Seismic resilience can be a confusing subject for many and it’s yet another challenge that building designers and constructors have to deal with. As well as all the other factors they have to take into account, they also need to consider the importance level of the building, what it’s being built on and the seismic […]
Seismic resilience can be a confusing subject for many and it’s yet another challenge that building designers and constructors have to deal with. As well as all the other factors they have to take into account, they also need to consider the importance level of the building, what it’s being built on and the seismic loads it may face. This can seem confusing and adds a further level of complexity to a building’s design and construction.
It is, however, something that can’t be ignored because there are standards and regulations that need to be followed and will be enforced. Apart from any legal requirements, building designers and constructors have a moral responsibility for the safety of their buildings and the people within them.
Many factors determine the amount of seismic design that needs to go into a building. Chief among these is the building’s level of importance, which is set through the National Construction Code and is generally based on how a building is used and its likely occupancy level.
A level four building, which is vital for recovering from a disaster or is associated with hazardous facilities, is the most important while level one covers mainly individual dwellings that pose little threat to life or other property should they fail. Level three is the second most important and covers buildings with a high occupancy level, leaving level two which includes all other buildings and structures.
Level four can cover hospitals and similar institutions that require a high level of safety to be included in their design. The others need successively lower levels and level one buildings are often deemed to comply with no specific design work needed.
Australia does sit on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates and so does suffer from earthquakes caused by the plates pushing up against each other. Because of this, and standards such as AS1170.4 that deal with earthquake loads in Australia, it is necessary to conduct a full seismic assessment for each new building. This includes not only identifying its level of importance but also where it is to be built, the type of sub-soil and the seismic and other loads that are likely to affect it.
The increased focus on seismic resilience doesn’t just apply to the building itself. There’s a growing realisation that non-structural components within a building can also cause a lot of damage and pose a real threat to safety. So, since 2019, there’s been a greater concentration on those components, which include electrical fittings, plumbing, ceilings and wall panels so they are as resilient as the building itself.
At Nashco, we supply products that not only comply with standards but generally exceed their requirements. Every wall panel and seismic ceiling system in Canberra is designed and manufactured to withstand severe shocks without being dislodged or damaged. We incorporate bracing that deflects seismic loads to the structure of the building and seismic studs in Canberra that allows panels to move so they don’t crack or become detached.
Whatever the level of importance of your building and wherever it’s constructed, you can help to ensure its future safety and compliance with standards by fitting steel wall framing and suspended ceiling systems in Canberra that are truly resilient. And, if you choose correctly, you can do this in the most cost-effective manner and with little or no added effort.
At Nashco, we aim to remove the confusion over seismic resilience by supplying products that simply work as they should. And that’s backed up by great service, so we’ll always be here to help you achieve a fully resilient building.
