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Seismic Retrofit In LA
10

Seismic Retrofit In LA

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

This is similar to what the whole of NZ did some ten or so years ago..
And it is a really good idea.

Many of these structures are not at all difficult to upgrade, but there is no willingness to spend the money.

Hopefully this is done well, becomes a commendable profit to society, and is successful!

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

I thought this was a reprint from the San Fernando Quake, when they said all the same things. 'Spose this is a political football?

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

2
It is equal to "more taxes" to be paid for "if you want to continue running your business in CA."

Yes, it (the seismic upgrade) is needed against the "Big One" when it hits down there. But ... There are so many millions of little buildings NOT going to be upgraded because of the illegal alien problems and ever-wider poverty across the LA basin as the area keeps getting poorer and poorer because businesses ARE leaving. Those who follow the law and upgrade will remain, but will face such problems after the quake that their upgrade either was "too litle" or will be overwhelmed by the whole area going under.

As an example, New Orleans political corruption used the money intended for fixing and maintaining their leveees before Katrina. If two neighborhoods fixed their levees but 12 around them spent the money on democrat politicians and interests, then the two that did it right would still be flooded from behind.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

5
How you get a star for a non sequitur political rant is beyond me... keep it structural in the structural forum

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

How is it a non sequitur? It's relevant to the topic at hand. The government has issued a decree and he commented upon it. If the original post had been technical in nature I imagine that so too would have been the responses.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

The political rant portion of it is completely irrelevant. The earthquake doesn't care about D's or R's or whether or not the people working in the area happen to be in the area legally or illegally.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

crap....I shall now bludgeon myself about the head for getting sucked into anything political on the internet.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

2

Quote:

The political rant portion of it is completely irrelevant.
Not if that's indeed the motivation behind the change vs. good engineering principles, as alleged. It's worth discussing and who better than structural engineers to discuss whether the government's mandate regarding structural engineering constitutes good practice?

Or we can just ignore it and return to discussing the right Kl/r to use in specific circumstances.

Or those who want to discuss it can surf over to a political forum to discuss it with non-engineers who have no way of knowing whether or not it's sound policy.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

This policy is indirectly in place for many buildings in LA right now. When a new owner takes possession of a building, or a major remodel occurs, insurance companies won't provide earthquake insurance unless seismic retrofit has been done. The free market is ahead of government again.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

Well, Seattle has been considering the same for unreinforced masonry structures too for over two years now - hundreds of them.

And the politics, you betcha. Been monitoring it as, yes, it will be a lot of work if the resolution ever leaves the city council chambers.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

Quote:

This policy is indirectly in place for many buildings in LA right now. When a new owner takes possession of a building, or a major remodel occurs, insurance companies won't provide earthquake insurance unless seismic retrofit has been done. The free market is ahead of government again.

I applaud the free market, but it is not the whole solution to the problem

a) water, gas and electric utilities among others are just as critically in need of retrofit as a lot of buildings. But many utilities are not being upgraded at all. A lot of damage from Northridge occurred due to fire from broken gas mains, no valve to turn gas off and the inability to put out the fire with the lack of water pressure from broken mains.

b) Buildings may only get retrofitted when 1) they change hands and 2) the new owner has money. Unfortunately, there are a lot of buildings that will not change hands or get remodeled and those might be among the highest risk in an earthquake. Those buildings with known structural deficiencies (soft first story) may remain occupied for years. Tenants are generally unaware of the risk level of buildings and government disclosure of the risk level to the tenants would very likely result in a lot of vacant buildings (a very unproductive outcome)

c) not sure earthquake insurance is mandatory or available for many buildings. At least for homeowners, I believe it may be only available through the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) which provides very little coverage at a high price.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

(OP)
How about this free market solution?
If you choose not to update your structure, you have to put a sign at the entrance saying "Not Designed for Possible Earthquake Loads"
That way your customers/tenants/guests have the choice.

RE: Seismic Retrofit In LA

Jed:

Delete "possible". Insert "probable".

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


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