BUILDING CODES PART OF EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

Earthquakes around the world recently have shown the stark variation in building codes and the associated degree of damage in different countries. Building codes are a very significant aspect of Earthquake Preparedness although clearly not all countries put the same emphasis on them.

In the United States we have much stricter building codes than do some other countries that are also prone to earthquakes.

The rationale behind that is to minimize structural damage, but tougher codes also go hand in hand with non-structural seismic mitigation, which is one of the best ways to prevent a business from being knocked out of action after an earthquake.

Building Code

The California Building Code, for example, talks in part about non-structural items that require proper bracing.

Title 24 of the code states that movable items such as storage racks that are more than five feet tall must be seismically braced.
Permanent floor-supported items like cabinets and bookcases, including their contents, that are more than six feet in height should be restrained.

All equipment weighing more than 400 lbs and greater than four feet tall needs to be properly braced for lateral loads as recommended by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Seismic Mitigation

The first step to earthquake safety or earthquake preparedness is to identify potential hazards around the home or office and secure them.

Using the California Building Code as a guide, you will soon start to realize just how many items around your premises could be potentially hazardous if left unsecured.

The floor fasteners, countertop fasteners, data center seismic mitigation and laboratory fastening systems and many other will help you make your business a much safer place for you and your employees.

You can secure desktop computers and other electronics with computer monitor fastening kits, earthquake cabinet latches will stop doors from flying open in an earthquake, while table docking systems will keep tables and work stations from being dislodged from their positions in labs and other office space.

Securing your space plays a huge role in reducing the risk of your employees being injured by falling items.

Earthquake Preparedness Is Important But Why

The shaker in southern California was able to explain people why they need earthquake preparedness for both home and business.

Another shaker in southern California was exclusively for people who are still thinking whether or not to invest in earthquake preparedness. Probably this earthquake was successful enough to convince people living in the active earthquake zone that earthquake preparedness is absolutely a must for both business and home. The continuous effort to educate people about the importance of earthquake preparedness by Quake Hold Industrial has always been unique and worthwhile.

Borrego Springs was the latest spot to be rocked, this time by a 5.4 earthquake, which was felt as far away as Valencia, north of Los Angeles, out to LAX and all the way to the coast in San Diego.

USGS experts believe it was what’s known as a ‘triggered’ earthquake, a consequence of the Easter Sunday 7.2 quake in Mexicali, just over the California/Mexico border.

The Mexicali earthquake has caused an increase in activity along the San Jacinto and Elsinore fault lines, which are indirectly linked to the big daddy of them all the San Andreas Fault.

The point is any business located in the earthquake zone should take earthquake preparedness seriously before an earthquake jeopardizes the business.

What that entails is technically called non-structural seismic mitigation and what that actually means is securing top-heavy furniture, electronics, wall hangings and breakables around the home, as well as undertaking data center seismic mitigation, lab equipment fastening and warehouse seismic fastening at your place of business.

Quake HOLD! Industrial is now offering a free risk assessment session followed by appropriate planning to ensure security to the complete business.

Taking action before an earthquake hits is the best defense against potential damage or injury from a quake. Thus the expert earthquake preparedness team from Quake Hold Industrial is always at work innovating new ways to protect life and property.

Earthquake Preparedness Team Encouraging Chilean To Undertake Seismic Mitigation

The earthquake preparedness team from QuakeHOLD! Industrial was in Chile in June in order to educate the mass about how to counteract massive earthquakes. The United States Department of Commerce, in conjunction with the Chilean government, established the Rebuild Chile Expo 2010 in response to the destructive February earthquake that shook the country.

The primary focus of the Expo was to address the many needs in Chile resulting from the magnitude 8.8 quake and to learn how to prepare for the next one because they now realize there will be more. The expert Earthquake Preparedness team from Quake Hold Industrial was present because they specialize in non-structural seismic mitigation, something that is now very much in demand in Chile. Data center seismic mitigation, lab equipment fastening and warehouse seismic fastening is all part of earthquake preparedness, thus businesses in Chile are now taking it much more seriously.

Since earthquakes are extremely unpredictable, so being prepared for them is the smartest thing one can do to make sure the business remains functional without risking injury to employees. Earthquake preparedness not only ensures protection to valuable possessions but also prevents loss or damage of data.

It has been observed that unsecured items are the potential hazards during an earthquake causing personal injury and even death. Therefore, equipment fastening is one of the primary services offered by Quake Hold Industrial. The earthquake preparedness team organized by Quake Hold Industrial encourages business to undertake seismic mitigation to avoid destruction.