If you’ve ever experienced an earthquake, you’ll know that they have an almost incomprehensible amount of power. So much so that it’s a wonder that we can inhabit places where they occur frequently, let alone build cities around or on top of the fault lines that they often spring from. Cities like San Francisco seem like a testament to human resilience when you consider the above, with inventions like seismic retrofitting keeping the buildings upright.
While much of the progress in seismic retrofitting has been made in the last centuries, the idea would have been around since the humans built the first huts in earthquake-prone areas. As with anything, this technology has been honed over time, and finally, the industrial revolution and the more recent computational revolution have seen exponential progress. If you’re wondering about the necessity of seismic retrofitting in your building, then read on to learn what the determining factors are.
Earthquake Prone Regions
One of the most determining factors for whether your building will need seismic retrofitting is if it’s located in an earthquake-prone region. These are typically areas that are located on or near fault lines, and subsequently, experience more frequent and higher magnitude quakes than other regions. As a provider of Bay Area hauling and lifting services, Sheedy Crane is acutely aware of how to manage these types of unprecedented situations.
San Andreas Fault
One of the most famous fault lines in the world, so much so that it even has a movie about it, the San Andreas fault extends more than 750 miles through California. It forms the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and Pacific Plate and is split into the Northern, Central, and Southern Fault Zones. The counties within these zones are more or less prone than each other, due to the differences between the fault zones.
Depending on the county where your building is located, seismic retrofitting may be more or less relevant to you. Thankfully, the California Earthquake Authority has a handy website where you can learn about the probability in your county. As daunting as this may seem, it does give you plenty of time to act accordingly now and to minimize both damage and harm.
Date of Construction
The next indication that can determine the necessity of seismic retrofitting for your building is the date that it was constructed. As previously mentioned, leaps and bounds have been made in this field over the past couple of decades, and buildings constructed within this time are more likely to have some degree of seismic retrofitting. Whereas buildings constructed before the 1980s will have relatively primitive earthquake resilience, due to the technology and knowledge that was available at that time.
Records of Construction
It’s not uncommon for older buildings to have received seismic retrofitting in recent years. As the owner of the building, you should have relatively easy access to the records of construction as well as any retrofits that have taken place. These should give you a fair indication of the necessity of a retrofit, as even if it was retrofitted 20 years ago that technology or methodology may have already become outdated.
Soft-Story Seismic Retrofitting
Most apartment complexes, multi-story shopping complexes, and parking garages are considered soft-story buildings due to their having one or more floors with large openings where there would typically be a shear wall for stability. These kinds of buildings are prone to soft-story collapse, which prompted the mandated screening of soft-story buildings in the San Francisco region in 2013.
Since then, many of these buildings have received some degree of seismic retrofitting, although the recent pandemic has affected the rate at which this has happened.
What to Expect from Seismic Retrofitters
Here at Sheedy Cranes, we know that any kind of construction or retrofitting is a stressful prospect for building owners, especially when it affects the workflow or lifestyles of those using the building. When it comes to seismic retrofitting your apartment complex, retail space, or parking garage, you should expect some minor inconvenience, but it’s needed to guarantee the safety of the area’s residents.
To minimize this, it’s best to hire an experienced company who are well-equipped to screen and retrofit as quickly as possible. This will not only ensure the longevity of your building but also ensure the safety of those in and around it while minimizing inconvenience. The need of Bay Area hauling and lifting services will always be prevalent.
Bay Area Hauling, Lifting & Seismic Retrofitting Services: Sheedy Crane
Here at Sheedy Crane, we have almost a hundred years of experience in the San Fransisco Bay Area with all manner of hauling and lifting and have had our part in many of the great buildings that dominate the skyline here. Be sure to contact us to inquire about seismic retrofitting, or check out our website to learn more about our company history and what else we can offer.