfully converting construction drawings of Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, India
buildings into actual structures is critical for ensuring Sponsored by:
earthquake safety of buildings. Competent contractors Building Materials and Technology Promotion
must be appointed by building owners to implement Council, New Delhi, India
formal construction strategies and construct
earthquake-resistant buildings. Quality control needs This release is a property of IIT Kanpur and BMTPC. It may
to be exercised at all stages of construction by be reproduced without changing its contents with due
acknowledgement. Suggestions or comments may be sent
Contractors. But, independent agencies need to test to: nicee@iitk.ac.in. To see all IITK-BMTPC Earthquake Tips, visit
quality of all construction materials before accepting www.nicee.org or www.bmtpc.org.