GUIDELINES FOR EARTHQUAKE-PROOF BUILDINGS DESIGN AND PLANS

No reliable means of predicting an earthquake as to the time of occurrence or its intensity have yet been discovered. It is however, considered that in the localities where earthquake have occurred once they are likely to re-occur again at a future date. An earth-quake map of India has been prepared by the Meteorologist Department showing zones liable to severe, moderate and the minor earthquakes. Earthquakes consists of vertical and the horizontal wavelike motions of the ground. The horizontal motions are much greater than the vertical and may be from five to ten times in any of the direction. The most destructive force is therefore the horizontal motion. As such it is necessary to follow precautions for construction of earthquake-proof buildings design and the buildings should be as light as engineering considerations and considerations of health and comfort permit. Continuing and lightness of structure are of more importance than thickness of walls or low height. The maximum height of any building shall not exceed 27 metres. Excessive length in proportion to width is undesirable. A square or a compact rectangular plan should be adopted. A ratio of length to breadth should not exceed 3 to 1normally . A closed shape, square on nearly so, is preferably to U or L shapes. All parts of a building should be firmly tied together and stiffly braced at corners in such a manner that the whole structure will tend to move as a unit. :-- Er Fateh chand Guleria, Director RTI welfare Association registered number HPCD, 3552 , Bilaspur Himachal pradesh phone number, 9459334377